Hire the Best Bookkeepers

Clients rate our Bookkeepers
Rating is 4.7 out of 5.
4.7/5
Based on 9,953 client reviews
Michelle R.

Fairfax, Virginia

$52/hr
4.9
63 jobs

**I am a Quickbooks ProAdvisor and reseller who can offer significant discounts on new Quickbooks Online accounts as well as multi-company discounts on new accounts! Discounts only apply to new Quickbooks accounts. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I am a certified Quickbooks Level 1 and Level 2 ProAdvisor, with experience working for a CPA firm in Northern Virginia. Currently, I am accepting new clients as I grow my business founded in 2022, The Robinson VAST Company, LLC. I am currently assisting over 20 clients, some with multiple Quickbooks companies, in 2025. Occasionally, I accept new clients as time allows. Please message me to find out if we would be the perfect match to work together! Are you constantly feeling overwhelmed and behind with the business side of your business? Are your bookkeeping and/or ongoing business tasks something that you would rather leave to someone else? Do you need more time to focus on the qualities of your business that make it unique, special and successful? If so, I can help! My passion is in supporting small to medium businesses to achieve their goals by providing a high level of professional bookkeeping services. One of my greatest hopes is that my assistance will help business owners free up time and space allowing them to focus on their top priorities. As I gained business and bookkeeping experience, I began to notice an important pattern with the clients that I assisted. In order to focus on the top priorities of their businesses, entrepreneurs and owners desperately needed bookkeeping and admin support just to be able to free up enough time to allow more focus on the work that made their businesses special, unique and most importantly, SUCCESSFUL! If you would like to find out how my assistance could elevate your business, please follow the clear and simple steps outlined below explaining how we can work together. 1. Contact me to set up an interview or free consultation. 2. Explain the pain points of your business and/or the help you are seeking that would provide the assistance to free up more time for you to focus on your core business offerings. 3. I will gather the information from our meeting and create a custom proposal inline with your business necessities and priorities. (No obligation and completely risk-free). 4. If you agree with my proposal and want to move forward in working together, hire me on Upwork. 5. I will get started managing your books right away. I look forward to working with you! Message me and let's chat! *Qualifications: Bachelorโ€™s of Science degree in Business Administration with various accounting classes as part of the curriculum, Quickbooks Level 1 & Level 2 ProAdvisor with Platinum status, and Wave Accounting experience, professional bookkeeper, business specialist with management and leadership experience gained through assisting diverse business types and structures.

  • Bookkeeping
  • Data Entry
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Customer Service
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Google Sheets
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Google Docs
  • Microsoft Office
  • Canva
  • Google Slides
  • Microsoft Word
  • Google Workspace
  • Mailchimp
  • Airtable
Abbey S.

Phoenix, Arizona

$47/hr
4.8
20 jobs

Most bookkeepers just "record data." As a Tax Professional and QuickBooks Specialist, I do the opposite: I build your books with the tax return in mind. This means no more frantic "cleanup" in March, no missed deductions, and total clarity on your cash flow. How I can help you: -The Deep Cleanup: I specialize in forensic bookkeeping: fixing years of unreconciled accounts, unapplied payments, and "Other Misc. Expense" mysteries. -Full-Cycle Bookkeeping: Routine reconciliations, invoicing, and bill pay so you can focus on running your business. -Payroll & 1099s: Seamless payroll processing and contractor filing to keep you compliant with state and federal laws. -Tax-Ready Financials: Because I prepare business and personal tax returns, I ensure your chart of accounts is optimized for maximum legal tax savings. Why Clients Choose Me: -S-Corp & Partnership Expert: I understand the specific complexities of basis, distributions, and K-1s. -Proactive Strategy: I donโ€™t just tell you what happened last month; I help you plan for the next quarter. -Accuracy Guaranteed: I provide financials you can actually rely on for bank loans, audits, or scaling. Stop stressing over your books and start making data-driven decisions. Message me or book a consult to discuss your cleanup project or ongoing needs. Iโ€™m happy to provide a preliminary review of your QuickBooks file to see exactly whatโ€™s needed.

