How To Start A Bookkeeping Business

Many bookkeepers, or individuals that have done “a bit of bookkeeping” ponder about the thought of starting their own book keeping business. Contact us for more details

Have you really thought the situation through? Here’s some points to consider in your decision making process:
1) Small businesses outsource a bookeeper because they don’t know how to do the books / don’t have time/ don’t wan’t to / don’t like doing the books. In most instances they don’t know what’s required – they just “want it done” – but often you (as the client’s book-keeper) can talk with their accountant to see what the accountant specifically requires for this client.

2) When a business is seeking a bookkeeper, they want the bookkeeper yesterday, but often they won’t give you all the information until “next week” !!!! They may not even be ready for you to start for a few months

3) Generally hours are by mutual agreement – it’s not a “boss / employee” situation

4) Some businesses may require you to work on their premises – no matter what – and it’s normally during business hours – others you can pick up and do at home – they just want it done by the required deadlines

5) Time frames – Put yourself in their position – if you wanted a baby-sitter and the baby sitter only turned up when they felt like it, how would you feel? If you wanted your car serviced, would you mind if the mechanic took weeks to fix your car?

6) Hourly rate – you don’t get sick leave / holiday pay / super / etc – so you need to allow for that in your calculations

7) Are you ready to start your own business?
a) Only you can decide – you may have the skills, but do you have the desire, the discipline and motivation to work for yourself?
b) A business owner expects their bookkeeper to do their books FOREVER – they do not want a new bookkeeper each week
c) You can’t just “give it a try” – you either take the splunge or you don’t – and once you’ve started – you need to keep going

8 ) Get yourself a five year plan – part time 20 / 30 hours per week and you could earn $800 – $1000 pw – so where do you see yourself in five years?
We’ve got clients that we’ve serviced for many years. As one client siad to one of our bookkeepers : ” I’ve known you for a longer period of time than I knew any of my ex-wives. It’s like you are part of the family!!”

We have a service whereby we help experienced bookkeepers source clients – we do not work with every bookkeeper, and neither do we take on every client – we are looking to get the right / client / bookkeeper teamed up, so that everybody wins.Contact us for more details