Does anyone have any idea on how to start off on bookeeping and payroll services as a home based business?

Answer 1

Here are some articles on how to start a bookkeeping business:

Starting Your Own Bookkeeping Business http://www.aipb.com/newsletter/bookkeeping_tips/starting_your_own_bookkeeping_business.html
Starting a Bookkeeping Business http://www.entrepreneur.com/article/0,4621,312025,00.html
How to Start A Bookkeeping Business At Home http://www.howtoadvice.com/BookkeepingBusiness
Marketing and selling accounting services http://www.accounting-and-bookkeeping-tips.com/selling-accounting-services/marketing-accounting-bookkeeping-services.htm

For in-depth information about this business, I suggest you check out the following books:

Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation: Start & Build a Prosperous Bookkeeping, Tax, & Financial Services Business (Paperback) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0963937170/104-9178108-5912741?v=glance&n=283155
How to Open your own In-Home Bookkeeping Service 2nd Edition by Julie Mucha-Aydlott http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0974609331/ref=pd_sim_b_3/104-9178108-5912741?ie=UTF8
Start & Run a Bookkeeping Business by Angie Mohr http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155180641X/ref=pd_sim_b_4/104-9178108-5912741?ie=UTF8

Sometimes you may want to have someone guide you as you start your business and help you with the right things to do. There are several places where you may be able to find a mentor:

- Government Mentoring Programs such as SBDCs, which works with community colleges and local business development councils to offer mentoring programs http://www.sba.gov/sbdc/sbdcnear.html ; or the Women's Network for Entrepreneurial Training http://www.sba.gov/womeninbusiness/wnet_roundtables.html
- Volunteer programs such as SCORE http://www.score.org which is composed of mostly retired executives and entrepreneurs
- Formal mentoring programs such as Athena Foundation http://www.athenafoundation.org/programs/globallinks.html , Helzberg Entrepreneurial Mentoring Program http://www.helzbergmentoring.org/HEMP/ , or The Aspen Institute MicroMentor Program http://www.micromentor.org
- Professional organizations such as the National Women’s Business Council http://www.nwbc.gov/Mentoring/programs.html
Industry and trade associations
- Local business groups, such as the chamber of commerce
- Local chapters of business groups

Answer 2

The best routes to take are to research the process of starting a business as well as the industry you're interested in.

I recommend checking out the SBA, Entrepreneur, The Start Up Journal & Nolo. All 4 are great informational resources for the new/small business owner. I posted links for you in the source box.

Associations may be a good avenue to explore. These organizations will address many of the thoughts, questions and concerns you'll inevitably have as well as many you haven't anticipated yet. See the source box for some relevant links.

Research, research, research – this cannot be stressed enough. Read as much as you can about the industry. Here are some book titles that are relevant:

* Bookkeeping & Tax Preparation: Start & Build a Prosperous Bookkeeping, Tax, & Financial Services Business by Gordon P. Lewis
* Start & Run a Bookkeeping Business by Angie Mohr
* How to Open your own In-Home Bookkeeping Service 2nd Edition by Julie Mucha-Aydlott

There are plenty of free informational resources out there. Check the source box for links to articles.

Hope that helps! I wish you much success & happiness in all your ventures!

Answer 3

Look at how I do my psychic business.

Then see if you can fit something similar around your own expertise. About $300 will get you started.

Then all you need is a passion, some persistence, and you know that old fashioned word - w.o.r.k. http://www.psychic-junkie.com/are-you-psychic.html

Answer 4

1) learn how to do it
2 ) find a client
3) if you do a good job they tell on you and soon you are busy.

Answer 5

I'd love to know that too - I 'm graduating with an associate's in accounting this December and want to use it!