How to Become a Bookkeeper (2026)

If become bookkeeper is on your radar, this short guide cuts through the noise. Here is what is worth knowing, and how to put it to work today.

Key Takeaways

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• It’s never been easier to find a great-paying online job , even when you don’t have prior experience in a particular field.

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This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, advisory, or brokerage services. We may earn compensation from some links on this page. Learn more.

It’s never been easier to find a excellent-paying online job , even when you don’t have prior experience in a particular field. And numerous people are surprised to learn that online bookkeeping, which is among the most lucrative remote work options, falls into that category.

You don’t need a college degree or any type of certification to work as an online bookkeeper (although having one or both can help you earn higher rates).

In this article, we’ll explain why companies and entrepreneurs hire online bookkeepers, what you need to know to get started, and where to find jobs. 

Table of Contents:1. Remote Bookkeeping Basics2. Types of Online Bookkeeping Jobs3. Resources For Getting Started4. Remote Bookkeeping FAQ

Remote Bookkeeping Basics

Remote bookkeepers , sometimes also referred to as “virtual bookkeepers” , work from home and use accounting software to handle the financial record keeping for businesses. Remote bookkeepers can work full-time, part-time or on a freelance basis. 

Key Facts

Here are some key things to know about remote bookkeeping jobs.

• No certification or license is required. Bookkeeping certifications exist , and they can help you expand your business down the road , but you can get started and earn a good income without them. You can always pursue certification once you have a stable income.
• You don’t need an accounting, economics or finance degree. These degrees can set you apart and help you win more clients, but they aren’t necessary , you can launch a bookkeeping career without experience or formal education in the subject.
• With no experience, you’ll earn around $12 to $15 per hour to start. However, in a few years’ time, it’s very doable to make over $30 per hour. Specialists can command over $60 an hour. 
• There are tons of remote, freelance and part-time virtual bookkeeping opportunities available. You can find opportunities for all three on job boards such as FlexJobs and networking sites like LinkedIn. Freelance marketplaces like Upwork have dozens of businesses actively searching for freelance bookkeepers.
• This job is highly-scalable. Most bookkeepers start solo, handling client work themselves. Over time, you can grow your client roster enough to warrant starting a bookkeeping agency and hiring others to do the job. In doing so, you can serve more (and larger) clients and generate higher revenues in less time.

Common Tasks

These are some of the everyday tasks you’ll be responsible for as a bookkeeper.

• Financial record keeping. Creating and posting journal entries in bookkeeping software like QuickBooks to represent financial transactions the business has made and ensure financial reporting is accurate.
• Accounts receivable/payable management. Processing payments to vendors/suppliers and invoicing shoppers/clients.
• Reconciling accounts. Checking the records of two different accounts to correct errors and explain discrepancies. For example, reconciling why a bank statement differs from the business’s books.
• Financial statement creation. Generating the financial reports that management, investors, lenders and regulators use to make decisions.
• Payroll. Processing payroll to pay employees accurately and on time, as well as ensuring compliance with payroll taxes.

The Skills You Need

Here are some skills you need to succeed as a bookkeeper.

• Proficiency in at least one bookkeeping program, like Intuit’s QuickBooks or Xero. 
• Sharp basic math skills. You won’t be doing advanced calculus, but you need to be confident with numbers and able to recognize when something seems off. 
• Problem-solving. If something doesn’t seem right, it’s your job to hunt down the source of the error and determine how to deal with it.
• Good communication and customer service. Bookkeepers have to interact with vendors/suppliers and shoppers/clients , frequently when dealing with invoices and payments.
• Organization. You’ll have to juggle several deadlines: taxes, the fiscal year-end, monthly/quarterly financial statements, etc.
• Business skills. If you freelance as a bookkeeper, you’ll need to know how to market yourself to prospective clients, how to cost your services, how to speak with clients and how to perform bookkeeping for your own business.

Pro Tip: You can learn more about the skills necessary for bookkeeping success by taking Ben Robinson’s free, three-part class, “How to Own a Virtual Bookkeeping Service, Earn Good Money and Be Your Own Boss.”

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How to Start a Virtual Bookkeeping Business

Learn how to launch a work-from-home bookkeeping business in 90 days, even with no accounting experience.

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Why Businesses Hire Remote Bookkeepers

You might be wondering why a business would hire a remote bookkeeper with no experience. 

The thing is, every company needs a bookkeeper at some point , but not every company needs a full-time bookkeeper.

That’s especially true for small businesses like freelancers and mom-and-pops. Numerous of these businesses have realized it makes more sense to hire someone online on a part-time basis, rather than opting for a more traditional firm with higher overhead costs that get passed on in the form of higher rates. 

In other words, it’s a win-win scenario: remote bookkeepers frequently make more money than they would by working for a traditional firm or agency, while still offering their services for a lower rate than clients would find elsewhere.

Plus, not every business has the same needs. Traditional bookkeeping firms can be rigid and inflexible, whereas online bookkeepers are more accustomed to customizing their services and approach based on an individual client’s needs , including learning company-specific techniques and practices.

Bookkeeping vs. Accounting

Bookkeeping and accounting aren’t interchangeable, although people frequently use the terms that way.

As mentioned earlier in the article, you can start working as a bookkeeper without a formal education or experience. Bookkeepers deal with straightforward, day-to-day financial tasks, like processing transactions and reconciling bank statements.

On the other hand, accounting roles require a bachelor’s degree at minimum. Additionally, certifications such as Certified Public Accountant or Certified Management Accountant are necessary to advance in the field. 

Their educational requirements are reflected in their higher-level responsibilities. Accountants analyze and interpret the financial information that a bookkeeper provides , such as the financial statements , to help the company make decisions.

If you do have accounting experience, you’ll be able to leverage that to command better rates.

Types of Remote Bookkeeper Jobs

Online bookkeeping opportunities can be broken down into two main categories:

• Part-time jobs
• Freelance work

Each has its pros and cons.

Part-Time Online Bookkeeping Jobs

In a part-time online bookkeeping job, you work for one company as a W2 employee, earning a fixed hourly rate with a steady stream of work. 

Online bookkeeping agencies offer numerous of these positions. However, you can also work as an in-house remote bookk

Final Thoughts

Before you check out, double-check become bookkeeper against current offers and any coupons you can stack. Small habits like this add up to real savings over a year.

Originally published at thewaystowealth.com.