A woman works at a standing desk with dual monitors in a bright, modern bookkeeping office.

Bookkeeping Business Planning: What to Expect Early On

by

What to Expect From This Guide to Starting a Bookkeeping Business

This guide walks you through the key decisions and practical steps for starting a bookkeeping business, from checking fit to preparing for your first paying client. The highlights below cover selected areas, not everything inside.

Inside the guide, you will find:

  • Startup steps: Follow an ordered sequence from choosing a business model through registration, tools, pricing, security, insurance, and a test month.
  • Business fit: Weigh your motivation, comfort with detail, and tolerance for deadlines, plus warning signs that may change your plans.
  • Daily reality: See what a typical day involves, including the parts owners often enjoy and the parts they find hard.
  • Financial planning: Learn what to price out, how break-even logic works, and how funding and operating capital fit into your plan.
  • Local requirements: Find the licensing, zoning, tax identification, and federal tax authorization questions to verify before you take paid clients.
  • Industry interviews: Hear experiences and practical observations from people who run bookkeeping businesses, including how they found clients.
  • Common questions: Find concise answers about credentials, part-time starts, client capacity, subcontractors, and sales tax.

The guide opens with whether bookkeeping suits your motivation and daily routine, since both shape every decision that follows.

Overview of a Bookkeeping Business

As a bookkeeper, you help small business owners keep accurate financial records so they can see what happened each month.

Most of your bookkeeping happens in accounting software, with supporting documents stored securely.

Your bookkeeping often produces monthly reports, reconciled bank accounts, and cleaner records that a tax professional can use.

Any new business also follows a general startup process, and this guide covers what is specific to bookkeeping.

Common services you can offer include:

  • Monthly bookkeeping (recording and categorizing transactions)
  • Bank and credit card reconciliations
  • Accounts payable support (bill tracking and scheduling support)
  • Accounts receivable support (invoicing support and payment tracking)
  • Month-end close support (consistent reporting package)
  • Cleanup and catch-up projects (bringing books up to date)
  • Payroll support (software-based payroll tasks with client authorization)
  • Sales tax support where it applies (tracking and filing support based on state rules)
  • Systems setup (chart of accounts setup, bank feeds, workflow setup)

Is a Bookkeeping Business a Good Fit for You?

A bookkeeping business fits best when you enjoy detailed, repeatable tasks like reconciliations and can stay patient with messy records.

You are choosing more than a service to sell. You are choosing a daily routine, a stress level, and a responsibility level.

On a normal day, bookkeeping asks for focus, consistency, and comfort with details like reconciliations and transaction coding.

If you dislike repeatable routines, this business may drain you quickly.

Passion matters here in a quiet way.

When a client’s records are messy or documents are missing, you need patience to solve problems step by step.

Are you moving toward something or running away from something?

If your only reason is to escape a job, ease financial pressure, or chase status, pause and rethink.

Those reasons can be part of your story, but you still need genuine interest in the bookkeeping itself to stick with it.

Take a reality check on income. Income can be uneven in the first months.

You may also spend long hours building your onboarding packet, setting up tools, and fixing issues that only appear once you test your workflow.

For a deeper fit review, use Points to Consider Before Starting Your Business as a guide to the bigger ownership questions.

Talk only to bookkeeping owners you will not compete against, such as owners in a different city, region, or service area.

Prepare your questions before each conversation, since firsthand experience helps even though every owner’s path differs.

Fit questions to ask yourself:

  • Do I enjoy detailed tasks like reconciling accounts and spotting errors?
  • Can I handle client deadlines and still protect quality?
  • Am I comfortable asking for access, documents, and clear answers?
  • Can I keep client information secure every day?
  • Do I want remote-only work, or do I need local, in-person contact?

Questions to ask a non-competing owner:

  • What surprised you most about getting your first clients set up in accounting software?
  • What do you put in your engagement letter to prevent scope creep?
  • What do you wish you had standardized before you took your first paid client?
  • Which parts of onboarding take the most time in the first months?

For a structured way to gather these insights, use Inside Advice From Real Business Owners as your interview framework.

Red Flags Before You Start

Several conditions should make you pause, narrow your service list, or change your model before you spend on tools or filings.

