Beginner Bookkeeper
Setup Checklist

• ✓
  Research bookkeeping courses online Free Compare Bookkeepers.com, Intuit Academy, Coursera, and community college options.
• ✓
  Enroll in a beginner bookkeeping course Paid Recommended: Bookkeepers.com (15% commission if you refer others) or Intuit Academy (free QuickBooks cert).
• ✓
  Learn the accounting equation Free Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity. This is the foundation of everything.
• ✓
  Understand debits and credits Free Study the T-account method. Use flashcards if helpful.
• ✓
  Complete QuickBooks Online certification Free Free through Intuit Academy. Adds credibility immediately and is recognized by clients.
• ✓
  Study Chart of Accounts basics Free Know the 5 account types: Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Revenue, Expenses.
• ✓
  Practice with sample transactions Free Create a fake business in a spreadsheet and record 20+ transactions manually.
• ✓
  Get familiar with financial statements Free Balance Sheet, Income Statement (P&L), and Cash Flow Statement — learn to read all three.

• ✓
  Choose your business structure Free Most beginners start as Sole Proprietor, then upgrade to LLC when they have clients.
• ✓
  Register your business name Paid File a DBA ("Doing Business As") with your county or state — usually $10–$50.
• ✓
  Form an LLC (when ready) Paid Use LegalZoom or your state's SOS website. Typically $50–$500 depending on state.
• ✓
  Get an EIN (Employer ID Number) Free Apply free at IRS.gov in 10 minutes. Required to open a business bank account.
• ✓
  Open a dedicated business bank account Free Never mix personal and business money. Relay Bank is free and great for bookkeepers.
• ✓
  Get a business credit or debit card Free Use it exclusively for business purchases to simplify expense tracking.
• ✓
  Check local business license requirements Optional Some cities/counties require a general business license. Check your local government site.

• ✓
  Set up QuickBooks Online (trial) Free 30-day free trial. Most clients use QBO — you need to know it.
• ✓
  Explore FreshBooks for invoicing Free Great for freelancers. 30-day trial. Easier UI than QBO for small solo businesses.
• ✓
  Set up a Google Drive folder system Free Create folders: Clients / Templates / Resources / Receipts / Contracts.
• ✓
  Create a receipt tracking system Free Use a phone app (Expensify free tier, or just email receipts to a dedicated Gmail).
• ✓
  Create a simple invoice template Free Use Google Docs or Wave (free). Include: service, price, due date, payment methods.
• ✓
  Set up an email for your business Free Use your name@yourbusiness.com via Google Workspace ($6/mo) or a free Gmail with your biz name.
• ✓
  Choose a scheduling tool Free Calendly (free) for client calls and consultations.
• ✓
  Set up a password manager Free Bitwarden (free) or 1Password ($3/mo). Clients will share login credentials with you.
• ✓
  Learn basic Excel/Google Sheets Free Know: SUM, VLOOKUP, pivot tables, and basic formatting. You'll use this constantly.

• ✓
  Define your service offerings Start narrow: monthly bookkeeping only. Add payroll and AP/AR later.
• ✓
  Research local market rates Bookkeepers charge $25–$75/hr for basic bookkeeping. Monthly packages: $200–$800+.
• ✓
  Create a pricing sheet (even a rough one) Three tiers: Basic, Standard, Premium. You'll refine after your first few clients.
• ✓
  Draft a simple client contract Include scope, payment terms, data privacy clause. Use Docracy or HelloSign free.
• ✓
  Create an onboarding checklist for new clients What info do you need? Bank access, prior statements, chart of accounts, tax ID.
• ✓
  Define your ideal client niche Optional but powerful E.g., freelancers, real estate investors, e-commerce sellers, restaurants. Niching makes marketing easier.
• ✓
  Set up payment processing Free Wave Payments (free ACH), Stripe (2.9%+30¢/card), or Melio for bill pay.

• ✓
  Tell 10 people you're starting a bookkeeping business Friends, family, former coworkers. Word-of-mouth lands most first clients.
• ✓
  Update your LinkedIn profile Add "Bookkeeper" or "Freelance Bookkeeper" to your headline. Connect with local business owners.
• ✓
  Create a simple business card or PDF one-pager Canva (free) has great bookkeeper templates. Include services, contact, and website.
• ✓
  Join 2–3 Facebook groups for small business owners Search for local entrepreneur groups. Don't spam — add value first, mention services naturally.
• ✓
  Offer a free 30-min discovery call Use Calendly. Low-pressure way to connect with prospects and learn their pain points.
• ✓
  Create a simple website or landing page Optional Even a free Canva site with your name, services, and contact form counts at this stage.
• ✓
  Take on a first client (even free/discounted) Optional Working with a real business is the fastest way to learn. Document everything for a testimonial.

• ✓
  Research E&O (Errors & Omissions) insurance Protects you if a client claims your work caused them financial harm. ~$30–$50/mo. Get quotes from Hiscox.
• ✓
  Set up a separate folder for client NDA/contracts Never share client data. Keep contracts signed and stored securely in Google Drive.
• ✓
  Understand self-employment tax basics You'll owe 15.3% SE tax + income tax. Set aside 25–30% of gross income for taxes quarterly.
• ✓
  Track your own business income and expenses Use a simple spreadsheet or FreshBooks from day one. Bookkeepers who don't bookkeep their own business look bad.

📝 My Notes