How To Start a Bookkeeping Business in 8 Steps

Jargon should never overwhelm conversations to the point that you are unable to comprehend what is being said. Your bookkeeper should be able to explain your books to you in a language that you understand. Here are the things a bookkeeper or bookkeeping software solution should offer you if you’re ready to get started. Accountants can analyze the big picture of your financial situation and offer strategic advice. The accountant prepares key financial documents, such as a profit-and-loss statement, if necessary, and files a company’s tax returns. Depending on the job description and location, internal, part-time rates average around $20/hour. Typically, they perform basic bookkeeping duties and will need to be supervised and managed.

• Develop an online presence with a website that is optimized for search.
• When there is a proper system in place that avoids problems such as skimming fraud, the recorded financial data can provide valuable, actionable insight.
• A CIA is an accountant who has been certified in conducting internal audits.
• By following your suggestions, I recently switched to hourly to monthly contracts and it was really helpful to me.
• Bookkeeper360 is in a unique position to meet all of these needs as we are a one-stop shop for bookkeeping, accounting, and advisory services.
• Bookkeeping services include the recording of information used by accountants, meaning that bookkeeping and accounting go hand in hand.

If your business is a side project with a limited budget, you can probably get by going the DIY route. You might still consider consulting with a CPA or bookkeeper at the beginning, just to make sure you’re doing everything right. But most businesses in the hobbyist stage can get by using either a simple spreadsheet or one of the many accounting or bookkeeping software solutions on the market. At tax time, the burden is on you to show the validity of all of your expenses, so keeping supporting documents for your financial data like receipts and records is crucial.

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For example, you may find yourself in a dispute with a vendor or under audit by the government. Without clean financial records, you may be at risk of paying settlements or tax penalties for avoidable financial errors. You also may be able to prevent or uncover fraud, whether from customers, vendors, or employees.

A CIA is an accountant who has been certified in conducting internal audits. To receive this certification, an accountant must pass the required exams and have two years of professional experience. There is a difference between an accountant and a certified public accountant . Although both can prepare your tax returns, a CPA is more knowledgeable about tax codes and can represent you if you get audited by the IRS. Bookkeepers aren’t required to be certified to handle the books for their customers or employer, but licensing is available. Both the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers and the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers offer accreditation and licensing to bookkeepers. Most often, their reports go to business owners and managers to help them make decisions.

You’re worried you don’t know enough to be able to help clients or answer all their questions.

Quickbooks online is a fantastic software for small businesses, as it is one of the most widely-used accounting tools available. It is scalable, has tons of integrations, and includes a responsive mobile app for working on the go. If you plan to lease office space, then your mailing address will be wherever your office is located. However, if you plan to set up a home office, you’ll need to obtain a business mailing address so that you don’t have to use your home address. This will make your business appear more professional and maintain your privacy. Now that you’ve organized your business, you can start setting up operations, like getting the right small business insurance and opening a separate business checking account. It’s important to separate your business operations from your personal finances to make your accounting easier and potentially affect your liability in the event of a lawsuit.

Personally, our health insurance goes through my husband’s employment, so I don’t pay anything for that through my business. However, that is something to consider as a contractor, and that is a fairly significant expense each month.

How Much Do Bookkeeping Services for Small Businesses Cost?

Bookkeepers can be certified in various financial platforms, such as QuickBooks, or via training programs. You can also choose to become a certified public bookkeeper to market yourself better as a bookkeeping professional. Usually, the entry-level salary for both bookkeepers and accountants tends to be similar; however, the earning potential of an accountant tends to increase as their career progress. It is not uncommon for an experienced bookkeeper to make a career transition into accounting or another profession. As bookkeepers work closely with raw data, they tend to develop a good understanding of how a business works. Acquiring the right bookkeeper can be an integral part to a smooth and successful business. Discover how Marie Porolniczak can provide the business bookkeeping solutions for your business.

Bookkeeping services include the recording of information used by accountants, meaning that bookkeeping and accounting go hand in hand. Our bookkeepers are skilled at keeping accurate records of purchases, sales, payments, receipts, and journal entries, but our business accounting services go far beyond just bookkeeping.

What credentials does an accountant need?

The basis for financial reporting comes out of generally accepted accounting practices or GAAP. Bookkeepers should familiarize themselves with the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification, which includes guidelines for recording specific transactions. “These can then be sent to the accountant to produce the year-end accounts. Bookkeepers also prepare….and offer tax returns and payroll duties. There are many reasons why you might want to start a bookkeeping business. Maybe you’ve worked as an in-house bookkeeper for a business and you’re ready to take the plunge for yourself. So why not partner with our accountants today to accelerate your business growth.Send us an email at or send us a message on our chat box or contact form.

He then taught tax and accounting to undergraduate and graduate students as an assistant professor at both the University of Nebraska-Omaha and Mississippi State University. Tim is a Certified QuickBooks Time Pro, QuickBooks ProAdvisor for both the Online and Desktop products, as well as a CPA with 25 years of experience. He most recently spent two years as the accountant what is a bookkeeper at a commercial roofing company utilizing QuickBooks Desktop to compile financials, job cost, and run payroll. The fee starts at $39 for one year and includes a subscription to a monthly newsletter, free accounting, payroll, and QuickBooks help on a member answer line and other benefits. When starting out, you should keep your costs low by setting up a home office.