Watch for these start-or-stop warning signs:

  • Routine data entry is easy to automate. Software handles much repetitive entry, so plan to offer review and reporting too.
  • No credential keeps competition open. Many generalists offer similar services, so a clear niche and scope help you stand out.
  • Income can be uneven at first. Recurring monthly fees take time to build, so confirm you can cover costs and living expenses meanwhile.
  • Larger clients may require insurance. Some ask for proof of coverage before signing, so price insurance before you quote.
  • Deadlines cluster at month-end and tax time. Busy periods can mean long days, so consider another model if deadline pressure drains you.
  • Client records carry responsibility. You control sensitive financial information, so integrity and security are not optional.

Each warning sign is a reason to verify further, reduce risk, or adjust your model before you commit.

A Day in the Life of Running a Bookkeeping Business

A typical day centers on coding transactions, reconciling accounts, preparing reports, and answering client questions, mostly on a computer.

Core tasks include checking bank feeds, coding transactions, reconciling accounts, and producing reports for each client.

Other recurring tasks include invoicing, tracking overdue accounts, and following up with clients for missing documents or answers.

Much of your day is independent. Clients mostly want tasks finished by the due date. They rarely track when you do the work.

Your first weeks with each client involve extra setup.

Expect to explain your scope, confirm bank-feed access, clean up prior months, resolve reconciliation exceptions, and deliver your first reporting package securely.

Your workload also shifts through the year. Month-end, year-end, and tax time can bring longer days to meet deadlines.

What owners often enjoy:

  • Flexible hours, since much of the work is not tied to meetings
  • Recurring monthly billing, which makes income more predictable
  • Working remotely or from home with cloud-based software
  • Mostly independent tasks, which suit people who prefer quiet focus

What owners often find hard:

  • Deadline pressure around month-end and tax time
  • Clients who do not supply everything you need, including records that require cleanup
  • Setting firm boundaries, since being too accommodating can lead to unpaid extras
  • Finding clients, which takes outreach and bookkeeping skill
  • Handling a growing client list alone, since complex clients take more time than expected

Does a day built around detail, deadlines, and client follow-ups sound like a routine you want?

Step 1: Choose Your Bookkeeping Business Model

Pick the model that matches your life and risk comfort, since it shapes your costs, schedule, and local rules.

Most owners start solo, and many work from a home office or remotely.

The wrong model can force extra spending before you have steady clients.

Common models to choose from:

  • Solo virtual bookkeeper (remote-only monthly clients)
  • Local hybrid bookkeeper (some on-site support plus remote work)
  • Niche-focused practice (one industry or business type)
  • Subcontractor for an accounting firm (you follow their processes)
  • Small firm model (you hire additional bookkeepers later)

Step 2: Pick Your Customer Types and Check Local Demand

Choose the customer types you will serve, then confirm that enough of them need the services you plan to offer.

Bookkeeping clients are usually other businesses, not the general public. Your best clients often want consistent monthly support, not a one-time fix.

Choose types that match your comfort with tools and complexity.

This single decision changes your workflow, your software needs, and your risk.

Customer types commonly served include:

  • Sole proprietors and small businesses that need ongoing service
  • Startups that need systems set up before sales scale
  • Service businesses (consultants, agencies, and trades)
  • Ecommerce sellers with multiple sales channels
  • Professional offices with steady bills and payments
  • Nonprofits that may need specialized tracking based on their reporting needs

Before you commit to a niche, test demand for it.

Talk with owners you hope to serve, and review how other bookkeepers describe their services and structure their fees.

Use this guide to local supply and demand to organize that research.

Step 3: Decide What You Will Offer and What You Will Not Do

Define a core service list, a list of paid extras, and a list of tasks you refuse before you quote any client.

Bookkeeping can drift into “everything finance-related” if you skip boundaries.

A clear limit up front is easier than an awkward correction after clients expect free extras.

Start by defining your core services:

  • Transaction recording and categorization
  • Bank and credit card reconciliations
  • Month-end close support and a standard reports package
  • Cleanup and catch-up projects
  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable support (if you choose)
  • Payroll support using payroll software (if you choose)
  • Sales tax support where it applies (if you choose)

Then list what you will not do. Examples include tax return preparation or Internal Revenue Service (IRS) representation, unless you are qualified and set up for it.

Step 4: Select Your Accounting Software and Vendor Accounts

Choose the accounting platforms you will support, then build your templates and workflow around them.

Bookkeeping lives in software, so keep this choice simple.

Standard templates save you from rebuilding them for every new client.

Common stack components include:

  • Accounting software (such as QuickBooks Online or Xero)
  • Spreadsheet software for supporting schedules and checklists
  • Secure cloud storage and secure file sharing
  • PDF tool for statements and supporting documents
  • E-signature tool for engagement letters and authorizations
  • Time tracking if you plan to bill hourly

Most of your suppliers are software and service vendors.

