10 Tips to Get More Clients as a Freelance Bookkeeper

Similarly, you should look for someone who has worked with a firm that is at a similar point as your firm in a business lifecycle. For instance, a high-growth start-up would have different bookkeeping needs compared to a 30-year-old automobile company. A bookkeeper isn’t expected to have a four-year accounting college degree.

Assist clients with website design and development, advertising, video marketing, search engine optimization, social media, and marketing strategies. Perform General Bookkeeping duties for variety of small business and high net worth personal accounts. Set-up and/or maintain accounting program files to ensure efficient work flow and accuracy of accounting activities. Performed all bookkeeping functions such as entering invoices and accounts. Liaised with bankers regarding banking issues and outside Accountants regarding financial reporting. Created and maintained balance sheets, income statements and cash flow analysis; write-ups as required.

Company

Ideally, the clients whose books you review most often should have a lower rate than those that you see on a one-time or annual basis. Monthly and quarterly clients often require less work than those you see once a year because you review their books more often. Danielle is a writer for the Finance division of Fit Small Business. She has owned a bookkeeping and payroll service that specializes in small business, for over twenty years. Get certified or licenses through an organization such as the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers or the National Bookkeepers Association.

If you do not file your profit and expenses, you are putting yourself at risk of being audited by the IRS. SimplyHired may be compensated by these employers, helping keep SimplyHired free for job seekers. SimplyHired ranks Job Ads based on a combination of employer bids and relevance, such as your search terms and other activity on SimplyHired. With access to 1M+ customer reviews and the pros’ work history, you’ll have all the info you need to make a hire. You’ll know how much your project costs even before booking a pro.

QuickBooks Live vs. Independent Bookkeepers:

TravelingTaxLady helped me complete my return when no-one else could. She understood the specific requirements of my return, and made a complex issue easy to understand. Let us take care of the bookkeeping details, let yourself focus on elevating business. This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice.

Often, you can find a variety of bookkeeping jobs posted across the different platforms. You’ll need a reliable internet connection and a laptop, along with a conferencing app that you’re happy with . You can also accept online payments with apps like Stripe or PayPal. That’s really handy if you end up selling a subscription accounting service (see 3. Create service bundles).

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She’s on a mission to help chart of accounts example seekers ditch their daily commute in favor of telecommuting. Find out more about what bookkeepers need to be successful during the free discovery series at Bookkeepers.com. This is one of theMOST WATCHED videos on my YouTube Channel, all about getting clients on Upwork.

• Academic background, years in the field and professional reputation all can affect an accountant’s rates.
• This will help you separate your financial status from your businesses.
• What companies are missing from this list of places to find freelance bookkeeping work?
• Everyone’s freelancing these days – accountants and bookkeepers included.

Most importantly, you must find a financial tracking system that works for you and stick to it. As an independent contractor, you have a lot more freedom than employees of most workplaces. You pay taxes on your own, set hours on your own, and you are your own boss. Now that both concerned entities have been identified, we must provide an accurate description of the job at hand. A checklist has been supplied to the first article (“I. Services”) allowing you to define the services the Accountant must supply to fulfill this agreement.

How much you’re charged will depend—as it does with a freelance bookkeeper—on how much time it takes for someone to do your books, and whether you have catch-up bookkeeping to be completed. The average hourly rate for freelance bookkeepers ranges from $26.91 to $43.57. Depending on your geographic location, this amount will be more or less than the average national rate of $34.67 per hour. Another option is to work as an in-house bookkeeper, which typically earn a salary of $49,672 per year, or the national average of $24 per hour. However, depending on where you live, average salaries can range from $71,500 to $27,500 per year. On average, individual tax preparation servicescost$242, and prices typically range from $137- $454.

Now that it requires fewer human resources to complete these basic accounting functions, freelance accountants and bookkeepers are less likely to need hired help. Because practically all business transactions are processed electronically, data entry doesn’t have to be a big cost anymore. An online accounting system can capture that data at source – be it from a bank account, an invoicing system, a POS system, an e-commerce system, or an expense app. Independent bookkeepers are individuals who work in QuickBooks, completing bookkeeping tasks for business owners so the books are kept up to date and organized. According to a survey by ZipRecruiter, the average national rate for a self-employed bookkeeper is $34.64 per hour, but these rates vary from one state to the next.

However, you may not have realized how important it is to make sure you keep up on bookkeeping and accounting as an independent contractor. While accountants do a good job of giving strategic advice, solving tax issues and filing for annual returns, they don’t overlook your accounts on a regular basis. However, a good bookkeeper keeps a close eye on your accounts every day. As a result, your cash flow is kept under control, which is crucial for business growth. Reconciliation of bank and credit card statements, processing of customer invoices, cash receipts, accounts payable, and entry into QuickBooks.

I need someone who has experience and knowledge in doing this task in order to ensure a smooth and efficient transition. The ideal candidate should have experience with QuickBooks Online and Deskera Books and be able to provide guidance throughout the entire process. I look forward to working with a freelancer who can provide me with the highest quality work and achieve a successful migration. Since some bookkeeping firms also employ accountants, they may be able to handle your tax filing—and other accountant duties—in-house. If you’re worried about not having someone you can count on everyday, and don’t mind paying a bit more, a bookkeeping firm is a smart choice. That’s why it’s important to find a bookkeeper who knows what they’re doing.

We will begin with this report in the second article (“II. Fees”). You must mark one of the checkboxes in this section to describe the pay rate of the Accountant. Use the blank line that is provided to report precisely ow the Accountant’s pay will be calculated.

They typically will have different rates based on experience, or area of expertise as well. It’s important to consider which pay structure makes the most sense for your agency as well as what level of expertise you’re looking for. Third, independent bookkeepers have flexibility in how they run their business and work with their clients. Third, QuickBooks Live allows you as much time and communication with your bookkeeper each month as you’d like. This allows your questions to be answered and creates an open channel of communication. QuickBooks Live provides some benefits that independent bookkeepers do not, most relating to automation and uninterrupted support for your business.

This service is used exclusively with QuickBooks Online and works to provide personalized service, done virtually, for business owners. You can make your bookkeeping experience even more valuable by specializing in a particular industry, especially if that industry has unique requirements. For example, trucking, nonprofits, churches, and restaurants are only a few of the industries where industry-specific knowledge will make you more valuable. They’re known for their rigorous screening process when selecting accountants with various skill reviews and test screenings, narrowing their candidates to the top 3% of all qualified developers. This means if you choose to go with Toptal, you’ll be getting the best of the best.

• It’s often easier to get more revenue from existing clients than to find new ones.
• Indeed.com– Find a job posting and then sell them on your virtual services that will be cheaper for them overall.
• Having organized information facilitates the work needed to do by your accountant to produce Financial Statements and tax filing.
• Accountants can connect with you for recurring work with a specific client, or even full-time contract work.
• A part of the bookkeeper’s job is to pay bills, and we can help you with that.

It is free for freelancers to bid on jobs, but Upwork stays in business by taking a cut of the fee you charge. The more business you do via Upwork, the less the fee percentage is. Before bringing on a new customer, you should meet and assess their situation. As an industry expert, you might help them recognize needs and opportunities. The assessment will consist of gathering information that’ll help you determine the amount of time and level of complexity required to meet the client’s needs before you provide your quoted price.