How To Become A Virtual Bookkeeper
Whether you’re looking to work remotely as a result of the changing workplace or you’re just looking for virtual bookkeeping jobs, you’ve come to the right place.
Virtual bookkeeping is a life-style friendly job that can be just as fulfilling (or more than) an office job.
Let’s take a deep dive into the skills and tools you’ll need and, of course, why bookkeeping from home is such a game-changer for some people.
What Does a Virtual Bookkeeping Job Look Like?
It can be challenging to imagine what remote bookkeepers do if you’ve never heard of the job before.
In a nutshell, virtual bookkeepers do what bookkeepers or accountants do — just remotely.
This is an excellent option for those looking for a better work balance or who love to work in the comfort of their home.
So as a virtual bookkeeper, you’d be working from home as opposed to in a business’ or client’s office.
Aside from that, you’ll be doing the same things a regular accountant does, like reviewing and updating statements, handling invoices, reviewing financial transactions, calculating profits, and merging accounts, among other responsibilities.
Remote bookkeeping jobs can differ in responsibilities based on the client or business you’re working for.
Why Consider a Virtual Bookkeeping Job
There are endless reasons why people become remote bookkeepers.
However, one of these countless reasons is all the benefits that come with virtual bookkeeping jobs.
From more free time to choosing your own clients, there are a number of indisputable perks with this job.
You’ll have more freedom.
Compared to a typical in-office job, as a virtual bookkeeper, you’ll have more freedom in a few ways.
You’ll be able to choose exactly where you do your work, be it in your home office, in bed, at a coffee shop — or wherever you’re most comfortable.
You’ll also get to choose what clients and businesses you partner with, along with what kind of hours you’re looking for.
You’ll be more flexible.
Because you’re choosing your own hours and clients, you’ll be more flexible when it comes to your personal life.
When you have a 9-to-5 job, your schedule is pretty rigid.
That’s not an issue with remote bookkeeping.
You’ll have no problem juggling your social, personal, and work responsibilities.
How Much Will I Make?
Like many small businesses, it depends on your schedule and your rates.
However, the average bookkeeper makes about $43,600 annually, which comes out to be about $21 per hour, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It’s true that these rates can vary based on the type of client you’re working with and, of course, your personal preference.
How to Become a Virtual Bookkeeper
For many, becoming a remote bookkeeper is a great venture to explore.
You don’t need a formal college education to start bookkeeping from home, either.
In this job, you’ll primarily rely on your skills and a few tools that’ll come in handy.
To begin, let’s dive into some of the valuable skills you might need with remote bookkeeping.
Skills You Might Need
As mentioned above, you don’t need to get a college degree to become a virtual bookkeeper.
It’s best to have a high school diploma and some strong math skills.
You could also make it a goal to earn a license through the National Association of Certified Public
Bookkeepers or become certified through the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.
However, if you’re totally unfamiliar with bookkeeping in general, you might want to do some research and learn about this job through training courses.
Choose classes that will fit your needs.
If you’ve never heard of bookkeeping before, the courses you pick might look different from the courses of someone who’s had previous experience in auditing or even the accounting industry.
Regardless, make sure the class you pick is right for you.
Then, you’ll be able to confidently set up your bookkeeping service — right from the comfort of your own home.
You’ll also want to get familiar with accounting software, especially if that’s not something you’ve ever used before.
Fortunately, you don’t need to purchase any online courses for this — there are actually plenty of videos and tutorials online that will help you get your mind around some of the software aspects for free.
On the other hand, you could also hire a professional bookkeeper to give you some hands-on training if that’s in your budget.
Becoming knowledgeable with accounting software makes you more marketable to businesses and clients who could use your services, too.
Examples of accounting software include names like:
- QuickBooks
- Odoo
- GnuCash
- Sage X3
- TurboCASH
- Metasfresh
The most critical aspect of a business is advertising.
To get clients to pay for your services as a bookkeeper, you’ll need to get your name out there.
Luckily, there are a number of ways to do this, cost-free.
One of the easiest ways to showcase your business is to tell people about it.
Tell friends and family about your new business venture.
Better yet, create a professional business page (like a LinkedIn or a Facebook Business page) and have friends and family follow and share it.
You’ll reach many more potential clients thanks to the extensive reach of social media.
You can also try good old fashioned networking.
Seek out events so you’ll be able to connect with other local small businesses.
Bring a few business cards (make some, if you don’t have any) and don’t be shy!
On top of this, there are a few more skills that might make you even more attractive to clients.
Being organized and having a keen eye for details are a plus in this industry.
It also helps if you can multitask successfully, although this isn’t necessarily required.
Finally, you’ll need to be determined.
Working remotely comes with its own challenges, but it’s not difficult if you put your mind to it.
Tools You Might Need
Because you’ll be working remotely, you’ll need to invest in a few helpful tools to make sure you can work virtually as productively as possible.
The most obvious tool is one you probably already have: a computer.
Computers are necessary for a majority of jobs in various industries today, and bookkeeping is no different.
You’ll need a computer that works efficiently, due to the type of work you’ll be doing.
It’ll come in handy, especially once you’ve learned how to use accounting software.
In a similar vein, you’ll need to make sure you purchase the right type of accounting software for you — another very valuable tool for your bookkeeping toolkit.
Does the program have the right kind of bookkeeping tools you need?
Is it user-friendly? Is the program too expensive?
These are all great questions to ask yourself before purchasing software.
You’ll also need a secure source of the Internet since your work will be online.
If your Internet connection is slow or laggy, that can negatively affect your business and job as a virtual bookkeeper.
If you don’t already have a cell phone, you might want to buy one.
Although email is an excellent way of communicating online, so is a phone call (it’s faster, too!).
You’ll be able to reach your clients faster this way.
When you’re first starting out as a virtual bookkeeper, you’ll probably want to launch your own business so you can start offering your services.
To do this, you’ll need to do a few things.
First, pick an arrangement for your business.
Are you looking to be a sole proprietorship or an LLC?
Next, you’ll want to apply for any licenses you might need (according to the laws in your state) and get a tax identification number.
Start Your Job as a Virtual Bookkeeper
Managing finances is something every business needs to do, one way or another.
As a remote bookkeeper, this is your time to shine!
To get started with remote bookkeeping jobs, visit Indeed.com, or other job posting sites to get updated information and positions, in addition to marketing yourself to clients.
Virtual bookkeeping can be a life-changing job for some people.
This type of job can open up your schedule and make life more pleasurable by allowing you more time to do the things you want to do.
It doesn’t matter if you’re just looking for a nice side hustle or you hope to start your own business as a remote bookkeeper — either way, it’ll transform the way your day looks on a day-to-day basis.
If this sounds like something you’d like to do, take the first step toward your remote bookkeeping journey today.
