• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

The Savvy Couple

Fast Track Your Financial Freedom

  • Make Money
    • Online Jobs
    • Work From Home Jobs
    • Side Hustle Ideas
    • Side Hustle Apps
    • Best Survey Sites
    • How to Start a Blog
    • I Need Money Now
    • Make Money Fast
    • Steady App Review
    • Money Making Apps
  • Save Money
    • Frugal Living Habits
    • Truebill Review
    • Trim Review
  • Money Management
    • How to Manage Your Money
    • How to Budget
    • How to Pay Off Debt
    • How to Reach Financial Freedom
    • Budget Templates
    • Money Management Apps
  • Small Businesses
    • How to Start a Blog
    • How To Start A Business With No Money
    • Online Business Ideas
    • Unique Business Ideas
    • Most Profitable Small Businesses
    • Businesses To Start With $10K
  • Investing
    • How to Start Investing
    • Passive Income Ideas
    • Passive Income Apps
    • Investing in Real Estate
    • How To Get Free Stocks
    • Robinhood Review
    • Fundrise Review
  • SHOP
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Home » Make Money

How to Become a Bookkeeper And Work From Home (Earn $50+/hour)

Brittany Kline | Updated April 26, 2022 Make Money, Work From Home

Learn how to become a bookkeeper from home and earn up to $50 an hour and get free training to start your own bookkeeping business today!
Stay at home mom working on her business with her baby in the background
This article may contain links from our partners. Please read how we make money for more info.
I never really knew that bookkeeping was different than being an accountant, but WOW, this sounds like an amazing work from home job! I would love to get started with how to become a bookkeeper ASAP, so I can make some extra money on the side! Who else is excited to start your own bookkeeping business at home! #HowToBecomeABookkeeper #BookkeepingBusiness #OnlineBusiness #SideHustle #ExtraIncomeIdea #WorkAtHome #OnlineJobs #StayAtHomeMom

Learning how to become a bookkeeper can help you create the best small business where you can work at home.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be an accountant to be a bookkeeper.

Bookkeepers are able to charge a high hourly rate and there are minimal startup costs. Perfect if you are looking for a business to start from home!

Entrepreneur named it as one of the best jobs to do because of this (and the $80 hourly rate sure helps!).

If you’re looking for a job that you can do as a stay-at-home mom, this is perfect for you.

We’ll go through exactly how to become a bookkeeper right from the comfort of your home.

FREE Training
Bookkeeper Launch
Bookkeeper Launch

How to Start a Profitable Bookkeeping Business in 90 Days or Less!

15,000+ Students. 10+ Years of Results.


Watch Free Training Now

Table of Contents

  • What Does a Bookkeeper Do?
    • What Accountants Do
    • What Bookkeepers Do
  • How Much Do Bookkeepers Earn?
  • 4 Steps For How To Become A Bookkeeper
    • 1. Get Trained As  Bookkeeper
    • 2. Form Your Business 
    • 3. Apply For Jobs Online & Gain Clients
    • 4. Consider Becoming A Certified Bookkeeper
  • What Are the Pros vs. Cons of Becoming a Bookkeeper?
    • Pros
    • Cons
  • Bookkeeper FAQs
    • Can You Become a Bookkeeper Without a Degree?
    • Do You Need Any Experience to Become a Bookkeeper?
    • Can I Work Remotely As A Bookkeeper?
  • Make Money as a Freelance Bookkeeper
  • What is the Best Bookkeeping Training to Take?
  • Free Bookkeeper Training
  • Starting an Online Bookkeeping Business

What Does a Bookkeeper Do?

Wondering what a bookkeeper actually does? Accounting and bookkeeping are actually very different!

What Accountants Do

Accountants are the people that you will go to for your taxes.

It’s not wise to do your taxes yourself in case you are audited and can be fined heavily. Accountants will do your taxes for you and make sure that your financial records are in order.

They will go through your financial statements and see where you are able to save money.

It takes a lot more to become an accountant, though the salary is very good and the job has great stability. 

What Bookkeepers Do

Bookkeepers will generally do the stuff for your financial documents before it gets passed over to your accountant.

Bookkeepers look after the financial data on more of a day-to-day basis.

They will create financial reports, update any financial records and do tasks such as paying invoices, sending invoices,  taking care of accounts payable, etc.

You can become a certified bookkeeper, but it isn’t required, nor do you need a Bachelor’s degree in accounting.

How Much Do Bookkeepers Earn?

woman holding cash saving money with alternatives to cable tv

The amount that you can earn as an entry-level bookkeeper will, of course, vary as it does within most roles, depending on things such as experience.

According to Salary.com, the average salary is $45,626 for those who work as a bookkeeper full-time.