Each vendor has its own terms and security options, so choose vendors that fit your workflow and security needs.

Vendor types commonly used:

  • Accounting software vendor and any add-ons you rely on
  • Payroll software vendor if you offer payroll support
  • Secure storage and secure file sharing provider
  • E-signature provider for agreements and authorizations
  • Payment processor for online payments
  • Domain registrar and website host
  • Insurance carrier or broker

Physical inventory, minimum order quantities, and shipping lead times typically do not apply, because bookkeeping is a service.

Step 5: List Your Equipment and Workspace Needs Before You Spend

Most bookkeeping needs no specialty equipment, but a weak computer or sloppy document handling creates avoidable problems.

Buy for stability and security, not flashy extras.

Essential equipment categories include:

  • Computer and displays: laptop or desktop, one to two monitors, webcam and headset
  • Networking and security: reliable internet, secure router, password manager, multi-factor authentication capability
  • Document handling: scanner or all-in-one printer if paper is expected, shredder, locking file cabinet if you store paper records
  • Office basics: desk, chair, lighting, business phone line as needed
  • Core tools: secure storage, secure file sharing, e-signature, time tracking if billing hourly

Your physical setup matters even if you are remote-only. A stable workspace supports focus, security, and consistent delivery.

Choose a dedicated workspace with a door or privacy controls, plus locking storage if you keep paper records.

If you work from home, confirm home occupation rules and client-visit limits with your local planning and zoning office.

Step 6: Plan Your Startup Costs Using Real Cost Drivers

Your startup costs depend more on your setup choices than on the business type, so list every item and price it locally.

A remote solo bookkeeper has a different cost profile than an owner who leases office space.

Software and insurance prices change, so confirm current rates before you commit.

Common startup cost categories include:

  • State formation and registration filings (if forming an entity)
  • City or county business license and home occupation approvals if required
  • Insurance premiums (coverage selection changes cost)
  • Software subscriptions (accounting, payroll support tools if used, e-signature, storage, email)
  • Brand and digital setup (domain, website, basic brand assets)
  • Security controls (password manager, backups, endpoint protection as selected)
  • Professional help for setup (legal review or tax professional consult if needed)

Main cost drivers that change your total:

  • Home-based or remote-only versus leased office space
  • One standardized accounting stack versus supporting multiple platforms
  • Adding payroll support tools and payroll filing responsibilities
  • Security requirements based on the type of customer information you handle
  • Insurance limits required by clients or contracts

Your most accurate estimate comes from listing everything you need and pricing it based on your choices and local costs.

Step 7: Set Your Pricing Without Guessing

Bookkeeping pricing usually depends on volume and complexity, not just time, so define your scope before you quote.

Pricing without clear scope can trap you in underpaid tasks.

A good pricing method matches the service style you want to deliver.

Compare methods in this guide to pricing your products and services.

Common pricing methods include:

  • Monthly fixed-fee packages (tiered by complexity and volume)
  • Hourly billing (often used for cleanup or special projects)
  • Project pricing (cleanup, setup, or conversions)
  • Hybrid pricing (a monthly base plus out-of-scope hourly work)

Pricing factors to evaluate before you quote:

  • Transaction volume and number of bank and credit card accounts
  • Quality of documents and whether statements are consistent
  • Accounts payable and accounts receivable workload
  • Payroll support scope and number of workers if you support payroll
  • Number of sales channels and payment processors the client uses
  • Frequency of reporting and the deliverables you commit to

Step 8: Work Out Break-Even and Operating Capital

Break-even is the point where your monthly client fees cover your recurring costs, so calculate it with your own numbers before you spend.

Gather these inputs first:

  • Fixed monthly costs, such as software subscriptions, insurance, licenses, workspace, and loan payments
  • Your fee structure, including what a typical client pays monthly and what one-time cleanup projects add
  • Variable costs, such as payment processing and any subcontractor or hourly help
  • Your capacity, meaning how many clients you can serve without hurting quality

Estimate the clients you need by dividing your fixed costs by what each client contributes after variable costs.

Then compare that client count with what you can realistically serve alone.

Test the result against a slow ramp-up, since clients take time to sign and cleanup projects are one-time income.

Recurring monthly billing makes income more predictable, which shortens the gaps your savings must cover.

Operating capital is the cash that keeps your business running until client fees cover your costs.

List your fixed monthly costs and your personal living expenses, then decide how many months of both your savings must cover.

