Your 10 Biggest Questions Answered (Plain & Simple)
You help small businesses keep track of their money—what comes in, what goes out.
1. Do I need a certificate?
No. You need to be good with numbers, organized, and honest. Can you use a spreadsheet to track expenses and income? That’s your skill.
What to do instead:
- Take the free QuickBooks Online certification course
- Practice with your own personal budget in Excel or Google Sheets
- Offer to do a friend’s simple bookkeeping for free to practice
2. What’s the minimum I need to spend?
$0 to start learning.
- Google Sheets (free) for practice
- YouTube tutorials on basic bookkeeping
- Free trials of accounting software
To get clients: QuickBooks Online Accountant (free for accountants, $50/month for clients)
3. How do I describe what I do?
DON’T say: “I do accounting.” (Sounds too technical)
DO say: “I help small business owners understand their money by organizing their income and expenses each month.”
Services:
- “Monthly bookkeeping and financial organization”
- “Bank statement reconciliation and expense tracking”
- “Profit and loss statement preparation”
- “QuickBooks/Xero setup and training”
4. Where do I find my VERY first client?
Start with solopreneurs and very small businesses:
- Freelancers (writers, designers, photographers)
- Small service businesses (cleaners, handymen, tutors)
- Facebook groups for small business owners
- Local business networking events
Message: “Stressed about bookkeeping? I help small business owners like you get organized and understand your numbers. First month 50% off.”
5. How much do I charge?
First Clients: $200-$400 per month for basic bookkeeping.
Example pricing:
- Basic Package: $250/month (up to 50 transactions)
- Standard Package: $400/month (up to 100 transactions)
- Clean-Up Project: $300 one-time to fix messy books
- Hourly: $25-35/hour for small projects
Payment: Monthly, in advance.
6. What does bookkeeping work look like? Step-by-step
Project: “Monthly Bookkeeping for a Freelance Designer”
Monthly tasks (4-6 hours/month):
- Gather documents (bank statements, receipts, invoices)
- Categorize transactions in QuickBooks (income, expenses, taxes)
- Reconcile accounts (make sure bank matches your records)
- Generate reports (Profit & Loss statement)
- Meet with client (15 min) to explain what the numbers mean
Deliverables each month:
- Clean, categorized transactions
- Reconciliation report
- Simple Profit & Loss statement
- Questions about anything unusual
7. How do I handle payment safely?
Monthly retainer paid before work begins.
Use invoicing through QuickBooks or PayPal. First-time clients pay for first month before you start.
Clear agreement: Exactly what’s included, how many transactions, response time for questions.
8. What’s the #1 beginner mistake?
Mixing personal and business transactions. This creates a huge mess.
Golden rule: Keep everything separate. Business bank account, business credit card. If it’s mixed, clean it up first before doing anything else.
9. How do I know if I’m good enough?
You’re good enough if:
- You can balance your own checkbook
- You’re organized and detail-oriented
- You can explain simple financial concepts
- You’re comfortable learning new software
Test: Do a friend’s bookkeeping for one month. Can you find all their transactions? Do the numbers make sense to them? If yes, you’re ready.
10. What’s the next step?
Get certified in QuickBooks or Xero (makes you more valuable).
After basic bookkeeping, offer: tax preparation assistance, financial reporting, payroll setup, business advisory services.
Your Action Plan:
- Today: Sign up for QuickBooks Online Accountant (free)
- Tomorrow: Complete the free QBO certification course
- This week: Offer to do one month of bookkeeping for a friend’s side business at 50% off