  • Bookkeeping
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Accounting
  • Invoicing
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Financial Accounting
  • Journal Entries
  • Tax Accounting
  • Payroll Accounting
  • Tax Preparation
  • Taxes
  • Tax Planning & Advisory
  • Tax Return
  • Payroll Reconciliation
  • Zoho Platform
  • Gusto
  • Financial Audit
  • Internal Auditing
Nicole R.

Andover, Kansas

$50/hr
4.9
161 jobs

Seeking a position where I can use my professional experience with bookkeeping and basic accounting. I am a self motivated, problem solver with experience running the financial operations for a startup company. This includes reconciliation and balancing of receivables, bank and credit card statements, accounts payable, payroll, and proficiency in Quickbooks and Excel.

  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Data Entry
  • Payroll Accounting
  • Tax Return
  • Human Resource Management
Mary Joy L.

Bulacan, Philippines

$18/hr
5.0
4 jobs

๐™Š๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฌ๐™๐™š๐™ก๐™ข๐™š๐™™ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™—๐™ค๐™ค๐™ ๐™ ๐™š๐™š๐™ฅ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ? ๐Ÿ’Ž 10+ years Accounting and Bookkeeping Experience ๐ŸŽ“ Certified Public Accountant (CPA), Bachelorโ€™s Degree in Accountancy ๐Ÿ‘ฉ๐Ÿปโ€๐Ÿ’ป Quickbooks Online ProAdvisor, Certified Xero Advisor, A2X Certified Oh, here's couple ๐™˜๐™ก๐™ž๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ ๐™ง๐™–๐™ซ๐™š๐™จ ๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡๐Ÿ‘‡ you can check to have an idea how it's like to work with me *wink* "๐™ˆ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐™›๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ฉ๐™–๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™˜. ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ด ๐˜ข ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™œ ๐™ฌ๐™ค๐™ง๐™  ๐™š๐™ฉ๐™๐™ž๐™˜ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ญ๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜บ๐˜ด ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฏ. ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐™š๐™ญ๐™˜๐™š๐™ก๐™ก๐™š๐™ฃ๐™ฉ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™Œ๐™ช๐™ž๐™˜๐™ ๐˜ฝ๐™ค๐™ค๐™ ๐™จ ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐™“๐™š๐™ง๐™ค ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ง๐˜ต๐˜ธ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ญ๐˜บ. ๐˜ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฏ'๐˜ต ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜บ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฅ๐˜ฆ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜บ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜จ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ถ๐˜ต๐˜ถ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ." "๐™ˆ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ช๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ต ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ ๐˜ ๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ท๐˜ฆ ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ธ๐˜ช๐˜ต๐˜ฉ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ท๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ข๐˜ด. ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐™š๐™ญ๐™ฉ๐™ง๐™š๐™ข๐™š๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™ฅ๐™ง๐™ค๐™›๐™š๐™จ๐™จ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™–๐™ก ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐™š๐™ญ๐™˜๐™š๐™š๐™™๐™š๐™™ ๐™ข๐™ฎ ๐™š๐™ญ๐™ฅ๐™š๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ๐™จ ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐™ก๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ฉ๐™ก๐™š ๐™™๐™ž๐™ง๐™š๐™˜๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ค๐™ฃ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฎ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ฑ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฐ๐˜ฏ. ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ด ๐™จ๐™ ๐™ž๐™ก๐™ก๐™š๐™™, ๐™ค๐™ง๐™œ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™ฏ๐™š๐™™, ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ข ๐™œ๐™ง๐™š๐™–๐™ฉ ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ข๐™ข๐™ช๐™ฃ๐™ž๐™˜๐™–๐™ฉ๐™ค๐™ง. ๐˜š๐˜ฉ๐˜ฆ ๐™›๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™™๐™จ ๐™™๐™ž๐™จ๐™˜๐™ง๐™š๐™ฅ๐™–๐™ฃ๐™˜๐™ž๐™š๐™จ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐™š๐™ง๐™ง๐™ค๐™ง๐™จ ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ข๐˜ต ๐˜ช ๐˜ธ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ญ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ฎ๐˜ช๐˜ด๐˜ด ๐˜ฎ๐˜บ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ง. " "๐™ƒ๐™ž๐™œ๐™๐™ก๐™ฎ ๐™ง๐™š๐™˜๐™ค๐™ข๐™ข๐™š๐™ฃ๐™™ ๐˜”๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜บ ๐˜‘๐˜ฐ๐˜บ ๐˜ง๐˜ฐ๐˜ณ ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜บ๐˜ต๐˜ฉ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ข๐˜ค๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ฏ๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ณ๐˜ฆ๐˜ญ๐˜ข๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฅ, ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ๐˜ต๐˜ต๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ถ๐˜ฑ ๐˜ด๐˜บ๐˜ด๐˜ต๐˜ฆ๐˜ฎ (๐˜ฒ๐˜ถ๐˜ช๐˜ค๐˜ฌ๐˜ฃ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฌ๐˜ด) ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ต๐˜ณ๐˜ข๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ ๐˜ด๐˜ช๐˜ฏ๐˜จ๐˜ญ๐˜ฆ-๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ๐˜ด ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ฅ ๐˜ค๐˜ฐ๐˜ฎ๐˜ฑ๐˜ข๐˜ฏ๐˜ช๐˜ฆ๐˜ด ๐˜ฉ๐˜ฐ๐˜ธ ๐˜ต๐˜ฐ ๐˜ถ๐˜ด๐˜ฆ ๐˜ช๐˜ต." If that's not enough to immediately convince you that ๐™ฎ๐™ค๐™ช๐™ง ๐™จ๐™š๐™–๐™ง๐™˜๐™ ๐™จ๐™ฉ๐™ค๐™ฅ๐™จ ๐™๐™š๐™ง๐™š ๐™ฌ๐™ž๐™ฉ๐™ ๐™ข๐™š, I've prepared a skimmable list of tasks that you can offload to me: ๐Ÿ’Ž Set up your accounting software (Quickbooks Online or Xero) from scratch ๐Ÿ’Ž Categorize transactions ๐Ÿ’Ž Bank and Credit Card Reconciliation / Balance Sheet Reconciliation ๐Ÿ’Ž Invoicing / Accounts Receivable Management ๐Ÿ’Ž Bills Payment / Accounts Payable Management ๐Ÿ’Ž Posting Journal Entries (e.g. payroll journal) ๐Ÿ’Ž Book Clean up and Catch Up ๐Ÿ’Ž Prepare / Generate Financial Reports (Balance Sheet, Profit and Loss, Statement of Cash Flow) ๐Ÿ’Ž Maintain proper documentation of financial documents ๐Ÿ› ๏ธI'm tech-savvy, quick study and can learn any ๐™Ž๐™Š๐™๐™๐™’๐˜ผ๐™๐™€ or ๐™‹๐™‡๐˜ผ๐™๐™๐™Š๐™๐™ˆ๐™Ž needed to get the basic and critical bookkeeping tasks done. โœฆ QuickBooks Online (QBO), Xero, Oracle Netsuite, Twinfield, Freeagent โœฆ Google Sheets, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Google Drive โœฆ Hubspot, Engager.app, Bright Manager, Financial Cents โœฆ TaxCalc, Federal Tax Authority EmaraTax โœฆ Hubdoc, Dext, Basecone โœฆ ClickUp, Slack ๐‘๐ž๐š๐๐ฒ ๐ญ๐จ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐ฆ๐ข๐ณ๐ž ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ ๐Ÿ๐ข๐ง๐š๐ง๐œ๐ข๐š๐ฅ ๐จ๐ฉ๐ž๐ซ๐š๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ? Let's work together and drive your business forward! -- ๐™ƒ๐™„๐™๐™€ ๐™ˆ๐™€ ๐ŸŸขIf you're ready, here are the next steps: 1๏ธโƒฃ Send me an ๐™๐™ฅ๐™ฌ๐™ค๐™ง๐™  ๐™ข๐™š๐™จ๐™จ๐™–๐™œ๐™š 2๏ธโƒฃ Click on the green text that says "๐™Ž๐™˜๐™๐™š๐™™๐™ช๐™ก๐™š ๐™– ๐™ˆ๐™š๐™š๐™ฉ๐™ž๐™ฃ๐™œ" 3๏ธโƒฃ Provide me a date and time when we can hop on a ๐˜ฟ๐™ž๐™จ๐™˜๐™ค๐™ซ๐™š๐™ง๐™ฎ ๐˜พ๐™–๐™ก๐™ก I'll be waiting, ๐™ˆ๐™–๐™ง๐™ฎ - ๐˜ ๐˜ฐ๐˜ถ๐˜ณ ๐˜—๐˜ข๐˜ณ๐˜ต๐˜ฏ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐˜‰๐˜ฐ๐˜ฐ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฌ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฆ๐˜ฑ๐˜ฆ๐˜ณ ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Bookkeeping
  • Accounting Basics
  • Account Reconciliation
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Balance Sheet
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • Data Entry
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Xero
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Accounting
  • Financial Reporting
  • Oracle NetSuite
Hiran K.

