Small businesses also need people to do their books for them, yet they often look to external consultants to fulfil this function. Working as a freelance bookkeeper from home is a great way to cater to these companies, as well as to other private clients.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!
Trends towards outsourcing have led many professional bookkeepers to start their own freelance (or part-time) bookkeeping businesses from home. Finding a formal bookkeeping job or full-time employment opportunity is not the only way to become a successful professional anymore!
The increasing digitisation of this profession has also enhanced the capabilities of home bookkeepers: innovative accounting software, as well as increasing internet connectivity, now means that a bookkeeper can work from home with greater ease than ever. Online bookkeeping has also become a fast-growing industry in its own right.
How to start your own home bookkeeping business
Here are some tips for starting your own home bookkeeping business:
1. Take care of the logistics
Just because you are working from home, it doesn’t mean you aren’t running an actual business. You still need to take all the logistics of starting a small business into consideration:
- Draw up a business plan.
- Create a budget and financial plan.
- Register your company.
- Register for tax.
- Obtain business insurance.
- Create pricing structures.
2. Advertise intelligently
Know your market, as well as how to reach them. Placing an advert in the wrong place will not only be highly ineffective, but will also be a huge waste of money. Do research and spend some time thinking about the most effective way to reach your target market.
You will also need to create marketing material, such as business cards and pamphlets. You might also want to create a professional website and social media profiles for your company.
Consider local sources of advertisement as well. Local newspapers can be a great place to start. Another great way to generate clients is to network with small businesses in your area. You want people to not only know about you, but to know you personally.
3. Ensure client satisfaction
The best way to advertise a small business is through word of mouth. Making sure your clients are blown away by your financial services will make them happily recommend you to their acquaintances.
Collecting client referrals is also a great way to build your home bookkeeping business’ credibility.
4. Keep up to date
Always make sure you are up to date with financial news, as well as industry developments, trends and new accounting or bookkeeping software.
A great way to brush up on your skills is to study a part-time bookkeeping course from home.
How can I study a bookkeeping course from home?
The Learning Group is a distance learning college that offers certified bookkeeping and accounting courses.
Through distance learning, you can study a number of courses from home via correspondence. It doesn’t matter where in South Africa you live; with The Learning Group, you will always receive a full and satisfying studying experience!