8 Best Remote Bookkeeping Services to Offer in 2024

September 5, 2024

The best remote bookkeeping services to offer in 2024 are:

  • Financial record-keeping
  • Bank and credit card reconciliation
  • Accounts payable management
  • Accounts receivable tracking
  • Financial report preparation
  • Payroll processing
  • Tax document organization
  • Cash flow monitoring

Unlike traditional methods, virtual bookkeeping offers more efficient and accessible accounting service from anywhere. The U.S. Small Business Administration reports that there are 32.5 million small businesses in the United States. These businesses need virtual accounting services. A virtual bookkeeping service is more cost-efficient compared to traditional bookkeeping. It means higher profit margins and quicker break-even points for the business owner. This benefit increased the demand for virtual bookkeepers. 

Kajea shared on her YT channel the services she offered as a virtual bookkeeper. She sets up the company's account on QuickBooks, Xero, or Wave. She also organizes the company's transactions in an accounting software. Invoicing and billing are also services she offers. She manages the company's inventory and sets up their financial reports. 

This article enumerates 8 of the most-offered services by virtual bookkeepers. I'll discuss what services to provide, plus the common tools remote bookkeepers use. I'll also reveal how to get bookkeeping clients and where to find them. 

Top 8 Services Virtual Bookkeepers Can Offer

  • Financial Record Keeping: It involves systematically recording all business financial transactions. Bookkeepers use accounting software to track income, expenses, assets, and liabilities. Financial record-keeping is typically offered by accountants as a package. The rate ranges from $200-$500 per month. 
  •  Bank Reconciliation: It is matching the transactions in your records with those on your bank and credit card statements. Bookkeepers compare each transaction to identify and resolve discrepancies. This process prevents fraud and catches errors in the accounting entries. Bank reconciliation is often part of basic accounting packages. Sometimes it’s billed separately at $50 to $100. 
  • Accounts Payable Management: Bookkeepers record invoices, schedule payments, and ensure timely disbursements. They track and manage money owed by the business to suppliers or creditors. It’s often included in mid-tier packages that cost from $500-$1,000 per month.
  • Accounts Receivable Tracking: Bookkeepers record sales, generate invoices, and track payments received. Account receivable tracking improves cash flow and reduces bad debts. It also gives you an insight into your customer’s payment behavior. It’s typically part of standard packages that could range from $100 to $200 monthly. 
  • Financial Report Preparation: Virtual bookkeepers compile data to produce balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and custom reports. Accurate financial reports reflect business performance. It helps the management make wise decisions.
  • Payroll Processing: Bookkeepers calculate pay and process direct deposits or checks. It’s one of the top services that virtual bookkeepers can offer. They withhold and file taxes and manage employee compensation. Payroll processing is often an add-on service. Remote accountants charge a $200 to $500 flat fee per month.
  • Tax Document Preparation: Bookkeepers categorize expenses and track deductions. They prepare the financial documents needed for tax filing. This service is in demand during tax season. It’s usually included in higher-tier packages, which cost $1,000-$2,000 per month.
  • Cash Flow Monitoring: This involves creating cash flow forecasts and analyzing spending patterns. Monitoring identifies areas for cost-cutting and supports strategic financial planning. It helps prevent cash shortages. Cash flow monitoring is often offered as a high-level service. Bookkeepers may charge upward of $200 for monitoring a business’s cash flow.

Top 8 Virtual Accounting Software

  • QuickBooks Online is one of the most offered remote bookkeeping services. It has essential accounting functions like reconciliation, ledger maintenance, and balance sheet preparation.
  • Bookkeeper360 is a comprehensive accounting service. It handles invoicing, accounts payable, accounts receivable, and financial reporting.
  • 1-800 Accountant offers comprehensive business and personal planning. It offers tax filing, payroll processing, and cash flow management.
  • Brainy Advisors offer affordable virtual accounting services for small businesses. There’s monthly financial reporting and tax preparation.
  • Wave Advisors is best for users of Wave Accounting software. It focuses on bookkeeping, tax filing, and payroll services.
  • Streamline Bookkeeping is ideal for small businesses and professional service firms. It provides custom services like ledger management, invoice processing, and reconciliation.
  • Ignite Spot Accounting offers tax planning, financial reporting, and comprehensive bookkeeping.
  • AIS Solutions is a fully remote firm that focuses on QuickBooks training and support. New users get support in setting up the software.

Services Offered by Experienced Virtual Bookkeepers: Reddit 

This virtual bookkeeper shared on Reddit the top services he offers. This includes tracking payables and reconciling supplier statements. He also disburses supplier remittance advice and adjusts accounts payable. 