Colombo, Sri Lanka

$10/hr
5.0
3 jobs

Small Business Bookkeeper providing QuickBooks Online and Xero bookkeeping services for small businesses, including monthly bookkeeping, cleanup, catch-up bookkeeping, bank reconciliation, and financial reporting. As a reliable QuickBooks Bookkeeper and Xero Bookkeeper, I help business owners maintain clean, organized, and tax-ready financial records through consistent bookkeeping, reconciliation, and timely monthly reporting. With a strong professional accounting background (CIMA โ€“ ACMA, CGMA) and over 7 years of hands-on experience across multiple industries, I ensure your books are accurate, up to date, and fully compliant with accounting standards. My focus goes beyond transaction entry - I build structured bookkeeping systems that improve financial visibility, keep records organized, and help business owners make better decisions with confidence. I provide: โ€ข Monthly bookkeeping (QuickBooks Online & Xero & Excel) โ€ข Bank & credit card reconciliation โ€ข Bookkeeping cleanup and historical reconciliation โ€ข Catch-up bookkeeping โ€ข Financial statement preparation (Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow) โ€ข Tax-ready financials โ€ข Accounts payable & accounts receivable tracking โ€ข Expense categorization & reporting โ€ข Chart of accounts setup & optimization โ€ข Month-end close support Tools I use: โ€ข QuickBooks Online โ€ข Xero โ€ข Microsoft Excel / Google Sheets โ€ข Bank feeds & bookkeeping automation tools My goal is to help you: โ€ข Maintain accurate and up-to-date bookkeeping โ€ข Stay tax-ready throughout the year โ€ข Gain clear visibility into cash flow and profitability โ€ข Reduce stress from messy or overdue books โ€ข Keep financial records organized and reliable โ€ข Make better financial decisions using accurate data I prioritize accuracy, consistency, and timely reporting so your business finances stay organized and under control. If you're looking for a reliable QuickBooks bookkeeper, Xero bookkeeper, or small business bookkeeper to keep your books accurate, organized, and tax-ready, Iโ€™d be happy to discuss how I can support your business. ๐Ÿ”ง EXPERTISE: Bookkeeper | Bookkeeping | QuickBooks Online | Xero | QuickBooks Bookkeeper | Xero Bookkeeper | Small Business Bookkeeper | Virtual Bookkeeper | Remote Bookkeeper | Monthly Bookkeeping | Bookkeeping Cleanup | Catch-up Bookkeeping | Bank Reconciliation | Financial Reporting | Accounts Payable | Accounts Receivable | Financial Statements | Cash Flow Management | Month-End Close | Microsoft Excel | Google Sheets | Accounting

  • Bookkeeping
  • Account Reconciliation
  • Accounts Payable
  • Balance Sheet
  • Bank Reconciliation
  • General Ledger
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Month-End Close Assistance
  • Xero
  • Accounting
  • Tax Return
  • Financial Reporting
  • Cash Flow Statement
  • QuickBooks Online
  • Financial Statements Preparation
  • Bank Statement
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Cash Flow Analysis
Kelly M.

