How to Start a Bookkeeping Business

Identifying current assets can help you get leverage for a small business loan. We created service bundles and marketed them, then reacted to what customers https://www.bookstime.com/management-accounting said. The best way to find out if they’ll actually pay for something is to charge them for it and see if they still think it’s a good idea.

This will govern how you pay taxes as a small-business owner, but also what kind of liability protection you have in case something goes wrong and how you’ll structure your business. Before you choose your business name, make sure someone else isn’t already using it, lest clients get confused. Also, run the name by a few people to see the impression they get of it. Once you have your finalists, run the names through your secretary of state’s business name database to make sure it’s available.

Low Start-Up Costs

It all begins with getting your accounting software set up correctly. Look at the item in question and determine what account it belongs to. For example, when money comes from a sale, it will credit the how to start a bookkeeping service sales revenue account. Making sure transactions are properly assigned to accounts gives you the best view of your business and helps you extract the most helpful reports from your bookkeeping software.

When you decide to go into business for yourself, a big part of your decision may be the thought of making your own hours and working less. The only way to make that transition a reality is by time management. The American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers, for example, grants the Certified Bookkeeper Designation. To earn this certification, you must submit evidence of at least two years of full-time bookkeeping experience, sign a code of ethics, and pass a four-part certification exam.

Tips for Starting a Bookkeeping Service Business

This could help you build credibility inside that segment, as well as help you hone your skills. Additionally, determining your target audience will be simple if you have a specialty. To help determine your niche, you should also research the market to determine what bookkeeping businesses are already established and which industries they serve. A bookkeeper’s work is applicable across many different types of industries — after all, every business needs to track and optimize its finances. However, to help market your business and set it apart amongst the competition, you may decide to specialize in a specific industry.

• These exams test your knowledge of analyzing business transactions, payroll taxes, financial statements, and more.
• Other smaller firms may require reports only at the end of the year in preparation for doing taxes.
• For a small business, this can be a great way to get the benefits of having a dedicated bookkeeper and accountant without the need to build out your own accounting and bookkeeping department.
• However, depending on a bookkeeper’s location, niche, and clients, they may command a higher salary, sometimes reaching $50,000 per year or above.
• This trend creates ample opportunities to start a bookkeeping business.
• You can also find remote jobs on job board websites such as Indeed.

Bookkeeping work and accounting work consist of repetitive tasks, so having repeating tasks are a great way to automate the creation of them. Not only did I run my last own firm on it, but I also run my current business on it. When you get clients and establish a team, you’ll want the option of being able to work remotely.