He also offers receivables, cashbooks, and general ledger management. This includes reconciliation of deposits and cash banking. He investigates variances and reconciles card merchant accounts. Revenue reconciliation is also part of the services he offers. 

Payroll processing, annual accounts preparation, and cash flow forecasts are also among the services he offers. 

What is a Virtual Bookkeeper? 

A virtual bookkeeper manages a range of essential accounting tasks for businesses. They are financial professionals who use the latest software to categorize transactions. They reconcile bank statements and monitor accounts payable and receivable. Virtual bookkeepers maintain accurate financial records, prepare comprehensive financial statements and reports, and ensure compliance with tax regulations. They play a crucial role in assisting management with budgeting and forecasting. 

What is the Difference Between Bookkeeping and Accounting? 

Bookkeeping records and maintains financial transactions, while accounting interprets the collected data. The bookkeeping job logs sales, tracks expenses, and manages accounts payable and receivable. It reconciles financial statements. Accountants handle more complex tasks like auditing, forecasting, and advising on business decisions. Bookkeeping is typically more transactional and routine, while accounting requires more analysis and expertise.

What is the Average Virtual Bookkeeper's Salary?  

The average salary of a virtual bookkeeper is between $53,269 and $61,700 annually or $24.31 per hour. The actual rates vary depending on their experience and skill level. Cloud-based accounting software and secure file-sharing platforms revolutionized this industry. It enabled bookkeepers to work remotely and offer flexible part-time or full-time services. Business owners save up to 50% on costs by hiring virtual bookkeepers. It's a strategic accounting option that optimizes financial management while reducing overhead expenses.

How To Decide on the Services You Want To Offer as a Virtual Bookkeeper? 

  • Assess your skills and expertise. List your current bookkeeping skills and identify areas where you excel. Leverage the special skills and tools that you know. 
  • Survey potential clients and know their needs. Identify trending services in the bookkeeping industry and see if you can offer them. 
  • Choose the industries you want to serve. Determine if you want to cater to small, medium, or large businesses. 
  • List the potential services that you’re planning to offer. Evaluate each service and consider your capacity. Estimate how many clients you can handle and decide if you'll work alone or build a team. 
  • Research other virtual bookkeepers' offerings. Analyze the competition and identify market gaps that you can fill. 
  • Create packages by grouping complementary services together. Offer them in basic, standard, and premium tiers. 
  • Research market rates for each service and set your price. Gather feedback from your first clients. Adjust your offerings based on their demand and preferences. 

Where Can I Find Remote Bookkeeping Clients?

Find bookkeeping clients in directories like QuickBooks ProAdvisor and Xero Partner. These platforms list virtual bookkeepers based on their expertise and the number of clients they serve. Profiles should be engaging and authentic to see optimal results. LinkedIn is another great platform for finding clients. Bookkeepers can easily find clients who need their services. Beginners can also find clients through staffing agencies like Accountingfly. They always have virtual and part-time listings for bookkeepers. Building your network with bookkeepers in your area also increases the likelihood of getting referrals. 

How To Get Clients as a Remote Bookkeeper?

  • Establish your online presence. Build a professional website and showcase your services. 
  • Strategically build your network. Join accounting communities and attend industry events. 
  • Leverage freelancing platforms. Create profiles on Upwork or Freelancer and apply to relevant job postings.
  • Build and optimize your LinkedIn profile. Use relevant keywords to boost your searches. Use LinkedIn’s job search and proposal features to expand your network. 
  • Incentivize your existing clients to get referrals. Give free initial consultation and offer discounts. 
  • Target specific industries like Airbnb hosts, clinics, and law firms. Customize your marketing strategy to address industry-specific pain points. 
  • Run targeted ads on Google or Facebook to get leads. Advertise in industry-specific publications or websites. 
  • Partner with accountants and offer complementary services. 

My Low-Maintenance Alternative to Virtual Bookkeeping

My low-maintenance alternative to virtual bookkeeping is local lead generation. This business builds simple websites for local businesses and ranks them on Google. It's low-maintenance because I don't need to constantly keep up with the client's demands. Income with bookkeeping can be inconsistent. It's hard to find clients if you're a beginner without an established network. The business is competitive, as many professionals are offering the same services. 

Owning digital properties through local lead generation is a better online business. Small businesses heavily rely on local leads to grow their customer base. They're willing to spend to get high-quality leads that give them an edge over their competitors. There's less competition in local SEO compared to broader markets. Local markets have steady demand for leads with lower competition. This biz is more sustainable compared to virtual bookkeeping. 

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Ippei Kanehara
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Ippei.com is for digital hustlers, industry leaders and online business owners.

His #1 online business recommendation in 2024, is to build your own lead generation business.

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