Did you know 70 % of agencies in the USA close because they don’t follow a bookkeeping system? We don’t want that for you, and hence this digital copy would cover how to start a bookkeeping business and be a light bearer on how to do it from scratch.
Please note that bookkeeping is not rocket science, and hence your internal team would be learning it today for this 5-minute read. As a business owner or a thriving entrepreneur, if you are looking for “ how to start a bookkeeping business,” then this is your landing place.
How to start a bookkeeping business: Easy step-by-step method for Corporations
We have made several corporations start their bookkeeping business by providing them with insights, and they have been appreciating us for the breakthrough that we have given them. We would be providing you with a step-by-step method on how to do so the right way.
Method 1: Know your keeper
The first step and the most crucial one is knowing your bookkeeper. Now, what do we mean by that? For instance, you might contact a keeper who tells, “ Hey, I manage bookkeeping for all my clients.” This can strike a chord since you might be a Shopify business owner who wants somebody to manage your inventory and sales tax. You might be suitable for someone who says, “ Hey, I am your keeper for Shopify needs.”
This is a keeper who is aligned with your specific requirement. If you are an owner who wants to help your team develop booking skills, then you can learn that from courses available in Nacpb (National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers) and American institute of professional bookkeepers (Aicpb)
Method 2: Keep your business plan ready
Please note that whenever you contact a keeper or learn bookkeeping skills from a professional, they will tell you to show your business plan. If you don’t know how to write a business plan for your company, here is a website that you can refer to. Learning to have a business plan would be very important since it would provide you with the following
- A clear knowledge of the services you offer
- Your financial goals
- Your marketing strategy and planning
- Competitive advantages that you are seeking
Once this is done, you are ready for the third method
Method 3: Go for a professional rather than a freelancer
In no way, shape, or form are freelancers not great bookkeepers. Some are absolute gold, and we have experienced that firsthand. But the percentage is very low. Well, bookkeepers do not require credentials of a CPA (certified public accountant), so you cannot expect them to be as knowledgeable as a CPA.
But we would advise you to look for bookkeeping certifications if they are freelancers. Talk to them personally, ask them about their professional skills, and then decide our pick. Doing B2B would be a wise decision since then you would be getting a bookkeeper who is continuously trained and up to date with the industry standards.
How to start a bookkeeping business in 2026: Step-by-step for Individuals
1. Get yourself verified
If starting a bookkeeping business is like starting any other business, you need to get verified first. You need apply for employee identification number and then contact internal revenue services to set a name, business insurance, and open an account
2. Get yourself money verified
Now, once you have completed the first step, you are a bookkeeper. Now that’s just a title, and it would be treated as a hobby if you do not have clients and make money. This is when social media and in-person visits enter.
3. Get mad about media and visits
We know social media can be draining, but it is the fastest and easiest way to get yourself noticed. First, you need to hang out in media-rich platforms like LinkedIn and X.
The number of crowds that are looking for potential bookkeepers for their business is mad. Message them, meet them in person, and do calls all day until you land your first gig. After that would come referrals, and in no time, you are printing money like a drug dealer.
4. Don’t drain yourself
See, people are full of their needs and wants. So we would suggest that you clearly define what kind of clients you want to work with from the start, and that would save you from a lot of headaches.
Trust us, working with people who share your vision and views would be best; otherwise, it would be mentally draining for your soul. Clear boundaries and vision should be given first, so that you can be productive in the future and in the present.
5. List your services at the start
We want you to be a bookkeeper who is honest and works with integrity, and that is the reason we would advise you to list your services at the start. Don’t be someone who promises heaven and delivers hell. Thus, list the services that you know for sure that you are confident in. Some of the essentials that are required are :
- Account payable management services
- Payroll services
- Invoice management
- Budget management
- Tracking long-term assets
- Balance sheet
- Statement of cash flow
Pro tips
Certifications play a major role if you want your clients to take you seriously. Quickbooks online can do that for you. Most of the virtual bookkeepers use the tools and techniques suggested by this website. There are some alternative platforms to consider if you don’t want to be limited to QuickBooks, and these are Zoho Books, Xero, and Sage 50.
Just get started without thinking about the consequences
Dear reader, implementation is key, and knowledge is power. We have provided you with the knowledge, and all we want is for you to implement your bookkeeping skills as soon as possible.
Rewinding what we have said earlier: choose your market, get insured, get certified, market through socials and in person, and build your website. That’s it, and that’s all you need to do!