San Diego, California

$100/hr
4.9
120 jobs

A highly regarded & experienced consultant, fractional CFO, accountant, and bookkeeper for entrepreneurial and start-up businesses seeking rock-solid financial processes and reporting. Expert with a deep knowledge of business integration and AI automation resulting from experience in corporate accounting, bookkeeping, financial and operations analysis, auditing, payroll, human resources, and customer service. Effective in creating a positive and productive work environment focused on teamwork and mutual respect. Extremely proficient in developing procedures that reduce excessive spending, fine-tuning cash flow to free up the availability of funds, and capturing tax deductions.

  • Bookkeeping
  • Accounts Payable
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Cash Flow Analysis
  • Financial Reporting
  • Google
  • Financial Policies & Procedures
  • Investment Strategy
  • Financial Consulting
  • Budget Planning
  • Financial Management
  • Business Consulting
  • Third-Party Integration
  • Business Development

How it works

Post a job for free Post a job

Tell us what you need. Create your own job post or generate one with AI then filter talent matches.

Hire top talent fast

Consult, interview, and hire quickly, so you can meet the freelancers you're excited about.

Collaborate easily

Use Upwork to chat or video call, share files, and track project progress right from the app.

Payment simplified

Manage payments in one place with flexible billing options. Only pay for approved work, hourly or by milestone.

Don't just take our word for it

Resources to help you hire

Cost to hire a Bookkeeper

Cost to hire a Bookkeeper

Explore typical Bookkeeper rates and what businesses pay to hire top talent.

Bookkeeper job description template

Bookkeeper job description template

Get tips to write a job post that attracts qualified Bookkeepers.

Bookkeeper interview questions

Bookkeeper interview questions

Top interview questions to help you hire the right Bookkeepers, faster.

Bookkeeper hiring guide

Bookkeepers provide essential support for businesses in every industry, helping manage day-to-day financial transactions and ensure long-term financial health. Whether you're a startup founder or e-commerce business owner, or are managing payroll for a growing team, skilled bookkeepers offer the precision needed to streamline operations, maintain compliance, and improve financial decision-making.

What does a bookkeeper do?

A bookkeeper is a finance professional who records and manages a company's financial transactions, such as invoices, expenses, payroll, and bank reconciliations. Their role is to ensure that financial data is accurate, up to date, and organized for reporting and compliance purposes.

Bookkeepers typically work with small business owners, entrepreneurs, and accounting firms to handle tasks like accounts payable and receivable, cash flow tracking, payroll services, and tax preparation support. They use tools like QuickBooks, Excel, Xero, or Gusto to record transactions, generate financial statements, and support business tax filing.

How to hire bookkeepers on Upwork

Upwork makes it easy to find and connect with bookkeepers from all over the world and of every experience level. And to narrow that talent pool to the person with the right skills and experience for your project, you only have to follow a few simple steps.

Step 1: Craft a targeted job post

Start by creating a clear, detailed job post to attract qualified bookkeepers whose skills match your specific needs. In your post:

  • Specify what help you need, which may include accounts payable/receivable, payroll processing, tax preparation support, or full-service bookkeeping

  • Specify which accounting software you use, such as QuickBooks Online, Xero, Excel, or Gusto

  • Outline the engagement type, whether you need ongoing monthly support, a one-time catch-up project, or hourly assistance

To create a tailored job post quickly, try the Job Post Generator powered by Uma, Upworkโ€™s Mindful AIโ„ข. Describe what you need in a few sentences, and Uma will craft a job post in seconds. You can also review job post templates for bookkeepers to see how job posts are typically formatted, and what information they tend to include. 

Step 2: Filter and evaluate candidates

Once applications come in, review each candidate's qualifications, experience, and client feedback to identify the best fit.

  • Check credentials. Look for qualifications like Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB), Certified Bookkeeper (CB), or QuickBooks ProAdvisor status.

  • Confirm software expertise. Verify hands-on experience with your specific accounting software.

  • Review relevant experience. Prioritize professionals with experience in your industry or business size.

  • Check client feedback. Read reviews to gauge reliability, communication skills, and quality of work.

