A bookkeeper provides critical services to keep your business finances in order. Small business owners and solo entrepreneurs may take on bookkeeping tasks themselves, but it can cost a lot in effort and time away from the heart of their business.
Think it might be time to hire a bookkeeper? It could be a good business move. Many small business owners and solo entrepreneurs handle their own bookkeeping, but it often drains time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. A professional bookkeeper helps keep your finances in order so you can focus on your other business priorities.
This guide explains why you may want to consider hiring a bookkeeper and outlines the steps to find the right bookkeeping expert for your needs.
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A bookkeeper is a financial professional who records and organizes a business’s daily financial activity. Their job is to help ensure that every dollar coming in or going out is properly tracked and documented. This recordkeeping provides the foundation for accurate reporting and smart financial decisions.
Hiring a bookkeeper can pay off in time, energy, and peace of mind. Whether you’re a solopreneur or expanding your business, bookkeepers can take recurring financial tasks off your plate. And since many companies only require a few hours of assistance each month, you may not need to hire a full-time employee to reap the benefits.
Bookkeepers handle the daily financial details—like logging expenses, managing invoices, and reconciling accounts—so you can spend more time on customers, strategy, and growth.
From categorizing transactions to organizing receipts and statements, bookkeepers maintain clean, consistent records. That means fewer errors, easier tax prep, and less stress during audits.
With reliable financial statements and up-to-date reports, you’ll always know where your business stands. Better visibility means better planning, smarter spending, and faster responses when challenges arise.
Bookkeepers manage incoming and outgoing payments, track what’s overdue, and help you stay on schedule. It’s a simple way to protect cash flow and build trust with vendors and clients.
By catching discrepancies early and minimizing costly mistakes, a bookkeeper can help reduce financial risk. Many businesses find that outsourcing bookkeeping is more affordable than hiring in-house staff.
With a bookkeeper on your side, you’ll always know your finances are in order. That peace of mind lets you focus on running—and growing—your business with confidence.
While hiring a bookkeeper does come with an upfront cost, many business owners find it’s well worth the investment for the financial accuracy and peace of mind it provides. Correct and compliant bookkeeping helps ensure your records are organized, your taxes are filed correctly, and your business is prepared for audits or financial reviews. This accuracy is especially critical if you have employees, need to demonstrate financial health to lenders, or want to provide clear reports to investors.
Hiring a small business bookkeeper involves a few steps to find someone you trust for the role. Let’s break them down.
If you have decided to move forward with hiring a bookkeeper, the first step is to establish what kind of support your business really needs. This will help you avoid overpaying or under-hiring for the job.
How much you can expect to pay for bookkeeping services depends on your business size, needs, and location. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median pay for a full-time bookkeeper is around $49,000. But not every business needs full-time support.
If your needs are more limited, hiring a part-time or freelance bookkeeper could cost between $20 and $50 per hour, depending on experience and task complexity. The cost of bookkeeping may also vary depending on whether you work with a local provider or a virtual bookkeeper, which is something to consider as you explore your options.
Choosing between a virtual bookkeeper or a local bookkeeper depends on how your business operates and the type of support you prefer. Both types of bookkeepers can keep your books current and correct. The right choice depends on your communication style, technology setup, and the level of hands-on involvement you prefer.
This chart breaks down the differences between virtual vs. local bookkeepers.
Once you’ve chosen between a virtual or local bookkeeper, it’s time to start your search for potential candidates.
If you’re hiring a bookkeeper, narrowing your candidate pool to those with the right skills and experience will help save you time. The more focused your job description, the better your chances of finding someone who understands your needs and can step in with minimal training.
To attract a qualified bookkeeper for your business, let’s look at some of the information to include in your job posting:
Job title
Use specific titles like “Remote Bookkeeper,” “Virtual Bookkeeper," “Part-Time Bookkeeping Specialist,” or “Small Business Bookkeeper.”
Business description
Briefly describe your company, the type of work you do, and what kind of bookkeeping support you're looking for.
Responsibilities
List the primary tasks your chosen bookkeeper will be responsible for, such as:
Skills and qualifications
Logistics
State whether the role is remote, hybrid, or in-person. Include expected hours (freelance, part-time, or full-time) and a pay range.
Extras
Mention any perks, flexibility, or opportunities for long-term growth.
To widen your pool of candidates, look beyond those with “bookkeeper” in their current job title. Many professionals gain hands-on bookkeeping experience through related roles, bringing valuable financial skills to your business. These positions often involve responsibilities like managing records, reconciling accounts, and generating reports.
Relevant job titles to consider:
Unlike accountants, small business bookkeepers don't need higher education or graduate degrees to do their jobs. However, there are certifications and online bookkeeping courses that a bookkeeper can complete to show their understanding of bookkeeping, basic accounting principles, industry knowledge, and financial software. These credentials aren't required, but knowing a third party has given their stamp of approval can help you feel more confident when hiring a bookkeeper.
