Or, you could offer multiple payment plans to make things simpler as you scale. You could offer, say, “silver,” “gold,” and “platinum” plans, with the “silver” plan offering only the most basic bookkeeping services and the “platinum” plan offering many more services. That way, your customers could choose a plan based on their business size, bookkeeping budget, and needs. You can always expand later as you take on more clients, hire employees, and potentially move into an office space.

• With the right software and apps it’s easy to work with people wherever you are in the world.
• You can gain certifications in bookkeeping itself as well as in the accounting software you plan to use to serve your clients.
• At this point, your head might be spinning with all the info.
• It requires no degree or certification, though you can easily get one online from the comfort of your own home.
• Bookkeepers use their phone for business, talking to clients, booking appointments, and so on.
• And it doesn’t take a significant investment to get your business off the ground.
• The next day, hop on to LinkedIn, sort through them, and connect with all business owners you met and send a personalized message.

The best systems even integrate with popular accounting and bookkeeping software so data is always within easy reach. Keep in mind that bookkeeping responsibilities are a bit different from those of a certified public accountant (CPA). Certified public accountants can file taxes, perform audits, and even provide professional guidance on the best way to manage company finances. Additionally, an experienced bookkeeper can help business owners gain a better understanding of their company’s financial processes. Business owners can use this data to optimize financial performance and keep a close eye on their cash flow. Your business plan should also contain an executive summary that clearly illustrates how you plan to be successful.

Tips that will Increase Your Bookkeeping Firm’s Productivity

Assuming you own a reliable laptop, start up costs will be minimal. However, if you need to purchase a new computer, it will cost a minimum of $1000. We’re talking high-value articles, expert interviews, actionable guides, and events. https://www.bookstime.com/ Or, they may need a bookkeeper but be too busy to actively search for one. If you show up in front of them with an offer, they may take you up on it just because that’s so much less stress than going out and trying to find someone.

In fact, using online, automated accounting technology was one of the keys to my success. Public accounting firms cannot provide a modern bookkeeping service without it. Certification isn’t technically required, but it’s useful because it reassures your clients that you have the knowledge and experience needed to manage their money. Most certifications require at least one year of experience as a bookkeeper in addition to successfully passing one or more tests, so you may need to work for a while before they’re an option. Study the requirements and track your progress toward meeting them. If you don’t have them already, you’ll need to have a solid grasp of bookkeeping principles.

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The good news is that bookkeepers can make a sizable income even with their ongoing monthly expenses. But these stats reference somebody who works directly for a single company. According to Entrepreneur, independent bookkeepers make between $25 and $40 per hour depending on where they work and the nature of the job. As you become more established and gain more clients, you may consider bringing in a partner or small staff. Some bookkeepers establish larger companies with hundreds of clients but first, you have to land enough clients to sustain yourself, personally. Of course, you can’t run a profitable business unless you’re good at what you do, no matter how much potential the industry has.

There’s a reason why I stopped most other marketing activities to focus on blogging as a primary strategy to find new clients after my first year of starting a cpa firm. If people start sending you LinkedIn connection invites coming from these groups and from local businesses, you know you’re on the right track. Collect business cards from every new business owner you meet.

How to Start a Small Housekeeping Business

Am so greatful to interact with your guidance on bookkeeping, i am student of CPA UGANDA. I Work with about 3companies as a part time accountand/bookkeeper however i also do some work like tax return filling with other companies. I have a dream to help several number of other companies having bookkeeping challeges. I started my journey to this dream by drafting some 2 paged idea plan of bookkeeping business however my plan was sketchy and was missing alot. I want to be self employed in my proffession but one who fits in the 21st century technology.

Your website is where you can drive all your traffic from other marketing channels. It holds information about you, your business, how to start a bookkeeping service and your services. It’s also a place for you to clarify for your potential clients why they should want to work with you.

However, the type of business model you choose and your location will affect the business registration process. Look to certify in each type of accounting software you use to add credibility to your services. Base your services on the intersection of your clients’ needs and your skillset. It’s okay to start with a smaller list of advertised services and add more as you see the need. Remember that your business plan is likely to evolve as you learn more about your business in relation to the market. It can be 10 pages, or it can be 1 to start, and it doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist.

Therefore I recommend putting together 3 custom service options in a gold, silver & bronze type approach for each prospective customer you have. A very good CTA can convert about 10% of your readers to clients to be. By clicking on “Learn More”, you’ll be prompted to set up a meeting with them.

Implement a Project Management System

If you got into virtual bookkeeping for the freedom and flexibility, you might want to work off retainers, but you also have the option to bill hourly. You should consider the following questions when picking a billing method. Lastly, part of this process is picking a business name, which you should do with care. You’ll be using the name for years, so be sure it’s a professional and accurate description of your work. It’s a fantastic piece, and it’s inspired me to get my accounting and travel planning in order.

• LLCs and corporations come with formal requirements like state reports.
• These articles and related content is not a substitute for the guidance of a lawyer (and especially for questions related to GDPR), tax, or compliance professional.
• The more you can standardize, the more streamlined your business model will be when you get clients.
• Your company’s legal business name is YOUR name—so you’ll need a DBA to operate under any other name.

Health insurance is a much sought-after benefit if you plan to hire employees. If your virtual bookkeeping firm has employees in several states, you may want to work with an insurance agent to find coverage that works for all your employees. This is very inspirational right now, thank you for the information. I am currently working on starting a virtual office management service, specializing in bookkeeping. I was researching client intake forms for bookkeeping when I came across your site. I am currently signed up with QBO Accountant and about halfway through the certification process.

Get a Head Start on Your Accounting Workflows with This Free Resource

And if you occupy a niche specialty or focus on a particular industry, you’ll stand out from the competition. Choosing the right bookkeeping software is one of the most important steps in setting up a bookkeeping business. Starting your own business may seem overwhelming, but the process is surprisingly manageable. Here’s how to start a bookkeeping business in just nine simple steps. In many cases, your future plans as a bookkeeping business owner will likely involve a combination of all three.

Small business owners don’t care about which automated software they’re on, so just pick the one you like best. Next, set up a separate meeting to present the 3 service options you’ve created to your client to be rather than just blindly sending a proposal. After potential clients contact you, you’ll schedule a meeting for your initial consultation, aka discovery call. This is arguably the most critical step in the entire process to acquire and find new clients. To get bookkeeping clients, click here for a ton more marketing strategies. This is my favorite marketing strategy in the bookkeeping profession to get bookkeeping clients.