Average Salary of a Bookkeeper

If you are running your own bookkeeping business then you can charge whatever prices you want! You can also take on multiple clients and earn more that way as well.

4 Steps For How To Become A Bookkeeper

1. Get Trained As  Bookkeeper

If you want to become a bookkeeper and start a business, there are a few skills you’ll need:

  • Problem-solving
  • Algebra (math in general!)
  • Organization
  • Attention to detail (detail-oriented)
  • Integrity/confidentiality
  • Computer skills (typing and certain software will be most important)

Now, you don’t need a Bachelor’s degree to become a bookkeeper, though at least a high school degree is recommended. You can learn bookkeeping from courses or teach yourself bookkeeping skills.

Take courses like Bookkeeper Launch to learn how you can start your business and run it successfully. You can also take a FREE workshop from Bookkeeper Launch to get a feel for the course.

You can teach yourself bookkeeping by doing exactly what you’re doing- researching and reading! You can read blogs and books to become a successful bookkeeper- or even watch YouTube videos to get a feel for it. 

Watching videos on how to use QuickBooks and other programs will be really helpful in developing your tech skills as a bookkeeper.

FREE Training
Bookkeeper Launch
Bookkeeper Launch

How to Start a Profitable Bookkeeping Business in 90 Days or Less!

15,000+ Students. 10+ Years of Results.


Watch Free Training Now

2. Form Your Business 

Once you become a bookkeeper, all you need for your business is your computer setup with the works and some bookkeeping software, like QuickBooks. 

Both accounting and bookkeeping jobs require this type of software, and you’ll need to buy it to work on the books for your clients.

Next, you’ll need a secure connection, as you’ll be working with confidential and private data from your clients. 

Once you have the basics started at home, you can get your business up and running!

You can create a few different kinds of businesses: a sole proprietorship and a limited liability company (LLC) are the most common. The type you register as is up to you and what your business needs are.

You’ll want to create a website, maybe using BlueHost or WordPress, so clients can see what services you offer and how you would benefit them as a bookkeeper.

Marketing your business is very important, and it’s the final step before you look for your first job and find clients.

3. Apply For Jobs Online & Gain Clients

jobs where you work alone Portrait of happy smiling businesswoman having break and resting

Now that you’ve been trained and have your business started, it’s time to get on the career path by getting some bookkeeping jobs online.

You need to gain clients or your business won’t be around for long!

You should figure out how many clients you want to have at a given time and how many hours you’re willing to work.

Jobs you can specialize in for clients include payroll, financial reports like income statements or balance sheets, tax preparation, or another specific service.

You should have a resume prepared and have it display the programs and accounting software you’re capable of using. 

Don’t forget to add in any formal education you have, especially a Bachelor’s degree or certification- they aren’t required, but make you stand out against the competition.

The more you gain experience, the more clients you’ll draw in.

Find Clients As A Freelancer: You can sign up for sites like Fiverr and Flex Jobs to gain jobs and find clients.

4. Consider Becoming A Certified Bookkeeper

You’ll also want to consider becoming a certified bookkeeper, as you can get more training on how to become a bookkeeper- but not just that!

Certification will make you more appealing to clients, and you can charge more for your services!

A certified bookkeeper can charge upwards of $80 per hour!

There are 2 professional bookkeeper organizations to earn certification from: The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers.

American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB)

The certification exam for the AIPB includes training, but you’ll need a total of 2 years of bookkeeping experience, which equates to about 3,000 hours of work.

National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB)

The NACPB requires a bit more to become certified- including an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. You need to pass their exam and submit your degree proof for their certification.

Once you’re a certified public bookkeeper, you may have continuing education to keep current, but the programs you join will let you know what sort of continuing education you’ll need and where to get additional resources.

What Are the Pros vs. Cons of Becoming a Bookkeeper?

As with most jobs, there are pros and cons, and it’s ultimately down to you to decide what you are happy with doing.

Pros

  • You get to set your own rates
  • You can take on as many clients as you wish
  • It’s a flexible career path, you pick your hours and work time
  • You can do this as a side hustle to fit in around work you have currently or your children’s schedules
  • You may need a high school degree, but no other degrees are necessary
  • Job training is available!

Cons

  • You will have to find your own clients and pitch to them
  • Your income may not be consistent from month to month at the beginning
  • You need to know your stuff- you need to be skilled in accounting software and consistent in how well you make financial reports
  • Certified bookkeepers do make more hourly, so you may want to go the extra step and put the work in for certification

Bookkeeper FAQs

Can You Become a Bookkeeper Without a Degree?

Yes, you can become a bookkeeper without a degree or bookkeeping certification. Most jobs start with just needing a high school education and that’s it.

