Bookkeeping is one of the most reliable work-from-home careers for parents who like numbers and order. Small businesses always need their books kept, the work can be done at any time of day, and clients often stay with a good bookkeeper for years. It takes longer to get started than most home jobs, because you need training first, but the income it builds tends to be steadier than most freelance work.
Quick answer: in the UK, self-employed bookkeepers charge a median of about £33 an hour, with newly qualified bookkeepers starting nearer £20–£25. US freelance bookkeepers typically charge $30–$90 an hour. Expect three to six months of training and set-up before your first regular client.
What does bookkeeping involve?
A bookkeeper keeps a business’s day-to-day financial records accurate and up to date. Typical tasks include:
- Recording sales, purchases and expenses in accounting software
- Matching bank transactions to invoices and receipts (bank reconciliation)
- Sending invoices and chasing unpaid ones
- Preparing VAT returns or sales tax records
- Running payroll for small teams
- Getting everything ready for the accountant at year end
A bookkeeper isn’t the same as an accountant. Accountants prepare final accounts, give tax advice and file company accounts. Bookkeepers keep the records those accountants rely on. Many bookkeepers later train further and become accounting technicians or accountants.
How much does bookkeeping pay?
- UK: the 6 Figure Bookkeeper Pricing Report (2025) found a median hourly rate of £33.36 among self-employed UK bookkeepers, and a median monthly fee of about £150 per client. Newly self-employed bookkeepers typically start around £20–£25 an hour.
- US: freelance bookkeepers commonly charge $30–$90 an hour, or $250–$1,200 a month for ongoing packages, depending on the client’s size.
- Ireland: we couldn’t find reliable survey data for freelance rates. In practice they’re broadly in line with UK rates in euro terms, and are higher for bookkeepers who also handle payroll and VAT.
Many bookkeepers move from hourly pricing to fixed monthly fees as they get faster. That rewards efficiency and gives you predictable income: ten clients paying £150–£300 a month adds up to a solid part-time income.
Do you need a qualification?
Legally, not always. Practically, yes. Clients want reassurance, and training stops you making expensive mistakes. Recognised routes include:
- UK: AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) or ICB (Institute of Certified Bookkeepers) qualifications, usually starting at Level 2. Both can be studied online and part-time.
- Ireland: Accounting Technicians Ireland courses, or QQI-accredited bookkeeping courses, which are often available through local Education and Training Boards. Some are free or subsidised for people returning to work.
- US: certifications such as the AIPB Certified Bookkeeper or the NACPB, plus software certifications.
Whatever country you’re in, get certified in the software clients use. Xero and QuickBooks both offer free advisor certification, and many clients choose a bookkeeper partly by the software they know.
Rules you must follow
Bookkeeping is a regulated activity in some countries, so do this properly from day one:
- UK: anyone offering bookkeeping services as a business must be supervised for anti-money-laundering (AML). You get this through a professional body such as the AAT or ICB, or by registering with HMRC.
- Ireland: bookkeepers and other accountancy service providers must register for anti-money-laundering supervision. Check the current requirements with the Department of Justice’s Anti-Money Laundering Compliance Unit, or through your professional body.
- Everywhere: get professional indemnity insurance, use a clear engagement letter, and follow data protection (GDPR) rules for client records.
Then sort out your own tax as a self-employed person. Our side income tax checker shows when you need to register.
Why bookkeeping suits parents
- No calls needed most of the time. Much of the work is quiet and on screen.
- Flexible timing. Clients care that deadlines are met, not when you do the work. Naps, evenings and school hours all work.
- Repeat income. Monthly clients mean you’re not always hunting for new work.
- It grows with you. You can start with two or three clients and add more as the children get older.
How to find your first bookkeeping clients
- Start with people you know. Self-employed friends, tradespeople, local shops and childminders often hate doing their books.
- Approach local accountants. Many pass small clients or overflow work to trusted bookkeepers.
- Join local business groups and chamber of commerce events, or Facebook groups for small business owners.
- List yourself in your professional body’s directory and in the Xero and QuickBooks advisor directories.
- Offer a clear starter package, for example monthly bank reconciliation and VAT records for a fixed fee.
The downsides
- The slow start. Training plus finding clients can take several months before you earn steadily.
- Responsibility. Mistakes can cost clients money, so accuracy and insurance really matter.
- Deadline crunches around VAT quarters and tax-return season can clash with school holidays.
- Software and AI are changing the work. Bank feeds and auto-categorising handle the simplest data entry now, so bookkeepers who understand the numbers and advise clients do best.
- Upfront costs for courses, membership, AML supervision and insurance.
Is bookkeeping right for you?
If you’re accurate, like numbers and want quiet work you can fit around family life, bookkeeping is one of the strongest long-term options. It’s not the right choice if you need money within a month. In that case, look at employed options first and train in the evenings. Compare your options with our Remote Work Matcher.
Work out what to charge per hour so freelancing actually pays.
