What Does a BOOKKEEPER Actually DO?! | Realistic Bookkeeping
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- Опубликовано: 9 июл 2024
- It shouldn’t be a secret as to what bookkeepers really do; but by researching how to become a bookkeeper you might think it is! No one shows what a bookkeeper actually does - so I made this video as an example of what I was hired to do for one of my newest clients.
When you break it down, bookkeeping isn’t rocket science. Many times it is just taking the time to record and categorize transactions for a business. This is something that so many people are capable of, however a lot of business owners either don’t have the time to take care of these tasks, they simply don’t want to take the time to do it, or they are so financially/mathematically insecure they’d rather have someone else do it for them. In any of these scenarios you, as a bookkeeper, can help take a load off of their plate.
Bookkeeping can be MUCH more sophisticated than what I show in this video, however there are many small business owners that need someone to do exactly what I’m illustrating in this video. It is helpful to have tax knowledge in order to categorize transactions into specific categories, but it’s not ultimately necessary to have that background.
I hope you find this bookkeeping example helpful, and if so like the video or leave me a comment and I’ll try to provide more examples like this one!
//CHAPTERS:
0:00 Introduction - Why did I make this video?
3:24 Getting physical receipts/business records
4:11 Getting started organizing receipts into an Excel file
6:34 Physical organization
7:44 Scanning receipts
11:11 Spreadsheet for receipts
19:14 Wrapping up the experience
//RESOURCES MENTIONED:
Portable “Bar” Scanner - amzn.to/3ihjb6w
IPEVO Document Camera - amzn.to/3wFAELi
*Computer - amzn.to/3kpZxbc
*If you don't already have a good computer/laptop for your bookkeeping needs, this is the laptop I currently have. I love it and it's just right for what I need to use it for! PLUS, this computer has a number pad which makes it so much easier for receipt entry!
//CONTACT:
For all subscribers, please feel free to leave a comment below so that I can reply to you directly!
For any business inquiries, please email me at purvistobrown@gmail.com
And make sure you subscribe to my channel!
Sharing my story as I create my bookkeeping business!
Disclaimer - This video is NOT sponsored by any of the brands mentioned throughout this video. All thoughts mentioned are my own. Some links provided above are affiliate links. They do not cost you anything, but I make a small percentage from the sale. Honesty is key on my channel, thank you for supporting me!
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Great nuts and bolts video on bookkeeping.
That's the problem of doing a year's work for $300. He can just do that every year compared to paying someone $150 every month.
What you should have done was given your normal rate of $150 a month * 12 months, then show him you giving him a discount. That would have changed his entire perspective.
$150 monthly is not enough! I charge $300 a month minimum and annually $1000 minimum. I can totally relate to your story because when I started my bookkeeping business I struggled with the pricing and that was the same questions I asked myself, why would a client book me monthly, if annual cost turns out so much less. It’s important to not under value yourself with the pricing. If you charge more, the clients that value your expertise and your work, will pay and value your services/. When people see low cost, they automatically think that it’s not good quality.
Nice experience! It is smart way to charge as monthly and annually. It is too much work for tracking work hours for each clients.
I love your comments so much! Thank you for this perspective :)
$150 or even $300 a month is way down low charge to do that bookkeeping considering the amount of responsibility & client protection. Not so sure on what kind of liability does bookkeeper has. Pls share
As far as I have seen 10$/hour is min rate
@@bigfan515910/hour ?? Where? Some person in India?
I’m an accountant and for some of my clients that give me the stuff during tax season I have them download their bank transactions in excel. You can then categorize them and tally them up, in less than 30 - 45 minutes.
For what you were doing you can just check them off and verify it and it will take a third of the time. You just have to enter in the few of them they did not use their business account for. You may also be some transactions they didn’t receive save the receipts for as well.
How do you make adding amazon purchases easier to total up?
I'm currently at the beginning of my Bookkeeping career (studying and revising) and this has, by far, been the best video I have seen. You have explained everything in such a straightforward, to the point, fashion that it has been easy to understand for someone such as myself. I will watch more videos. Cheers 🍻
Girl...I love your videos. You have no idea how much impact you have had on my mindset with starting this bookkeeping business!
