Starting a Bookkeeping Business
If you're thinking about starting a
bookkeeping business or a
CFO business, you should start by hiring a couple of part-time or contract employees. This is a great way to dip your toes into managing people and starting to scale things on the HR side. In the bookkeeping business, there are three things that you need to have a core competency in:
- People - It's all about people. You can use all the AI you want, maybe you have a tech stack, but you still need people to engage and interact with your customers.
- Financial Management - Financial management starts with solid bookkeeping, good controllership, strong planning, and very thoughtful leadership around financial stress.
- Digital Marketing
So start off by finding two or three people that are willing to work 10 to 15 hours a week, but don't hire them all at once, you should stagger your hires. For a while you are going to have to be knee-deep in the work, because you have to be. You will do your own business development, marketing, scoping engagement agreements, operations, and even the customer work and at the same time.
That is why you need to find people to leverage. In this business, we make money by leveraging. You start bringing in people that are at the controller level, a senior accounting manager level, and also at a bookkeeping level. When you learn how to optimize those people, that capability and the capacity will be needed to meet your customer's demands.
Find half a dozen customers and start there. Start bringing in one to two contractors or part-time employees, and start to figure out the marketing piece. You won’t be up to bat without a good website. It doesn't have to be a $50,000 website, but it does need to be a landing site. Start developing the content, the thought leadership, even if it means a little bit of
fake it till you make it.
If you're thinking about starting any business, regardless of whether it is bookkeeping or any other startup, it is important to get the content out there at least six months before your official start date. Get a website out there, start talking to people in the industry that you can bring in and do not require too much training.
As you grow, you're going to have to start thinking about systems.
Karbonis a great one, but there are alternatives, especially for a smaller practice. But having a workflow system in place is going to be of value for any bookkeeping business. Those are our tips for starting a bookkeeping business. But lastly, you have to find the customers.
Key Takeaways
- Core Competencies: Success relies on mastering People, Financial Management, and Digital Marketing.
- Strategic Hiring: Start with 2–3 part-time contractors to scale management skills before hiring full-time staff.
- Early Marketing: Launch your website and content strategy at least six months before your official start date.
- Systemization: Implement workflow software (like Karbon) early to manage deadlines and standardize client delivery.
- Client Base: Target an initial group of 5–10 clients to stabilize revenue and refine your operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is prior accounting experience required to start a bookkeeping business?
While formal credentials aren’t always required, strong bookkeeping knowledge, familiarity with financial statements, and confidence using accounting software are essential. Many owners also benefit from first gaining experience working within another firm.
Should a bookkeeping business hire employees immediately or begin solo?
Most new firms start with the owner handling the initial workload and gradually adding part-time or contract support. Staggered hiring helps control costs while leadership and delegation skills develop.
Which roles should be prioritized for the first hires in a bookkeeping firm?
Early hires commonly include bookkeeping contractors, followed by senior accountants or controller-level professionals as client needs become more complex.
How many clients are typically needed when launching a bookkeeping business?
A starting base of five to ten consistent clients often provides enough predictable revenue to refine workflows, pricing, and service delivery before expanding.
Is a professional website necessary when launching a bookkeeping firm?
Yes. Even a simple website establishes credibility, clearly explains services, and allows potential clients to discover the business online.
Which marketing strategies work best for new bookkeeping businesses?
Consistent educational content, networking with business owners, professional referrals, and thought leadership are among the most reliable early growth channels.
Why does workflow software matter for bookkeeping firms?
Workflow tools help track deadlines, standardize processes, assign responsibilities, and manage multiple clients efficiently, becoming increasingly important as the firm scales.
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