Starting a Bookkeeping Business

If you’re a bookkeeper or have financial qualifications what about running your own bookkeeping business ?

You need some background in finance if you’re thinking of starting a bookkeeping business but there is no requirement for formal qualifications. If you have none then you can get qualified from the Institute of bookkeepers or standard accounting qualifications.

With most businesses you’ll need customers and marketing is key. It’s generally smaller business owners that retain the services of a bookkeeper and the work will be varied as you’ll get all the small sole traders such as electricians and plumbers and small family run companies.

Generally it’ll be work in updating sales and purchase ledgers with invoices from customers and suppliers and reconciling this with the bank account statements on a regular, perhaps monthly basis.

Once you have a few customers your business should grow by word of mouth as companies need someone realiable, trustworthy and keeps records in complete confidence. Sometimes you may have to deal with HMRC for tax and employee issues but most cases are fairly straight forward.

So if you have a background in finance or are at home with “numbers” then starting a bookkeeping business may be an opportunity for you to earn extra money or as a full time career.

Posted in Business Ideas | 5 Comments »

5 Comments - have your say

1. Sylvia Jaumann Says:

   I’ve been doing this for many years and have found that once I got a few clients going, the “word of mouth” spread fast.

   Also, I made sure I let everyone I spoke to know that I had a bookkeeping business. Someone always seems to know someone else who is looking for a bookkeeper because it’s so hard to find competent bookkeepers (apparently).

2. Gary Says:

   I personally think that the key to starting a bookkeeping business is how to secure your first few clients.

   That’s why the first thing you need to do to open your own bookkeeping business is to find your first client.

   I believe the rest of the things such as getting ready your basic tools are of secondary importance. Just my two cents.

3. Henry Says:

   Hi,

   I am with the ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) and they have been very helpful.

   If you are in the UK you need a licence before you can work now.

4. David Morson Says:

   One of my friends is doing job as an accountant in an organization for many years. I will persuade him to read this post to have some better choice of his source of income. I am sure that he would have never thought of such an idea before.

5. Beverley Hall Says:

   In my experience I think that if you are considering being a freelance bookkeeper it would be wise to work for a small accountancy firm first. These small practices get all the horrible bookkeeping jobs from businesses that are out of control and have lost paperwork. Once you have dealt with these you will have the confidence to face any problem head on.

   Thanks

   Bev

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