Home Business Idea-Bookkeeper

Filed in archive business ideas on May 11, 2010

Today, we're going to look at starting a bookkeeping business for the home business idea. And, yes, generally this would be posted on Monday. You're new blogger and editor is pregnant and one with the morning sickness, and apologizes for the lateness of this blog post. Won't happen again!

A bookkeeper "keeps the books" of a business-their financial records. The purpose of this service is both for recordkeeping and for making important business decisions. Bookkeepers serve as thermometers of a business's financial temperature.

If, mercury aside (ah, well they don't even put that in thermometers anymore, right?), this home business idea has your ears perked up, let's examine it a little more.

This home business idea is a good fit for you if you can envision yourself as the owner of a client's business and view the financials-the guts of the business, if you will-and help them to make decisions as you would yourself as the business owner. It is also a good fit if you'd describe yourself as analytical, numbers and math "make sense" to you, you have some business and/or financial experience, and you're good at money management. Probably not a bad idea to not be afraid of paperwork, too, because this business is full of paperwork, even if you manage things primarily with software, which would be the most effective method of doing business.

To get started with this home business idea, ask friends and family members for referrals. If they own their own businesses, pitch them the value of your bookkeeping services and make them clients as well. Also approach accounting firms and ask them if they could use freelance bookkeeping services occasionally, during tax time, or even to expand their business's clientele.

The numbers are very, very important with any business. Let's talk start-up costs. This home business idea would require a very low start-up investment of approximately $2,000 to set you for the entire year. Here's an estimated breakdown of these costs:
-computer: $400
-cell phone: $120
-Internet connection: $600
-basic office furniture (desk, chair, and filing cabinets): $500
-file folders: $15
-printer: $80
-printer paper: $20
-printer ink: $50
-business cards: $50
-letterhead: $50
-envelopes: $5
-stamps: $50
-website hosting: $60
-domain name: $10
-bookkeeping software: $180

If you're interested in this home business idea, or any other you'd like to hear about, please drop me a comment and I'll do my best to help answer your questions or find someone who can. There's a good chance that I can answer your questions: I worked as a freelance bookkeeper for several years before / during my career evolution into freelance writing and blogging. I still love the business. I'll even entertain work if I get calls for it. But maybe you want to start a bookkeeping business: ask me some questions and I'll be happy to get your business started and to help you get clients.