Here’s what to look for when checking a bookkeeper’s credentials:
Certification from the National Association of Certified Public Bookkeepers (NACPB) or the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) reflects a strong foundation in bookkeeping and ongoing professional development.
If you use QuickBooks, this certification is especially valuable. It means the bookkeeper has been trained and tested by QuickBooks, so they’re equipped to help you get the most out of the software. You can verify their certification through the QuickBooks ProAdvisor directory.
While not required, being licensed or registered as a business adds professionalism and credibility.
Look for proof of continuing education, such as recent webinars or courses, especially on software updates or regulatory changes.
A good bookkeeper should clearly outline their services (e.g., reconciliations, payroll, tax prep support) and let you know how and when they’ll be available.
Not all credentials are tangible. There are crucial skills and traits a bookkeeper should have that aren't backed by a certification. When you trust someone to reconcile credits and debits or categorize transactions, you want them to possess the following qualities:
Accurate
Bookkeepers must be precise. Even small errors can lead to bigger financial issues, so attention to detail is critical for maintaining clean and reliable records.
Organized
Managing receipts, reconciling accounts, and meeting deadlines requires sharp organizational skills. A well-organized bookkeeper keeps your finances in order and accessible.
Trustworthy
Bookkeepers handle sensitive financial data, so integrity and discretion are non-negotiable. You need someone who respects confidentiality and acts ethically.
Communicative
They should be able to explain financial information in plain terms and respond quickly and clearly to questions and concerns from you, your team, or your accountant. Look for signs early on, like timely, professional, email responses to your initial inquiries.
Analytical
Great bookkeepers not only record numbers, they can understand what they mean. They can spot patterns and catch inconsistencies. They are adept at preventing and resolving issues before they escalate.
Resilient
Bookkeeping isn’t always smooth sailing, especially around tax time. A resilient bookkeeper can handle pressure, tackle last-minute changes, and keep things on track when deadlines loom.
Adaptable
Regulations change. Business needs shift. A bookkeeper should be flexible, learn new tools when necessary, and stay current on compliance rules so your records stay accurate and your business stays audit-ready.
Efficient
Bookkeepers juggle many tasks. Effective time management ensures everything gets done accurately and on schedule.
Dependable
Reliability, consistency, and a strong work ethic are the foundation of any successful bookkeeping relationship. You need someone who shows up and follows through.
Experienced
Nothing replaces experience. Search out bookkeepers with several years in the field and positive reviews from clients and accountants who look over bookkeepers' work. These can be signs that your bookkeeper is knowledgeable and competent.
Once your list is narrowed down to qualified bookkeepers who work with your business software, it's time to meet. Whether it happens online or in person, meeting your final contenders gives you an opportunity to envision yourself working with each person.
Every business owner has a different working style. Personal preference plays a role here — while one entrepreneur might love a bookkeeper's enthusiastic email communication, another might prefer brief, direct notes. What makes you feel comfortable and trusting is unique to you. This meeting is your chance to see if the bookkeeper’s communication, processes, and overall approach align with how you like to work.
This is also the right time to explain your business, outline your needs, and clarify how much support you're looking for. Some bookkeepers handle everything from start to finish, while others provide support as needed or address issues on a consultative basis. They may want to review your current books to estimate how much work is involved—especially if some cleanup is required before regular maintenance can begin. What they offer (and what it costs) may vary depending on how hands-on you want to be and what level of service fits your budget.
Questions to ask in an interview
The following questions can help you gauge whether a candidate could be the right fit for your business:
Be clear about expectations:
Trying to decide between a full-time or part-time bookkeeper? Use this side-by-side comparison to weigh your options and find the level of support that works best for your needs.
After you've found a qualified, trustworthy bookkeeper who could be a good fit for your business, it's time to sign the deal. Most bookkeepers will provide a contract or service agreement that outlines what they’ll do, how often, and what’s expected from both sides. Double-check that all key points from your discussion—like scope, payment, communication, and timelines—are clearly outlined. If anything is missing or unclear, ask for revisions before you sign.
To foster a good working relationship with your bookkeeper from the start, it is important to have a thoughtful discussion about needs and budget. Here are a few ways to approach it:
Then get ready to hand over your books! Outsourcing work to a contractor or business can feel nerve-wracking, but it's a big occasion on the road to business growth.
Hiring a bookkeeper can, itself, be a time-consuming process. But QuickBooks accounting software users have a faster, more flexible option: QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted.
With QuickBooks Live Expert Assisted, you can virtually connect one-on-one with QuickBooks-certified bookkeepers for guidance help when you need it. They'll answer questions and show you how to do tasks in QuickBooks, so you can stay organized and be ready for tax time.
* Terms and fees apply
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