Starting a bookkeeping business as a mom has been one of the best decisions I could have made for myself and my family. It is flexible, consistent, and scalable, which makes it one of the best side hustles for moms.
But Jessie, what if I know nothing about bookkeeping?
That is the best part. You can learn as you go, and I will walk you through exactly how.
Why I Started My Bookkeeping Business
When I launched my bookkeeping business, I was not passionate about bookkeeping itself. I was passionate about what it allowed me to do. It gave me flexibility, freedom, and purpose.
This weekend, I was able to pick up my son from school, spend time at the store looking at Christmas decorations, go to church, work on a small home project with my Star of Jasmine vine using this trellis kit, which my son proudly called “drilling some holes,” and finish the weekend with a pool day at our neighbors’ house.
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And guess what? I did not log in once for work, even though it was month close (the busiest time of the month for a bookkeeper). That is the freedom I want other moms to experience.
How Much Time It Really Takes
At the time of writing this, I serve six clients. The actual time I spend on bookkeeping work is about ten hours a week, and that includes some more complex bookkeeping clients.
For my simpler clients, I spend about thirty minutes per week on each one. That is roughly one and a half hours total for three clients, averaging around $125 an hour. Tracking my time has been key to understanding my actual profit and workflow, which I will be diving deeper into in next week’s blog about time tracking.
Bookkeeping can be a profitable and low overhead business once you have systems in place.
However to be quite frank, I have spent a lot of time into free advertising and marketing prior to getting my first clients (aka social media). This time has shortened over-time though as referrals have picked up. However, this side of things is ultimately up to how large you want to scale your business as well. My goal is to have 20 clients by the end of 2026 so more time is naturally going to spent on advertising and marketing. With the help of my 2026 goal planner that I am so excited to start utilizing, I truly believe that it’s possible!
Why Bookkeeping Works for Moms
Being a mom means you need structure, but you also need flexibility. Bookkeeping gives you both.
It is recurring work with predictable deadlines every month, quarter, and year, but you can build your own schedule around it. You can grow it slowly, or scale quickly, depending on your goals and time.
Because every business needs bookkeeping, you will never run out of potential clients and we are never going to be fighting over clients. There are not enough accountants and bookkeepers out there.
How to Price and Scale
Most full-time business bookkeeping clients pay around $250-300 per month with the average being about $400 per month.
If you want an extra two hundred fifty dollars a month, take on one client. If you want one thousand dollars a month, take on four.
You can do this even while working a full-time job or staying home with your kids by dedicating a few focused hours each week.
How to Get Your First Clients
It usually takes about four to six months to land your first paying client. That is normal!
Start by telling your circle what you are doing. Bookkeeping dives into people’s finances and finances are personal. People might not ask right away, but they will remember you when they are ready.
Focus on service based solopreneurs when starting out. Their books are simpler and perfect for beginners. Think photographers, electricians, handymen, small lawn care services, pest control, pressure washer, wedding event coordinators, decorators, and coaching businesses.
Learn QuickBooks the Easy Way
Forget the expensive courses. QuickBooks has a free ProAdvisor Certification program that teaches the basics of bookkeeping and gives you access to QuickBooks Online Accountant, which is what I use daily.
You also get access to software discounts, client tools, and perks. Most importantly, the ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing that you can pass onto your clients for exclusive savings.
Hiring a bookkeeper to teach you exactly what you need to know for simple bookkeeping clients. At Oak and Ledger I offer QuickBooks training sessions for a one time cost of $200 for two hours. With email support thereafter for up to three months. Interested in learning? Reach out today.
Practice Before You Charge
Most likely, you will not have a client in the first few months of your announcement post for your bookkeeping business. Another option you can use is to practice using QuickBooks for your personal finances. The process is the same. You will learn how to set-up chart of accounts, categorize expenses, reconcile accounts, and read reports. Again, I emphasize going through the ProAdvisor Certification program so you can get access to QuickBooks Ledger. A simpler version of QuickBooks, only available to ProAdvisors. It’s perfect for personal finances and is a low-monthly cost, making it a great option to learn at a low-risk and low-cost. If you are unfamiliar with QuickBooks Ledger, it’s essentially QuickBooks without the invoicing features.
You can also offer to help a friend or relative for free while you learn. Again, I emphasize only focusing on serviced-based solopreneurs when just starting out if you are new to bookkeeping.
Setting Up Your Business
If you are curious about starting a business, then you can check out my FREE Dream to Launch Guide for a full startup roadmap. For bookkeeping, you do not need much to get started. Here is a simple checklist.
- Choose a business name and structure
- Get an EIN from the IRS
- Open a business bank account
- Set up cloud storage for secure file sharing
- Get business insurance
- Reliable internet
- Computer
The Dream to Launch Guide will dive into things a little deeper and also point out some considerations I wish I knew when I first launched my bookkeeping business.
Onboarding Your First Client
Once someone says yes, the real work begins.
- Get a signed service agreement contract
- Send a client welcome packet
- Connect to their QuickBooks account and enable bank feeds
- Request view-only access to their bank accounts
- Review their current chart of accounts and financial statements
- Catch up on past months, if needed (most likely)
- Maintain their books weekly and reconcile monthly
Bookkeeping is not complicated, but it does require consistency.
Growing Your Bookkeeping Business
Once you have multiple clients, start time blocking your week. Assign each client a specific day and time so you can stay organized.
As your workload grows, you can increase rates, add services, or outsource small tasks. Build slowly and intentionally. Alternatively, build up to your capacity level and maintain a consistent side-hustle income.
The Takeaway
Bookkeeping might not sound exciting, but it offers something better. Freedom, stability, and room to grow.
It is one of the few side hustles that fits motherhood, gives you steady income, and helps you create long-term balance.
If you are ready to start your own bookkeeping business, download my Dream to Launch Guide for a step-by-step path from idea to income. Starting a bookkeeping business in 2026 has never been easier!
Download the Dream to Launch Guide
Reflection Prompt: What is one small step you can take today toward starting your own business?
With gratitude,
Jessie