How to Start a Bookkeeping Business 1-2-3
As a professional bookkeeper, you keep records of financial transactions for companies, families or
individuals. Bookkeepers make the financial entries into the books, whereas accountants create reports (such as
income statements or balance sheets) from these entries.
Sometimes bookkeepers are referred to as "accounting clerks", but they simply record the day-to-day
transactions of their clients in what is commonly called a daybook.
Bookkeeping is now usually done on a computer because it can done more quickly. Documents and other
financial data can also be kept online for easier access to both bookkeepers and accountants who share the
information. This makes for a very convenient and efficient home-based business. Outright.com provides free
online bookkeeping to small businesses and bookkeepers.
Penn Foster Career School is the largest accredited online career school, and they offer a bookkeeping training course
that you can take from home. You can then become certified by the American Institute of Professional
Bookkeepers, which is essential in gaining the trust of your clients.
You don't need to invest a lot of money in equipment or supplies when you start your bookkeeping business. A
computer and standard accounting software can
enable you to handle most basic jobs.
Checklist for Starting a Bookkeeping Practice:
1. Start by putting
together a business plan. Using a bookkeeping business plan template
makes this step easier.
2. Obtain the necessary business licenses. Check with your local government
office to find out which licenses and permits you need for your bookkeeping business.
3. Set up a business
bank account with your local bank. It is important to keep your bookkeeping business and personal
finances separate.
4. Arrange a meeting with an accountant to discuss tax strategies and ways
to maximize your business tax deductions. You
can get referrals from other business owners you know or sometimes your banker.
5. Register your business name with the
county clerk. You can also incorporate
or form an LLC.
6. Meet with an insurance agent to discuss insurance you may need for your
bookkeeping business. The IIABA (Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America) can be a good
place to start. You can also get free quotes online for business insurance.
7. Set up your business phone system. Whether you use a
toll-free 800 phone number, a
multi-line phone system, VoIP or simply add an additional phone number to your existing service, you'll
want a designated line to establish a professional business image.
8. 
Order business cards. One of the
cheapest ways I know of to advertise a business. See how you can design your own professional business
cards online, plus simple tips for increasing your sales (Free Business Cards). See also Design Your Own Logo.
9. Get a website. Save money by creating your own website with simple online design
programs, or outsource the job to an affordable website designer. even if you just display information about your bookkeeping
services on your site, it's important to take advantage of this low-cost marketing resource that can help
you gain clients.
How to Start a Bookkeeping Business
Business Resources for Bookkeepers:
How Bookkeepers and Accountants Get New Clients
Steve McIntyre-Smith teaches professional accountants worldwide how to make more money. You'd think this is
the exact guy you want to talk to, but so does everyone else. He works only with accounting companies - with a
proven marketing system for accountants who usually don't know anything about marketing.
You can access his accountant business resources online at his insightful website. It's worth a look, seeing
that he's been helping other small business accountants succeed for over a decade. Marketing for
Accountants
Finding Bookkeeping Jobs
Whether you want to find customers or do freelance work as an independent contractor, online job sites can
be a good way to find work and clients.
Why? Some companies looking to hire may be open to outsource to an independent contractor
because they don't have to incur hiring fees. You can also set up a partnership where you pay them a referral
fee for any customers they send you.
More Tips for Finding Bookkeeping Clients
- Get
Found Locally - Online
Some people don't use the yellow pages or local newspapers or publications to find products and services in
their city - they look online, and you don't want to miss these savvy customers. Local Search is a
quickly-growing advertising space that is an easy, low cost way to reach your local target market.
- Postcard
Marketing
Do a postcard mailing to introduce your bookkeeping service to potential customers in your neighborhood.
Using low-cost online services makes this an easy marketing task. First, decide on a special offer or hold
a grand opening sale. Second, design your postcards online using professional postcard templates
with VistaPrint (you can get
50% off here). And third, get targeted leads from a lead generation company like Resource Nation.
Bookkeeping Business Associations
- American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers
The bookkeeping profession's association recognizing bookkeeping as a profession and bookkeepers as
professionals, and certifying those bookkeepers who meet high, national standards.
- National Association of Public Certified Bookkeepers
NACPB is America's leading public bookkeeper association providing the nation's leading public bookkeeper
association benefits, training, continuing professional education, certifications, and licensure.
- National Bookkeepers Association
NBA is America's leading bookkeeper association providing America's leading bookkeeper association
benefits, training, and certifications.