This makes my day - thank you so much :)
I’m going through your videos in order, and I’ve loved it. I want to start my own bookkeeping business from home, so this is helping me out with perspective.
I have thoughts about this video though.
I don’t think the problem was that you undercharged for your hourly rate. Instead, I think it just comes down to setting expectations from the start.
If at the interview you had said my monthly charge is $150, but as a first-time client, I will give you a discounted hourly rate.
That sets the expectation, so instead of feeling like you’re overcharging on your monthly service, your client would feel like you’re giving them a deal right off the bat.
I completely agree with you. Having the experience I have now, I would've followed that same game plan. Thank you for your perspective!
Thank you - probably the most useful video I've seen for someone trying to decide what the job of a bookkeeper entails! Would definitely like to see more like this.
I'm so glad it was helpful!
Adobe Scan is a free mobile app that takes a picture of whatever document that is and stores it in high definition in pdf format. It's very handy. It's possible to add multiple documents to one file.
Great video! Your pretty much the only person on youtube that has content sharing the tangible tasks that a bookkeeper has to do Thank you!
Wow, thank you!
I want to thank you. I'm so happy I found you. I somehow got a bookkeeping client..this opportunity landed on my lap, i took it and ran with it..and now I'm like ok what the hell do I do now...doing a bunch of research online and I'm so happy you are so real authentic and I am appreciative of you. i can't thank you enough! I have a lot to learn from you!
Exactly the kind of content on bookkeeping I was looking for. Thank you so much
Oh my God, thank you so much for this video! This really helped with the type of work bookkeepers do! Now I feel confident in pursuing this business path.
I’ve watched so many bookkeeping RUclips videos and you are my favorite. I really appreciate this video and would really like an Excel crash course! Thanks for all your content, seriously.
YAY - that's wonderful! Okay - I'll put that on the agenda :)
I'm currently watching all of your videos. This channel is THE most helpful I can find for someone like me who wants to do this in the side. Thank you so much!!
Oh my goodness - thank you :)
Thank you for your videos, just found you and so far I love it. I am full time staff accountant for past 16 years and just now getting in to setting up my own bookkeeping side business and I am finding your videos very very refreshing and honest. I love it ... please keep this going
That's wonderful! Best of luck to you! And, thank you for your kind comment :)
You are so right. Your video is the 1st I found to actually see what a bookeeper actually does. Thank you.
Thank you soooo much for this content! Really, you are the only one I've seen that shows the true nuts and bolts of bookkeeping. I'm almost ready to start, and I'm TERRIFIED of not knowing what to do, where to start with a real client. Thanks so much for the mentoring, you have a gift for that!
Hi L G - I would have typed these exact words because thats exactly where I am now. Lets swop contacts and share info. I would like to see your growth. Im hoping to start on my side too but very fearful on the unknown.
This was a GREAT and INFORMATIVE Video! You sharing your experience itself is very valuable information to me as a viewer of your channel. Thank you.
Love it thank you. So valuable. Please make more of these!
Thank you so much for the information and your succinct delivery of it!!!
Thank you for being so authentic.
I watched two of your videos so far and I loved them a lot.. I am starting my rental LLC and way to my nose on how will I keep my numbers right. I love working with spreadsheet and I love if you make a video for how to use them and how to make formulas. I like the way you explained the formulas in your videos.
Get it girl! Very informative. Love it all. Keep up the good work! The last segment of the video when you’re talking about how to not undercut or undersell your value is a very good thing to consider. The way you explained both sides of the situation made realize that I’m both sides haha I definitely understand being budget friendly but also know that I provide a service and value to a business and should be paid accordingly. I like the real world examples.
Thank you for your valuable information. I find you very genuine and that's why I love all your content.
I appreciate that so much!
This is a video I have been looking for!! Thanks for sharing details about bookkeeping!
Yay! I'm so happy you found it helpful :)
Love love love your videos so much!!!!!! I appreciate you making these 💞
I would love to watch a crash course of excel & I also want to say I appreciate the content you put out. I've said before im still starting my business and really my last step is personally I want to actually see what ill have to do as a bookkeeper. EXACTLY what you put up!!! Great Minds Think Alike! Thank You!
