Thursday, March 17, 2011

How to Become a Bookkeeper

Should you be great at handling amounts and managing organized reports, you could be an outstanding bookkeeper. Bookkeepers (or accountants) retain files of expenses, profits, sales taxes collected, inventory, expense reports, etc. Every organizations must keep particular files that the state and federal government requires or that banking institutions might require if the company desires credit. Many organizations outsource this work to an accountant, and that's where you come in.

The Positive
Should you love to manage and do multiple tasks at once, you will really like this job. You will definitely have a lot to monitor and can take pride in holding neat, tidy, and accurate documents.

The Negative
There is no space for miscalculations with this job. Small businesses are counting on you to have correct documents. You'll need to stay informed about up-to-date accounting methods and get some working experience before you'll be able to charge big bucks. You may also have to manage different types of businesses, which can all have varying learning curves.

Training / Knowledge Required
You absolutely need some basic accounting and bookkeeping expertise to get going. I suggest searching for training or accreditations at local schools. Getting trained to be a CPA (certified public accountant) will significantly improve your chances of being selected.

Equipment / Resources Required
The majority of information is kept on PCs currently as opposed to filing cabinets. Ensure you own a reliable PC with plenty of storage capacity for keeping all these reports. You should buy some recent bookkeeping software, like QuickBooks, and understand how to use it. (Please note: QuickBooks costs nothing to try on the Internet.) Obtaining the proper software programs will greatly simplify your report-managing projects.

Setting
It is possible to operate this organization out of your home, though owning an office space for clientele to visit would be a plus. Get started in a home office and if the majority of your clientele want to meet you face-to-face, contemplate leasing an office.

Startup Costs
Initial expenses will include a PC or laptop, accounting or bookkeeping computer software, and some education (unless you already have these). You also have to pay for advertising and marketing, like advertisements in the phone book, fliers, business cards, etc.

Where to Begin
Speak to area chambers of commerce to investigate enterprises in the area. Find out about brand new companies and small businesses, which are the businesses likely to require the expertise you provide. Get in touch with business organizations in your area and market within their newsletters. Offer business cards whenever you can and ask satisfied customers to pass on the word.

Prospective Clientele
Your probable clientele will likely be small establishments. Big organizations are able to afford to keep a full-time accountant within the business, so they are not as likely to outsource their accounting. Therefore, target your time and energy on new and smaller organizations.

Charges
Ask for an hourly payment in exchange for your assistance. Obviously you are able to charge more money determined by your knowledge. While you're first starting out, study what other accounting services are receiving in your city.

If you want more self-employment ideas, please visit my web site at http://www.bestselfemploymentideas.com.

No comments:

Post a Comment