Running short of operating capital can force a startup to close, so plan this cushion before you open.

For help with revenue and profit estimates, see estimating profitability and revenue.

Step 9: Plan Your Funding

Decide how you will cover startup costs and operating capital before you commit to major purchases.

Options may include personal savings and, for some owners, loan programs such as Small Business Administration (SBA) microloans.

SBA microloans can cover working capital and supplies, and they go through SBA-approved intermediary lenders.

Before you apply anywhere, ask each lender or investor which documents they require.

The Business Plan section below pulls your costs, pricing, and break-even numbers together, so start drafting it as you go.

Compare options in this guide to how to get a business loan.

Step 10: Choose a Business Structure and Register the Business

Choose a business structure before you sign client agreements, because it affects your taxes and your personal liability.

A sole proprietorship does not separate your personal assets from business debts, while an LLC generally does.

Because you handle client financial records, weigh how much liability protection your situation calls for.

Send your final choice to an attorney and a tax professional.

Forming an entity happens at the state level, so your filing steps depend on where you live.

Compare options in this guide to choosing a business structure.

Practical actions to take:

  • Compare business structures and choose the one that fits your situation
  • File formation documents if you form an entity (such as an LLC)
  • Register an assumed name if you will use a name different from your legal name or entity name
  • Use your state’s business filing office and business entity search to confirm name availability

Step 11: Get an Employer Identification Number if You Need One

The Internal Revenue Service issues Employer Identification Numbers, and some businesses need one based on their setup.

Some banks also ask for one when you open an account.

Use the IRS application process and keep your confirmation with your formation records.

Step 12: Secure Your Business Name, Domain, and Brand Assets

Check your business name against your state’s business registry, then secure a matching domain before someone else does.

Your name affects your banking, your website, and client trust.

Even simple branding needs a clean identity and consistent client-facing documents.

Pre-opening brand essentials include:

  • Business name checked for conflicts in your state’s business registry
  • Domain registered and a professional email address set up
  • Social handles secured (even if you are not active yet)
  • Basic brand assets: logo, colors, fonts, invoice template, email signature
  • Simple website page with services, contact method, and service area if local

To explore trademark basics, start with United States Patent and Trademark Office guidance and confirm what applies to your name choice.

Step 13: Confirm Licenses, Zoning, and Home Office Rules Where You Live

Many bookkeepers work from home or remotely, but your city or county may still require a general business license.

Do not assume that online services mean no local rules.

Check your local business licensing portal and your planning and zoning office.

For a broader overview, see business licenses and permits.

What to verify locally:

  • Whether a city or county business license is required for a bookkeeping service
  • Whether home occupation approval is required for your address
  • Whether client visits are allowed at a home office
  • If leasing space, whether a certificate of occupancy is required before opening
  • If you plan signage, whether a local permit is required

Step 14: Decide Whether You Will Touch Tax Return Preparation or Payroll Filing

Decide whether you will prepare tax returns or file payroll returns for clients, because each choice adds credentials or IRS authorizations.

Bookkeeping and tax return preparation are not the same thing, so be clear about where your line sits.

If you prepare or help prepare federal tax returns for pay, the IRS requires a valid Preparer Tax Identification Number.

If you do not prepare returns, keep your service list aligned with bookkeeping and support tasks.

If you file certain federal payroll returns and make deposits for clients as a reporting agent, the IRS uses Form 8655 for authorization.

If you only support payroll inside payroll software, your authorization needs can look different.

If you need access to a client’s federal tax information, the IRS uses Form 8821 for tax information authorization.

Representation before the IRS is different, because Form 2848 requires someone who is eligible to practice before the IRS.

Confirm what you are allowed to do before you promise clients anything.

Step 15: Set Up Security Controls Before You Receive Client Data

Put multi-factor authentication, a password manager, and secure file sharing in place before any client sends records.

Bookkeeping involves sensitive customer information, so choose tools and habits that protect client records from the first day.

Security is easiest to build before you have active clients. After you are busy, changes feel painful and get delayed.

Core controls to put in place:

  • Multi-factor authentication on email, storage, and accounting software
  • Password manager for strong, unique passwords
  • Secure file sharing or a client portal instead of casual email attachments
  • Clear folder structure and access rules for each customer
  • Backup approach for critical business records

Some businesses may fall under the Federal Trade Commission Safeguards Rule and need a formal information security program.

If you handle taxpayer data for tax work, follow IRS safeguarding guidance and use it to shape your practices.