There is bookkeeper training from online courses to help you learn, but you may already have the skills you need

If you are organized and good with numbers this will help you in this role. It is also an advantage if you know your way around various accounting software.

Do You Need Any Experience to Become a Bookkeeper?

You don’t need any previous experience to be a bookkeeper, which is great news if you are just starting out.

When it comes to looking for remote work-from-home jobs with no experience it can be hard to find roles that are well paid. This could be the perfect start for you.

It is important that you are meticulous and don’t tend to make any errors because it is important that you remember that you are dealing with company finances.

Can I Work Remotely As A Bookkeeper?

woman on a laptop doing remote bookkeeping work

You know that you want to be a remote bookkeeper now, but you’re probably wondering where you find bookkeeping jobs!

If you want to look at job boards first for remote bookkeeping jobs then the best places to look at are Indeed.com or FlexJobs.

More and more companies are offering remote jobs for their workers because they know that more people are looking for flexible work.

There are some websites that you can find remote bookkeeping work on such as Accountingdepartment.com or ClickAccounts.

Make Money as a Freelance Bookkeeper

To start looking for your own clients you can pitch to any small business that may need your services.

A good place to start is to get your own website set up so that people can find you and see your services.

You can also set up a LinkedIn profile and social media profiles so that people can find you and hear about your business.

One of the best ways to find work in any business is through word of mouth. Let your family and friends know that you are starting a bookkeeping business so that they can spread the word.

Once you’ve got your site set up and you have figured out how much you want to charge, you can go and get out there to find work.

If you are doing this as a serious business then it’s a good idea to go out and actively look for work. You can attend networking events and hand out business cards.

What is the Best Bookkeeping Training to Take?

There are some great basic bookkeeping courses for aspiring bookkeepers.

Most will walk you step-by-step look at a bookkeeping business from an expert perspective and will show you the tools that you need to get started.

FREE Training
Bookkeeper Launch
Bookkeeper Launch

How to Start a Profitable Bookkeeping Business in 90 Days or Less!

15,000+ Students. 10+ Years of Results.


Watch Free Training Now

Free Bookkeeper Training

You can also sign up to do some free bookkeeper training. It consists of 3 classes which will show you how to become a bookkeeper, work from home, earn good money and be your own boss.

This is a good starting point if you are still a bit unsure about whether or not you want to do this as a job.

Starting an Online Bookkeeping Business

woman working at laptop running professional business

There has never been a better time than now to set up your own business and work the hours that you want to.

If you are a stay-at-home mom looking for some extra cash or wanting to start up a fully-fledged business, this is the perfect job to do.

There are such low start-up fees that it’s a great opportunity for a lot of people. Not only that, but you don’t need to have previous experience or a bookkeeping certification/degree.

164 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Recommended Just For You

  • 28 Websites To Sell Stuff Locally & Online For Fast Cash

    28 Websites To Sell Stuff Locally & Online For Fast Cash

  • 15 Recession-Proof Jobs for Every Type of Skill Level (2023)

    15 Recession-Proof Jobs for Every Type of Skill Level (2023)

  • 11 Best Online Typing Jobs For Beginners (Make $20+/Hour)

    11 Best Online Typing Jobs For Beginners (Make $20+/Hour)

  • 13+ Fun Ways To Get Paid To Read Books From Home

    13+ Fun Ways To Get Paid To Read Books From Home

  • Freelance University Review 2023: Worth It To Build Skills

    Freelance University Review 2023: Worth It To Build Skills

  • How We Made $8,900 Last Month From Our Blog

    How We Made $8,900 Last Month From Our Blog

About Brittany Kline

Hi, I'm Brittany Kline! A money-saving frugal mom, budgeting fanatic, and personal finance expert. With my master's degree in education and life experience, I help families save money, make money online, and reach financial freedom. I have been featured in online publications like Forbes, TIME, USA Today, Huffington Post, Business Insider, Marie Claire, The Penny Hoarder, Bankrate, Nerd Wallet, CNBC, Acorns, Yahoo Finance, MSN, GoBankingRates, Her Money, Thrive Global, The Simple Dollar, Money Crashers, Readers Digest, FinCon, Best Company, Rent Cafe, Romper, Intuit Turbo, Opp Loans, CreditCards.com, Debt.com, Discover, LifeLock, Quick Sprout, Money Geek and many more! Click here to read all of my posts.

Primary Sidebar

Footer

Connect with us!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Contact Us

As Featured On

Navigate

  • Advertise
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Press
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Disclaimer

© 2023 The Savvy Couple. All rights reserved. Please see our disclaimer ยท Site design by Lennox Creative Co.