Yay! I'm so glad that this was what you were looking for! I'm creating more content like this one within the next few weeks/months :)
I have to say the same. I have 10 yrs experience in assisting a bookkeeper, but have been searching for someone who is giving the real on day to day tasks.. Thank you so much! Unsubscribing to others!
@@seutatia How can contact you for bookkeeping?
Great video- that’s important- you just showed us to always make sure our hourly rate should matched our monthly rates or bigger- because the value of our times is valuable! Amazing video I think your channel will grow fast with these types of content!
Absolutely! Thank you so much :)
💕Wow! Love ur bookkeeping presentation skills. Love the bookkeeping itself. So beautiful🙌
Your videos are so thorough and detailed . I’m just watching for the fun of it to see what book keeping is just to know for general knowledge. Keep these videos going. Would love tutorials for small business in how to do this themselves who can’t afford book keeping for startup . An excel spreadsheets etc . Thanks u ❤
Wow! TOTALLY worth it! :) Thank you for the valuable insights that I couldn't get unless I went through this myself! Your candor is REFRESHING! Thank you for taking the time and yes, please more videos like this! (This was my first video of yours but I've subscribed so if you've already made more like this, then I can't wait to watch)!
Yay! I'm so, so happy this video was helpful and insightful! I will have more that are similar to this style very soon :)
Yes, I'd love an excel crash course, loving this job shadowing kind of content, it's motivating me so much and removing my anxiety, I feel like part of a group.
Yay! I’m so glad! Here’s the latest video I made on Excel and it’s uses for bookkeeping: ruclips.net/video/EFAig6aSBYg/видео.html
“Totally want more of this” !!
You are really helping me understand.
Thank you for showing us all a peek into bookkeeping!! You've taught us all a lesson while learning one yourself, and I guess no good deed goes unpunished (sometimes), but it's a great learning experience!!
New here. This is 100% what I was looking for. Thank you for this.
You are amazing!! Thank you so much for sharing.
This is awesome thank you for sharing your experiences. So valuable to us “wanna be bookkeeper”.
Thank you for this video. I have just to finished my Bookkeeping course and really wanted to see a real live example of a day of bookkeeping would look like . 😊
You are awesome for making this video! Thanks so much!!! So helpful! You are speaking at the right speed and not rushing through the content. Thank YOU!!!
Also regarding the client…
I hate when people take you kindness for a weakness. You were trying to give them a break to start but the regular rate is what it is. Sorry that happened to you.
All of your videos have been so helpful and easy to follow. We appreciate your time in putting this out together for us. Have you ever thought about charging clients for cleanups and startup packages? You have a teaching degree maybe once you get comfortable enough you can make a course. With all the talent you have, I know you can make a lot of money besides just bookkeeping. Thank you again for your making this video for us.
You are so sweet - thank you! Yes, I have definitely started to consider packaged services with a flat rate fee instead of hourly rates. I'm not counting a course out yet, but I want to make sure I offer LOTS of good, helpful, informative videos here first of what bookkeeping looks like before I go that route. I think everyone deserves to see the most honest side of "What does bookkeeping look like?" before they pay anyone money to teach them how to do it :)
Love this video. Just what I needed. Starting my business soon.
Thank you! I'm so glad you found it helpful!
The best 👌the realist ..the truth....lol...appreciate you!!!!!! Everybody else wanna charge and still not give you what's needed to be successful 💯
I'm so happy you find my content helpful and straight forward :)
Love it!! No one talks about this! This is 75% of the work right?
Definitely want to learn more. Thank you
Thank you for sharing, it really helps.
You're very welcome! Hopefully I can make more videos similar to this one, about the processes of bookkeeping that will be even more helpful :)
totally want more of this!
Awesome! I'm happy this was helpful - I will be making many more in the next several weeks/months!
Thank you so much! I really appreciate you putting yourself out there for this video. This is one of the most helpful videos on bookkeeping that I’ve seen. It gives a better perspective for pricing, actual bookkeeping tasks, and knowing your worth. Thank you again! Great video!
