Freelance Bookkeeper

Keep the books for small businesses from home.

Start with ACCOUNTING BASICS: a Guide to (Almost) Everything (14 min, Accounting Stuff), then The BOOKKEEPING BASICS for BEGINNERS (14 min, LYFE Accounting). All 37 lessons in Freelance Bookkeeper are free. No degree. QuickBooks certification is free. A starter kit costs about $250. About $49k a year (US median); freelance $30 to $60 an hour.

To start: No degree. QuickBooks certification is free. Earning: About $49k a year (US median); freelance $30 to $60 an hour.

  1. Accounting basics

    Debits, credits, statements.

  2. QuickBooks and Xero

    The software clients use.

  3. Excel for bookkeepers

    Reconcile and report.

  4. Taxes and payroll

    What small businesses need.

  5. Find your first clients

    A small portfolio, a profile that gets replies, and proposals that win work.

  6. Get paid and keep the books

    Invoices, contracts, taxes for the self-employed and simple bookkeeping.

  7. Build your own site

    A one-page site and a profile that bring work to you.