Home-based bookkeeper for small firms

Sole traders, tradespeople, shops, cafes and small limited companies who don't have time or confidence to do their own books.

A monthly fee per client based on the volume of work, or an hourly rate. A few steady clients give regular income.

• Accurate and organised
• Comfortable with numbers and spreadsheets
• Confident learning accounting software
• Clear communication with non-experts

• Professional indemnity insurance, as errors can be costly for clients
• Anti-money laundering rules: check whether you need to register with HMRC or a professional body for your services
• Data protection: you will hold clients' financial information, so check your ICO registration and how you store data
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows you to work from home
• Using terms like 'accountant' may be restricted, so describe your services carefully

Startup costs are typically around £200 to £1,500, depending on the software, insurance and equipment you choose. Treat these as estimates and compare real quotes before you spend.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £300 to £2,500, depending on how many clients you take on and the monthly fees you charge. Check these estimates against your own pricing and available hours.

Check professional indemnity insurance, anti-money laundering rules (whether you need to register with HMRC or a professional body), and your ICO registration and data storage. Also check whether your landlord or lender allows home working, and take care with terms like 'accountant'.