So, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and consistent and look at joining relevant groups and sharing your thoughts in discussions. Many freelance accountants also work as bookkeepers, so it’s worth considering this as a means of boosting your income when you start out. As a bookkeeper, you’ll be charged with keeping records of your client’s financial activity, managing payments and receipts, filing invoices and the like. Typically, bookkeepers are responsible for collating all the business’s financial records and preparing accounts up to trial balance stage, at which point the accountant will take over. The gig economy is still taking off, and it’s a great time for accountants and bookkeepers to jump on board.

Scott had a lot of finance experience which he used to ask the right questions and help us do things more quickly than we would have done without him. The commission model is crucial to us being able to scale, he integrated seamlessly with our finance team and efficiently got us the outputs we needed. His first bit of work produced a tool for us to model and forecast our financials and is far and away worth every penny we paid and more. Read thousands of informative posts, written specifically to help you excel in your favorite gigs.

The business side of things

It really comes down to whether this work model is something that you enjoy and can sustain or whether it’ll become a daily source of struggle. So think about your preferences and needs when it comes to the ideal work-life balance. Although there is no guarantee of a steady salary, the flexibility and control you get from freelancing are enough to persuade many others to pursue this path.

• This service gives freelancers like you access to better benefits, so definitely check it out.
• Browse our complete list of gig economy companies, and the gigs they’re hiring for.
• Depending on the project, freelance accountants may also spend time researching industry trends, preparing financial statements, or providing advice on various financial matters.
• While there are some objective advantages and disadvantages of working freelance, the subjective ones are probably the driving force behind the decision.

It’s important to consider if you are suitable for working as a freelance accountant. Freelancers commonly create invoices from an accounting system like Quickbooks to bill their clients. They will also review their existing projects and ensure all deliverables are on track and answer any questions or concerns from clients. So, if you don’t have much experience in accounting, doing it freelance could be hard for you.

Market Your Business for New Clients

Becoming self-employed also now means that you could be liable for any mistakes you make in relation to your accounting services. Insurance for accountants is designed to protect you from risks that could occur as a result of your profession. This could include professional indemnity insurance, cyber insurance and contents and equipment insurance. Now that it requires fewer human resources to complete these basic accounting functions, freelance accountants and bookkeepers are less likely to need hired help. Some of these apps offer interesting bonus features—see the Mileage Tracking section below for one example.

• To ensure you’re reaching as wide an audience as possible, a strong online presence is essential.
• We’ll tackle the active job search later and now let’s take a look at other marketing strategies.
• It can be very rewarding to offer your experience and expertise to those who need it.
• Go out and get a coffee or a sandwich at lunchtime, just like you would in a traditional workplace.