Thank you for letting me know it was helpful! I want to keep my portrayal of bookkeeping as realistic as possible! I'll be making more videos similar to this :)
Loved it, thank you
Glad you enjoyed it!
Very cool. Good info. Keep this type of content.
Thanks! Will do!
Loves your videos.
Great vid! 👍
Great video and explanation
You’re awesome, thanks for the video.
Of course! Thank you!
Very helpful!
Great video!
Thank you Sister! Worth listening your Vedio!
I know how to do this kind of stuff like make a table. I learned this kind of stuff and community college. I didn’t really get to finish any college degrees cause I was distracted doing other things to.
I've often found "budget conscious" customers, those who ask for discounts, etc., tend to be more difficult to deal with down the line. More demanding, acting entitled, often asking for more and more value for no additional pay, and so on. It's hard to turn down business, but I've learned to value myself enough to not be taken advantage of. In regards to bookkeeping, I think at some minimum level of desired service I would simply tell them their needs aren't worth them hiring someone else to do. (I'd need to figure out a nicer way of saying that though...)
Thank you for sharing this experience. I would definitely would have done the same thing probably with the same outcome, so live and learn right?
That's exactly right :)
Theres a PDF capture feature built into IOS Rachel! go into the Notes app, start a new note, then observe that page. you will see an icon of a camera near the keyboard, hit that, then select 'scan documents' from the menu that appears. I'll leave you to work out the rest but you can save them and share them to your email address etc from there. Will be a bit of a faff doing receipt after receipt but will get you by before you decide to invest in a scanner. Great Video! thanks for sharing your experience
Thank you, Jake! I feel like that's a great option, especially if you have a client that you can stay on top of their receipt scanning (and not have to do a whole year's worth at one time)!
Extreeeeemely helpful ❤️😊
That's wonderful! Thank you!
You make great videos. Can you please make one on how you create each month? Is the year one big sheet? Are the months different sheets? I would rather learn from you instead of searching the forums.
I love this! So all this customer wanted was receipt tracking? I'm a newbie and I'm just like, "Where's the utilities and other payables?" LOL. Also, how did you give this to the customer? Did you print it? Email it? Thank you so much for your videos!
Thank you. Need some tips please to get started. Did a basic bookkeeping course way back. Computer software wasn't available then. When I was employed, position didn't require bookkeeping. Although have been using Excel spreadsheet for my husband 's small business. Nothing like what I have seen in the few tutorials you have posted. Desperately need to try acquire a client base for income . Would appreciate your guidance to get started. TIA have subscribed and liked 😉
This is great information, thank you! Question... What do you do when you are unable to read the receipt due to fading or if a carbon copy in unreadable? Also, won't the receipts fade when stored for years at a time?
From someone who had a business for over 10 years, yes they do fade. I used excel instead of quick books, and one thing I would do is write the amount of each receipt on the receipt with a pen and the year, so when they faded, I could reference them if I was audited. And then kept each years worth of receipts in a gallon zip lock bag, lol. Once I had the information in the computer my job was done. I figured if I was ever audited, I'd hand the zip lock bags to the irs agent and tell them to have fun auditing me. Why make it easier for them to come after you by organizing everything for them, lol?
I was also the person with the receipts spread out around me on my couch, just like in the video!
Great video! I’m in the process of taking my Quickbooks Pro Advisor exam and your videos have been great.
Do you charge an hourly fee for this service or flat rate?
Good, I'm so glad! I charged an hourly rate for this specific client, but I am transitioning to a fixed rate :)
Did you know when I was 18 years old after I graduated high school? I was just starting community college I was going through a young adult pilot program and I was doing an internship at a corporate law, firm finance law firm where all I did all day long with data entry, scan tax forms and papers into the computer and alphabetize some in the binder and I would alphabetizing organize the folders. I will make zeerox copies of anything if there wasn’t a copier to put in the binder, and I was just an intern, doing eight dollars an hour which is not much and I have a disability
They could send you photos of the expenses so you aren’t driving for the receipts and they will have their electronic records of receipts. Then your monthly rate could drop. Get batch reports for cc income emailed to you, get bank statements emailed to you. Basically there’s a surcharge for the in person meeting (driving and interaction) built in to the monthly rate. But quarterly of course it will be less. Or you can pick up everything monthly for free when you come by for a free dinner or take out for the family.
