Work from home accounting jobs are an attractive option for many people. The internet makes working from home possible for accounting professionals at every level, from bookkeepers to CPAs.
Are you an accounting professional considering working from home but unsure of how to make the transition? Let’s look at the requirements of working from home, how to get started, and what kind of person is a good fit.
It’s relatively easy to set up a home office and prepare to work at accounting from home. You will need a dedicated work space with privacy and room for files and supporting documents.
You will also need a high speed internet connection, a powerful computer, and a scanner/copier/fax machine all in one unit. The initial investment is relatively low.
Before you buy anything, though, it’s important to really think about the services you want to provide.
Work from home accounting jobs are either telecommuting positions for a single employer or more commonly are a small business serving multiple clients with different needs. If you plan to serve multiple clients, you market your services to attract them.
The internet is a great marketing tool. You don’t even have to create a website if you don’t want to.
Freelance communities online such as Elance and Odesk are a wonderful marketplace for people who wish to find work from home accounting jobs. Prospective clients post positions on these sites and once you register with the site you are eligible to bid on that work.
Payment is handled through the community with funds flowing from the client through the community and into your bank account. The community charges fees for their services, generally paid as a percentage of each transaction.
Local marketing through your chamber of commerce or using social media on the internet is a way to find clients in your area. If you want to market locally, contact your local chamber of commerce for marketing assistance. They are a great resource.
Working from home is not quite as freeing as it appears at first glance. Work at home accounting jobs have all the same pressures of traditional accounting jobs. The financial period closes right on schedule and your work preparing financial documents and reconciling accounts is not diminished by the location.
The difference is location and lifestyle. If you work from home you must manage your own time.
Deadlines are still deadlines and without the structure of an office and a routine they can be more difficult to meet. Friends and family compete for your attention when you work from home, distracting you and interrupting the flow of work.
So, how can you overcome the challenges and manage the freedom and responsibility of working from home? Here are some tips:
It's clear that your personal circumstances will dictate whether work from home accounting jobs are are the right career path for you to take.