I want to do Bookkeeping/Accounting from home. How should I calculate how to charge for my services?

I am in Houston.

I have 20 years experience. My objective in this question was to not over/under sell my services and make sure all my bases were covered.

Between $25 and $35 per hour depending on the volume of work for each customer.

Check with your local college. most of the time they have some short courses you can take. I have my own business but have been doing it since i was in Jr High helping my grandmother run her business now she has passed away and now i am taking over. Advertising is also very important! You can email me at cowgirlbrigteyes@yahoo.com or message me on yahoo messanger.

The accountant that we use through our small business charges per hour depending on how much work has to be done. If you are only doing one or two jobs for a company than the rates may be higher but if you are doing several jobs on a continual basis then charge less.

What I do is work out my costs and overhead per month and devide them by the number of customers

For example, I bought Quickbooks Contractor Edition for $500 and work for 3 companies, this license will have to be renewed so I devided the cost between the 3 companies and devided it by 12 to get a monthly amount. Then internet costs and other overhead etc per month.

I worked out how many hours I expected to work each month in total and divided my costs by that and added my 'hourly rate' (profit & wages) to that to get the rate I charge people.

So knowing how long a certain amount of work usually takes me, I give them a rate based on my hourly rate, so one customer takes me about 10 hours a week, the other 20 and the final one is only 4 hours - they rarely vary too much from that so some weeks I am up a little some I am down but it works out in the end

YES YOU SHOULD AND ALOS GET THE PRICES OF YOUR COMPETITORS. REMEBER EVERYTHING HAS A PRICE.!!

get a book and read about how to open a business for bookkeeping/accounting and see what it says about this area and also call around for prices.

Just look at your competitors and average out the price or maybe go lower.

You could work up a fee per hour based upon various factors. For example, depending upon the nature of work you could possibly charge $25/hr. If the business is more difficult, $30/hr, etc. You at least want to break even (on paper) with the cost of a home-based business. If you were to show losses each year, the IRS will be contacting you.

Figure out what a general admin employee is paid in your area, then double the hourly rate (which is about what an hourly employee w/ benefits costs a company. Then tack on a few bucks. The applied cost of subbing work out to your will still be lower to the employer. Another approach.. call a temp agency and ask them what they would charge you for an adminstrative temp. This will tell you the going rate in your area. Another thought... you're in Houston -- think Medical!

Time is money..and any time spent doing anything pertaining to your clients is "chargeable". There are "averages" paid to all professionals in the Nation, that can be found doing a search on the Internet...www.answer.com is a great one...pose the question you have and typically they'll respond with something close to what your inquiry is...don't "lowball" yourself...if you think your work is every bit as good, in not better than the competitor, why would you charge less than they would? Consider what your overhead is, machines,stock,papers,software,computer needs, etc. as well as what your "time" is worth! Good luck!!

I'm sorry, but this makes no sense to me. You, of all people, should know how to make such calculations. If not, I don't think much of the services you are offering!

You can charge according to the number of hours you work

Check with an employment office for a list of wages.Another option is to call an accountant and see what their hourly rate is.

I would go to school first for book keeping/accounting. You need an degree. They is big money in Accounting. I would get Job with n establish firm. When u get enough experience than if u still want to work for yourself, go for it.
Get some book and read up on the subject, but you need to get a collage degree.
LOl
Chuck

I would charge accordingly to the work performed. Like individual people you could charge by income range and businesses charge a little more from your individual range.

with all due respect what type of work are you planning on doing? EXACTLY!

I'd try charging a percentage of the total monthly funds that you're working with. i.e., 5% for a 5,000.00 monthly acct. And it could go up depending on the size of the Acct. Your accts could be billed monthly along with the other debits. Just a thought, I am by no means an expert.

it all depends on the type of work that your client is having you do. if they want you do do their taxes for them, you might want to charge per hour. however, if they want you to manage their expenses and such, you might want to charge a monthly rate depending upon how much work there is to be done. you dont want to charge too much, but too little and you wont have a home business anymore.

I would start with a barter scenario; then research your colleagues in said field for compensatory equivalents.

You charge whatever you want to. It says a lot about what you think you're worth. It's more of a marketing question than a calculation. Sometimes I charge per project, and sometimes per hour. Most of the time it works out to 50 an hour or more. Don't forget about your overheads or be afraid to make a little money. Good luck beancounter.

charged your services quivalent to the current fair market value of bookkeeping/accounting service.

well bookkeeping is a accounting at home is a pretty hard choice.number 1, go ask my brother at johnjiaboliu@Yahoo.com.au or go email me on brilliantrobert@yahoo.com.au

You need to find out what the competition is charging, charge too much and no one will use you, charge too little and you won't make a good profit. Do a bit of research before hand and then decide.

if you have any particular overheads, these need to be considered to make sure you are covering these in your charge out rate. (from an Accountant in the UK)

It depends on the amount of time you need to spend on the job as well as what the industry is charging at present.

http://www.futureaccountant.com/accounti...

Work out a percentage of the amounts you are handling. That way you can help a beginner and fleece the big fish.

Depending on the volume of your transactions.

Find out opportunity cost (i.e. how much could you earn by using same level of intellect for same time) and than apply a % as a premium to go for the job.

$40-$50 an hour for people who just need a few hours a month. If it is more hours, charge a little less

how long hav u been a bookkeeper and accountant??? and i think u hav gave ur service to others so many tyms....
but now why are you asking us here?? why u can't apply it to your self?? isn't it your job??

Look in the help wanted pages and see the hourly rates offred by firms -- then call a few accounting temp agences and ask what they are offering for tem work

Your rate will depend n your sophistication -- are you a CPA? Can you set up automated systems (Quicken - Peachtree, etc) Can you close books and prepare financial statements. DO you have a accounting degree. What size company do you wish to serve.

What I would do is start looking for a part time job in accounting - one where the client may let you work from home --- but it is very very difficult to do accounting remote and most businesses want their accountants to come into the office - even if just for a few days a week ---- I ought to know being a CPA and a CFO for over 25 years

I have read thru all the anwsers you have received and an extra thought to each of them. Apparently you already know how to do the work ect. ,so you need to add in for the expenses incurred at home. IE: your utilities,room charge from where you run your business thru, cost of machinery such as computer, printer ink and naturally paper, telephone courier service if using one to transport information back to them. Also if you have to pay an occupational tax in your state,plus you want to make sure that you cover the expenses of your own quarterly taxes.If you have had to purchase any software extra plus licenses to do the work.Since you will be doing work that needs security, you also need to make sure the room in which you work out of either has a safe, several locks ect in the event of a break in-check with your home owners insurance person for those added cost. This to need to be factored into your over all cost.Each client may need you monthly or quartly or if you are donging simple jobs. But each job needs to have all the abouve fatored into your cost.Hope that gives you a few extra things to think about.