Online accountant for small businesses
Keep the books and file the tax returns for local small businesses, mostly remotely, on a monthly fee.
- $1k-5k
- Part-time
- Online
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the US, not guarantees.
Official data
47,699 US businesses with employees in this field, +2.7% in a year
NAICS 541219 “Other accounting services”. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns 2023.
What it is
A remote accounting practice that handles monthly bookkeeping, financial statements, payroll and sales tax filings, and prepares business and owner tax returns for small businesses and self-employed clients.
Your first three steps
- Decide your niche (for example contractors, restaurants or online sellers) and check which credentials fit your services, such as CPA or Enrolled Agent
- Set up an LLC if you want one, get an EIN, and arrange professional liability insurance and cloud accounting and document tools
- Offer a fixed-price clean-up or trial month to a few local small businesses, then convert them to monthly clients
Who pays
Small business owners, freelancers, contractors, shops and restaurants that need regular bookkeeping and tax help but cannot justify a full-time hire.
How it makes money
Monthly retainer fees based on the size of the business, plus separate fees for annual tax returns, clean-up work and one-off advice.
Skills that help
- Solid bookkeeping and accounting knowledge
- Experience with cloud accounting software
- Organized with deadlines across many clients
- Explaining numbers in plain language
Watch out for
- Only CPAs can use the CPA title and some services are restricted, so check your state board of accountancy rules
- A PTIN is generally required to prepare returns for pay, and some states have their own preparer rules
- Professional liability (errors and omissions) insurance
- Protecting client financial data, including bank logins and Social Security numbers
- Deadlines are fixed, so avoid taking on more clients than you can handle at busy times
Deep research report · US
Everything you need to start: online accountant for small businesses
Researched with live web search for United States: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to start an online accounting practice?
Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your software, insurance and how you set up your practice. These are estimates, so check each cost, including professional liability insurance, before you start.
How much can an online small business accountant earn?
Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on how many clients you take and the services you offer. Deadlines are fixed, so avoid taking on more clients than you can handle at busy times.
Do I need to be a CPA or have a PTIN to do this?
Things to check: only CPAs can use the CPA title and some services are restricted, so check your state board of accountancy rules. A PTIN is generally required to prepare returns for pay, and some states have their own preparer rules.
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Photo: constructionestimate on Pixabay