Freelance bookkeeping is generally considered a highly worthwhile, flexible, and profitable career, offering remote work opportunities with low startup costs. It provides significant autonomy, with average earnings often ranging from $37,000 to over $50,000 annually, with experienced, specialized professionals often earning more.
Freelance bookkeeping is a profitable career path for those who systematize operations, price appropriately, focus on recurring-retainer clients and higher-margin services, and leverage automation. Expect modest beginnings; profitability scales with specialization, efficiency, and the ability to sell advisory services.
How much does a Freelance Bookkeeper make? As of Jan 18, 2026, the average annual pay for a Freelance Bookkeeper in the United States is $50,573 a year. Just in case you need a simple salary calculator, that works out to be approximately $24.31 an hour. This is the equivalent of $972/week or $4,214/month.
So, it's hard to say exactly what you can earn as a freelance bookkeeper in the UK. But a typical hourly rate would be between £10-£25 depending on experience. The average hourly pay for a bookkeeper in the UK is calculated at £11.89 by Payscale, with annual salaries between £18,000 and £36,000.
Self employed or freelance bookkeepers often charge £22 to £40 per hour. They may work from home or remotely, which can keep costs lower than hiring staff. You may find more flexibility, but quality can vary.
Not Chasing Late Payments. Failing to Keep Relevant Receipts. Carelessness When Bookkeeping. Combining Business And Personal Expenses. Using Manual Accounting Systems.
Many bookkeepers charge an hourly rate. This averages around $25 to $100 per hour. This all depends on things like their education, work experience, and the tasks they are expected to perform on the job, in addition to standard accounting functions.
The job market for bookkeepers might shrink by 6.2% between 2022 and 2032. However, around 197,600 job openings show up each year when people retire or switch jobs. Right now, about 38,481 bookkeeper positions are open across the United States. Bookkeeping proves to be a solid career choice.
For example, an accountant with a year or two of experience might earn $60,000 per year while a bookkeeper will earn less than $30,000 per year. More experienced accountants will be able to earn higher salaries but bookkeepers will not see significant salary increases.
Why Freelance Bookkeeping Jobs Are in Demand. As businesses increasingly move online, they require financial professionals who can provide accurate bookkeeping support remotely. Many small and medium-sized companies are choosing bookkeeping outsourcing instead of hiring in-house staff.
The three golden rules of accounting are to (1) debit the receiver and credit the giver, (2) debit what comes in and credit what goes out, and (3) debit expenses and losses, credit income and gains. What are the three types of accounts? The three golden rules of accounting apply to real, personal, and nominal accounts.
Yes, bookkeeping is widely considered an excellent side hustle due to its flexibility, consistent demand, low startup costs, and potential for good income, allowing you to work remotely on your own schedule, though it requires learning the basics and managing tech/security. It's ideal for leveraging skills for extra income while balancing other commitments, but be prepared for technology and client management.
20 ways to attract new bookkeeping clients
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $92,665 and as low as $35,558, the majority of Quickbooks Bookkeeper salaries currently range between $47,400 (25th percentile) to $64,100 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $88,894 annually in Los Angeles.
Officers, employees, accountants, and other individuals involved in bookkeeping fraud can face charges and individual claims based on negligence, fraud, breach of contract, and breach of fiduciary duties.
Key ethical considerations for bookkeepers include integrity, professional competence, independence, confidentiality, compliance with laws and regulations, and conflict resolution.
Pointedly: the difference between the incorrectly-recorded amount and the correct amount will always be evenly divisible by 9. For example, if a bookkeeper errantly writes 72 instead of 27, this would result in an error of 45, which may be evenly divided by 9, to give us 5.