Lot of food for thought there, with the pricing🧐 and yes thinking 🤔 about it, the client will feel confused with the prices, lol we are here to learn from your mistakes Rachel😂, bless you. This is a great video, real hands on stuff, fantastic channel. Thank you for all your time helping us 😍
Haha! I'm glad I can be helpful to others :)
You're videos are very helpful, thank you... can you do a video like this one but about your only client that you use QuickBooks for? And also provide info on who pays for client's QuickBooks account and/or if you need to pay anything for your QuickBooks online accountant account
Great suggestion! I will try to get a QB tutorial out soon!
@@RealisticBookkeeping that would be great, thanks again
hi thanks for your practical videos, but how about the bank reconciliation? did you match every transactions with the bank statement? thanks again and please make a same video for your client who work with qbo
This client did not give me access to his bank statements/records so I was incapable of that. However, judging from how working with this particular client turned out I don't think his bank records would EVER reconcile. Not a great system for record keeping on his end.
However, I am making several videos similar to this one that will post in the next couple of weeks/months so be on the look out for those :)
Adobe app on phone. Take picture of receipt and it will turn it to pdf you can then email or text. It's free and it saves each file. Quick easy on the go. You can even have client take pic of them and email to one main email.
Thank you for adding that option! I'm sure many people will find your comment helpful :)
Thanks.
I am a new subscriber! and I love your content I am trying to train myself because I also want to do Bookkeeping as a service that I can offer. Do you have a template like this, like in a yearly journal?
I'm so happy you can find my videos useful! I don't have a video like this on a yearly timeline/example, but I will try to add that to my video list.
I’m curious why bookkeepers don’t just reconcile debit card bank statements and have the customer keep the receipts in case they get audited.
Thanks for the video, really appreciate your insight. May I ask you: what do you wish now that you charged hourly for the work you done with the receipt scanning & capturing? Many thanks
Great question! I think I would charge a flat rate for that specific type of service. The problem I was having is that I truly didn't know how long the service was going to take, so I didn't want to undersell myself. BUT look how that turned out, haha! It's honestly just so hard to make it a marketable price and also worth your time...
where is the digital receipts stored..can you store them in the spreadsheet as a pic..?
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
Thanks for another valuable video. This past week I have gotten my Quickbooks certification, filed my LLC, designed my website, facebook page, and set up my business checking account. You're videos and encouragement have been so helpful along this process! I've got one potential client that I am about to meet with. So this was a great lesson in pricing and how to approach a new client. I'm the same way with leaning toward undervaluing myself to get in the door with people, but I'm going to really work against that mindset so I don't get into this same situation as you and your restaurant owner. My potential client doesn't have her personal and business finances separated and wants me to help her get them separate so she can clearly see her books. Do you have any advice for doing that, or questions I should ask at our initial meeting? Thanks!
And also, just bravo for doing this with a young baby. I see you and I'm there with you (insert Hunger Games salute here)
@Laci Chung Yeah, don't undersell yourself. This co-mingled situation is harder, because you will have to create TWO systems from scratch, and sort stuff out, AND EDUCATE her, so, for sure, don't undersell. If you do decide to be client-friendly and give her a deal rate, you might want to let her know that your hourly rate is such and such, but that this is just a deal, and is lower than your standard rate, in order to be client friendly, but that your monthly maintenance rate is such and such. If she tries to do you like that man did Realistic Bookkeeping, then forget the discount, and just go ahead and charge your regular rate per hour for setting up the separate personal and business systems. ALL THE BEST!
Good for you! This is awesome! Thank you :)
Double Entry, journal entries, chart of Accounts? Just your version of single entry accounting. 😅
Could you show me a sample portfolio so I can forward resume to clients. Thanks
I may have missed this but did she state she wouldn’t be using qyickbooks for this?