Step 3: Interview your top choices

Quick video interviews can answer any questions you have left for your top choices. In your interviews:

  • Discuss the need for accuracy and attention to detail, and ask how the person ensures both

  • Explore their familiarity with your industry, especially if you have stringent regulatory or compliance needs 

  • Cover the software your business currently uses, as well as the software they prefer

  • Go over logistical details such as timeline, budget, and scope

To help your conversations be more productive, check out interview questions for bookkeepers. You can also read common interview questions for freelancers.

Step 4: Agree on scope and begin work

Before the person you choose can begin work, youโ€™ll need a contract in place. Contracts protect both parties and help collaborations be productive from beginning to end.

  • Use Upworkโ€™s tools and services for creating and managing contracts, and processing payments

  • Choose fixed-price contracts for projects with clear deliverables, such as a single end-of-year report

  • Set milestones to break larger projects into manageable deliverables, such as collating data, compiling reports, and delivery

  • Choose hourly contracts for ongoing projects, such as monthly reporting or filing

After the contract has started, be sure to give the expert access to the tools and services they need, especially financial data, transactions, and records.

How much does hiring a bookkeeper cost?

The cost to hire a bookkeeper is determined by market demand and project scope, as well as the bookkeeperโ€™s skills and experience. Rates typically range from $11-$25 per hour, though bookkeepers with special skills, or on projects that require expensive software, may charge more. The following chart lists typical price ranges for bookkeeping projects often found on Upwork.

Basic bookkeeping tasks

$200-$500 /project

Entry- to mid-level
  • Monthly transaction reconciliation
  • Basic data entry and cleanup
  • Profit and loss reports

Standard monthly bookkeeping

$500-$1,000 /month

Mid- to senior-level
  • Monthly bookkeeping for multiple accounts
  • QuickBooks or Xero setup and integration
  • Regular financial reporting

Complex or catch-up projects

$1,000-$3,000 /project

Senior-level or specialist
  • Year-end financial review and reporting
  • Historical catch-up (6-12 months)
  • Payroll system integration with tax support

Ongoing bookkeeping retainer

$400-$1,200 /month

Mid- to senior-level
  • Continuous monthly bookkeeping
  • Accounts payable/receivable management
  • Monthly financial statement preparation

Bookkeepers with advanced certifications like Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) or QuickBooks ProAdvisor status may charge higher rates but often deliver greater accuracy and efficiency.

Frequently asked questions

Is hiring a bookkeeper worth it?

Yes, hiring a professional bookkeeper reduces errors, streamlines financial processes, and frees up time for business owners. From cash flow tracking to tax filing prep, bookkeepers ensure your financial records are accurate and audit-ready.

What types of businesses benefit most from bookkeepers?

Any business lacking internal accounting but with complex bookkeeping needs can benefit, including small and medium-sized businesses, startups, e-commerce sellers, nonprofits, legal offices, and real estate companies.

How long does it take to catch up on backlogged bookkeeping?

Timelines vary by backlog size and transaction complexity. Cleaning up one year of records can take days to several weeks, depending on documentation quality and the number of accounts involved.

What's the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant?

Bookkeepers handle day-to-day transaction tracking like invoicing and reconciliation. Accountants, especially CPAs, focus on financial reporting, tax planning, and strategic advisory services.

Is a bookkeeper cheaper than an accountant?

Yes. On Upwork, bookkeepers charge $11-$25 per hour on average, while accountants generally charge $30-$100+ per hour. Many businesses use both โ€” a bookkeeper for daily tasks and an accountant for tax filing and strategic advice.

Can I deduct bookkeeper fees as a business expense?

Yes, bookkeeping services are generally tax-deductible. Keep detailed records and receipts so your accountant can include them properly during tax filing.

Do I need a local bookkeeper?

Not necessarily. Many businesses work successfully with remote bookkeepers using cloud-based tools like Gusto, Xero, or QuickBooks Online. Many certified bookkeepers are well-versed in multistate and virtual setups.

How is AI changing the value of bookkeepers?

AI speeds up repetitive tasks like data entry, allowing bookkeepers to spend more time helping business owners understand financial impacts and guide strategic decisions. A 2024 Intuit QuickBooks survey found that 98% of accounting professionals used AI for clients in the preceding 12 months.