Step 16: Choose Insurance and Basic Risk Controls

Insurance needs depend on your setup, your contracts, and whether you have employees, so read client agreements before you sign.

One client contract can require specific coverage limits.

Some clients ask for proof of coverage before they hire you.

Separate what is required from what is common, so you do not mix the two.

Coverage that is commonly required only in certain situations:

  • Workers’ compensation: often required by state rules when you have employees

Coverage that is commonly selected by bookkeeping businesses:

  • Professional liability (often called errors and omissions)
  • General liability
  • Cyber liability
  • Business owners policy

Professional liability is usually not required by law, but some clients require proof of it.

For a broader overview, see business insurance.

Step 17: Set Up Banking and Payments Before You Accept Payments

Open a business bank account and keep business and personal finances separate.

Banks often request business documents, and requirements differ by bank, so ask what they need before your appointment.

Set up your invoicing and payment method before your first invoice goes out. You want clean payment terms, not awkward back-and-forth.

For a walkthrough, see how to open a business bank account.

Payment setup items to prepare:

  • Business bank account opened and tested
  • Invoice template or invoicing software selected
  • Payment methods chosen (bank transfer, card payments, check)
  • Payment processor configured if you accept cards

If you accept card payments, learn how Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard requirements apply. This matters most if you ever store card data.

Step 18: Create Your Client Onboarding Packet and Workflow

Build your onboarding packet before you accept your first paid client, even if you are starting part-time.

Your onboarding packet is your control system.

Without it, you chase documents, repeat explanations, and absorb tasks that belonged outside your scope.

Common onboarding items include:

  • Engagement letter or service agreement that states scope, deliverables, and payment terms
  • Client onboarding checklist (access, documents, timelines)
  • Access request list (bank feed access, accounting software access, payroll access if used)
  • Month-end close checklist for your internal use
  • Standard reporting package description (what they receive and when)

Get each engagement letter signed before you start any bookkeeping, and revise it when the scope changes.

Have an attorney review your letter template before you use it.

Small workflow gaps become daily annoyances, so build a repeatable path from first inquiry to the first delivered month-end package.

Your goal is fewer exceptions, not a custom process for every client.

A simple workflow can look like this:

  1. Discovery call to confirm customer type and service scope
  2. Engagement letter signed by the client
  3. Access setup (accounting software, bank feeds, payroll platform if used)
  4. Document setup (secure storage folders and naming rules)
  5. Chart of accounts review or setup
  6. Transaction work and categorization
  7. Bank and credit card reconciliation
  8. Month-end close and reporting package prepared
  9. Secure delivery of reports and a short summary note
  10. Invoice sent and payment received

If you need a reminder on staying consistent when things get hard, read How Passion Affects Your Business and apply it to your daily discipline.

Step 19: Decide Whether You Will Hire Help Before Opening

Most bookkeeping businesses begin as a solo operation, and hiring before you open adds payroll setup, employer registrations, and training needs.

Hiring increases capacity, but it also adds responsibility.

If you plan to hire before opening, train your team on your checklists so they deliver consistent work from the first day.

Hiring triggers to plan for:

  • Employer registrations for withholding and unemployment insurance in your state
  • Workers’ compensation requirements based on state rules
  • Defined workflow documents so tasks are done the same way every time

Step 20: Run a Test Month Before Your First Paid Client

A test month is the fastest way to spot weak links in your process while the stakes are low.

When you can complete a full cycle—transaction coding, reconciliation, reporting, and billing—you are much closer to being ready.

Test-run actions to complete:

  • Simulate a month of transactions and record them in your chosen software
  • Reconcile bank and credit card accounts
  • Create the reporting package you plan to deliver
  • Send a test invoice and confirm your payment flow works
  • Verify secure storage and secure delivery steps

Step 21: Plan How Your First Clients Will Find You

Pick a few ways for clients to find you, and commit to using them consistently while you build your first client base.

You do not need a complicated marketing system to start.

A quiet service business still needs visibility.

Common channels include:

  • Your personal and professional network
  • Referrals from business owners and professionals
  • Relationships with accountants and tax professionals (based on appropriate boundaries)
  • Local networking groups and community business events
  • A basic website and professional email presence
  • Clear online listings and a simple contact process

Step 22: Complete Your Pre-Opening Checklist

Confirm each item below before you accept paid work.

The goal is fewer surprises in the first month. Do not chase perfect—aim for stable, legal, and secure.