Maybe this is a dumb question, but let's say a receipt for $100 total had expenses for supplies and materials for a business that equaled $80 and the other $20 was for a different category? How do you split the receipt?
In the scenario I have in this video, I would create two rows in the excel for that transaction and split the total so I could categorize both sections. HOWEVER, I will also say that unless the client is paying you for that level of detail (and if they provide you with that level of information) I make the best decision I can for each transaction and move on. In the end, $20 of discrepancy in comparison to $25,000 worth of transactions is not going to make or break the accuracy of their records. Especially since this is cleaning up a mess that wasn't kept up throughout the year. *This is not being pessimistic just realistic :)
its arely nice video and information with a good impact for me
i had question if you can help how can i start with bookkeeping freelance online
i well work to see many video to learn more from you
Waiting for your videos about real life aspect of it. It gives me perspective and helps in tune with mindset required for the being successful a bookkeeper.
Do give some tips on how to get clients online as in our country no local business owner uses quick books online and I also want to work with international clients
I would love to get a collab video out with an international bookkeeper to give a good perspective of this! Be on the lookout for that video :)
You should use a pivot table to get all your totals. Would have saved you a ton of time.
Thank you so much for this helpful tip! I'm sure others will find your comment helpful as well :)
Again probably a dumb question, do you just do single entry accounts for your clients and not double entry? Apologies if I seem incredibly wet behind the ears
PS: I sense that is the norm with small businesses but wondering if anyone ever wants double entry…..
I have a question, I’m working with a possible new client and am wondering how you record their expenses when their bank statements (checking and credit card) have different dates? The checking is from the 1st to the end of the month. The credit card is from 16th-15th.
I'm so happy you asked - sorry for my late reply. I would still organize my month. Meaning that I would list the transaction (no matter the statement) in the month it occurred in. I hope that answers your question!
If using accounting software would you use the excel sheet still?
No! If this business owner had been open to using a program like QuickBooks Online, or Xero, or even Gusto, anything, I would have used that over the excel file. But, they were not interested in that and I wanted to give them another option of record keeping. It was also easier on me to do it this way than marking it all on a piece of paper. Hope that answers your question! :)
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I know this is an old video but I have a question that I hope doesn't sound too dumb lol. When you were looking at the receipts, how are you able to tell what everything is?? I've looked at my own personal receipts and still couldn't figure out what some of the abbreviations meant 😂 obviously if it's from a grocery store or some place specific like that, you have a better idea. But if it's some place like Walmart, it could be anything.
$150 per month is not even high at all wth LOL. Most charge more than that LOL
What industries usually hire bookkeepers?
i luv the vid
What do you think about bookkeeping on platforms like Fiverr?
So, in order to get hired as a bookeeper, you mainly need to know how to use Excel? I am going to start studying Accounting soon and I thought I had to learn how to use QuickBooks or something like that... Can I get a permanent job at a company as a bookeeper if I know how to use Excel?
From my understanding it depends on what the company is mainly using. Obviously something may happen and the company might switch so it's a good idea to learn both
It is in your favor to learn multiple ways/methods of bookkeeping so that you can give your clients options. If you work with a specific company (CPA firm, bookkeeping company, etc.) you will learn whatever software they use for their clients. That could be a form of Excel (unlikely, but possible), QuickBooks, Xero, etc.
OMG
In Serbia, any document that is the basis for registration because it is a business event that affects the company's assets
must be recorded within 7 days from the date of its creation
THIS IS WHAT OUR ACCOUNTING LAW SAYS.
The only thing that must be posted day by day according to the LAW is the account statement from the Bank.
If it were like this in Serbia to collect a bunch of documents for posting, the Inspectorate would immediately close
the company whose documentation it is and the bookkeeping agency that keeps its books.
Can you please do an Excel crash course ?
Have you tried an app like Shoeboxed that’s a way that he could use as well.
I just heard of them recently! Thank you for sharing!
QBO is horrible. I found it so difficult to use and get around. Maybe it’s because I’m a control freak and hate that it does all the work. And I feel it’s not accurate. I spend more time trying figure out how to reverse stuff QBO does then actually doing the books