How To Start A Home-Based Bookkeeping Business
For most, the ultimate dream is to quit their nine to five jobs to start their own home-based business. Lots of folks let those dreams pass because one, they think it will cost too much money to invest. And two, it will take years to develop and who has that kind of time.
The truth is there are some businesses out there that do not take a lot of money to start and instead of years, only months to build. The possibilities are endless, you just have to find out what it is you love to do, make a plan and then put that plan into action.
And it starts with a self-check. For instance, start with your career. For instance, let’s say you work as an accountant or bookkeeper. If you love working with people and numbers, that would make a great home-based business.
But before starting a home-based bookkeeping business make you’re in it for the long haul and are passionate about what you’d be doing. Some questions you want to ask yourself are:
- Do I love numbers?
- Do I enjoy working with people?
- Do I pay attention to details?
- Am I analytical?
- Am I organized?
- Can I meet deadlines?
Starting Your Own Home-Based Bookkeeping Business
There will always be a need for an independent bookkeeper. Businesses can’t afford to lose track of their expenses especially during downtime otherwise, they won’t be in business for long. And an individual who wants to save money can benefit from having a bookkeeper to keep tabs of their spending habits to avoid useless spending.
What Does A Bookkeeper Do
A bookkeeper keeps track of a client’s day to day transactions. They are responsible for keeping all supporting documents such as purchase invoices, receipts and payments. It’s detailed and kept organized on a general ledger or more commonly done nowadays with finance software such as Quickbooks.
Experience
If you have accounting experience through employment, you’re ready to take on clients without needing any special training.
But if you don’t have experience but would love to become a bookkeeper you can check your local community colleges for available courses.
There are also online courses available. While I was researching for them I came across Account Coach. It’s a website that offers free basic accounting training. They also have a Pro version. For $49 it includes exam questions, business forms, and printable material.
You don’t get certified for completing their course but according to their FAQs their course has helped people pass a CPA exam. They’re BBB accredited with an A+ rating. And since you don’t need to be certified to do basic bookkeeping, I think it would worth a look.
Get Certified To Run A Bookkeeping Business
If you do decide to get your certification you can check out the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers or the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers.
Being a certified bookkeeper will not only give you a leading edge in landing clients but you can also offer a variety of other services.
Registering Your Bookkeeping Business
Every state has different laws regarding starting a new business. Check with your state and register your business according to their regulations.
Building Clientele and Promoting Your Bookkeeping Business
Spread the word to friends and family and ask them to spread the word about it. You can also join site like Bookkeeping Directory and other online directories to gain exposure.
Promoting your business doesn’t have to cost much. For starters, you can create a website to promote your services, rates, and showcase your clients. Include an About Me page to give a little about yourself, your skills, and experience. Add testimonials and offer incentives like refer-a-friend to gain new ones.
Set up social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn with a complete profile about your services and a link to your website.
Wrapping Up
Well, I hope I’ve covered all there is to start your own home-based bookkeeping business. Good luck in pursuing your home-based business dream!