Setup and funding items:

  • Business structure chosen and registrations completed if needed
  • Employer Identification Number obtained if needed
  • Assumed name registration completed if you use a trade name
  • Local business license and home occupation approvals confirmed where required
  • Insurance coverage selected and any client-required proof ready
  • Funding and operating capital plan confirmed

Banking and payments:

  • Business bank account open and ready
  • Invoicing method selected and tested
  • Payment processor set up if accepting cards
  • Payment terms written into your agreement

Tools and security:

  • Multi-factor authentication active on critical accounts
  • Password manager in use
  • Secure file sharing method selected
  • Backup approach in place

Documents and workflow:

  • Engagement letter ready and reviewed
  • Client onboarding checklist ready
  • Month-end close checklist ready
  • Standard reports package defined

Brand and digital:

  • Domain secured and professional email active
  • Basic website page live with services and contact method
  • Invoice template and email signature created

Business Plan

Your business plan pulls your costs, pricing, funding, and break-even numbers into one document you can use to decide whether to move forward.

Start drafting it as you complete the earlier steps, then finish it once your costs, funding, pricing, and break-even inputs are in place.

Include these pieces:

  • Your business model, customer types, and service list
  • Your startup cost list and operating capital plan
  • Your pricing method and break-even calculation
  • Your funding choices and the documents each lender or investor requires
  • Your legal setup, licensing checks, and insurance plan
  • Your pre-opening checklist and test-month results

Profit potential depends on your fees, your capacity, and your costs, so use your own figures instead of borrowed averages.

Add a slow-period scenario so you know how long your savings can cover costs.

Keep the plan focused on startup decisions. For a template and walkthrough, see how to write a business plan.

Opening-Day Red Flags

Pause your opening if you cannot explain your scope plainly, lack an engagement letter, or send sensitive records through casual email.

Fixing these before you open avoids problems that are hard to correct once clients depend on you.

Common red flags include:

  • You cannot explain your scope in plain language without adding “extras”
  • You do not have an engagement letter or you plan to “add it later”
  • You rely on casual email attachments for sensitive customer records
  • You have not confirmed local licensing or home office rules
  • You plan to offer payroll filing or tax return preparation without the correct authorizations or credentials
  • You have not tested your month-end workflow from start to finish

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a degree, license, or certification to start a bookkeeping business?

No. There is no national bookkeeper license, and no degree is required to start bookkeeping for small businesses.

Certifications, such as the Certified Bookkeeper credential, are not usually required, though they can demonstrate competency.

Only state-licensed professionals may call themselves CPAs. For protected titles or regulated services, confirm the rules with your state agency.

Can I start a bookkeeping business part-time while keeping my job?

Yes. Some owners begin with a few clients on the side before moving to full-time.

Check your employment agreement for outside-work limits.

Plan your hours around month-end deadlines, because they can collide with a full-time schedule.

How many clients can I handle on my own?

It depends on how complex each client’s records are, so there is no fixed number.

One interviewed owner knows bookkeepers who are maxed out at five clients.

She also knows one who felt overwhelmed with 24 clients.

Track your hours per client for a few months, then compare them with your capacity before you add more.

Can I use subcontractors instead of employees?

Sometimes, but classification depends on the actual relationship, including how much control you have over how tasks are done.

One interviewed owner uses subcontractors and notes that state rules differ.

Check your state labor agency and IRS guidance before you bring anyone on as a contractor.

Do I need to collect sales tax on my bookkeeping fees?

It depends on your state, because taxability of services differs and sometimes local rules apply.

Confirm with your state tax or revenue agency before you set invoice terms or publish pricing.

Interviews With Bookkeeping Business Owners

Callie Sitek, Radical Profits Club

Callie Sitek owns Radical Profits Club, a remote bookkeeping business for coaches. She discusses her training, her first client, and her typical workday.

Her answers show how an owner trained online, found a first client, and built a flexible routine.

Read the Interview

Kristin Meador, Gradient Accounting

Kristin Meador, a Certified Public Accountant, runs Gradient Accounting, a remote firm. Her interview explains what bookkeepers do and how new bookkeepers find clients.

Her answers cover whether you need a degree and how bookkeeping differs from accounting. The page also promotes a training program.

Read the Interview

Ben Day, Lionshare Bookkeeping

Ben Day started Lionshare Bookkeeping as a side project and serves real estate investors. This podcast episode covers how he grew a team and shaped his goals.

He discusses using subcontractors, learning from mentors, and how his vision for the business changed.

Listen to the Interview

Related Articles

Sources: