Hire a Bookkeeper for Small Business in 60 Minutes

The best part of hiring a bookkeeper for your small business is that you don’t need weeks to find one. You can hire a professional bookkeeper in as little as 60 minutes without spending excessive money.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly when to hire a bookkeeper, how to do it fast, and what to look for so you can make the right choice the first time. 

Let’s get started. 

60% of the small businesses struggle with cash flow management. If you’re finding it difficult to keep your books organized, and a lot of time is spent fixing the finances rather than focusing on your business, hiring a bookkeeper has to be your important decision.

Here are the key signs you should hire one immediately.

Are invoices and payments piling up and causing delays?

70% of small businesses does not have a dedicated bookkeeper. If clients are paying late or invoices are getting lost, it’s a major red flag. A bookkeeper for a small business keeps track of all incoming and outgoing payments, sends reminders automatically, and ensures your cash flow stays steady. You’ll spend less time chasing payments and more time growing your business.

Are you missing tax deadlines or struggling with compliance?

18% of small business owners find tax preparation as their top challenge in 2025. Tax season can be stressful if your records are incomplete or scattered across spreadsheets. A bookkeeper makes sure your books are accurate, recording of expenses is correct, and prepares reports on time. This reduces penalties and saves you the cost fo filing taxes. So, hiring a bookkeeper is one of the underrated tax saving strategies.

Are your business and personal finances getting mixed up?

When personal and business expenses live in the same account, it’s easy to lose track of profits and overspend. A bookkeeper separates accounts, reconciles transactions, and gives you a clear view of your business's financial health. You’ll know exactly where every dollar is going.

Are you unsure how much profit your business is really making?

If you can’t answer how much money your business earned last month, it’s a problem. A small business bookkeeper generates profit and loss statements, tracks revenue vs. expenses, and gives actionable insights. You’ll make confident decisions backed by real numbers.

Are you wasting weekends and evenings on bookkeeping tasks?

Spending nights fixing spreadsheets or reconciling accounts takes up the time that could have been otherwise spent with family or on scaling your business. The greatest benefit of hiring a remote bookkeeper for your small business is that you can delegate these tasks. It gives you more freedom and peace of mind, all the while your finances are kept accurate.

Before you hire, prepare a clear plan in the form of a checklist. You can start by thinking about how much time you can spend finding the right person, what tasks you need help with, and how much you can invest in bookkeeping. Once you have this in place, the process becomes simple. 

Below, we break down the most important steps that will guide you to the right bookkeeper for your small business. These questions also help you compare options and make a fast, confident hiring decision. 

How to find reliable bookkeepers for small businesses?

Here are six unique options to find reliable bookkeepers for your small business:

1. Managed virtual assistant platforms:

US-based virtual assistant platforms like Wishup provide stringently vetted virtual bookkeepers who are trained in the latest accounting software like QuickBooks, Zoho, Xero, etc. You get immediate access to experienced remote bookkeeping professionals without spending weeks on interviews or background checks.

Advantages of hiring a bookkeeper from managed VA platforms:

• Stringently vetted bookkeepers with verified skills
• Trained in 15+ popular bookkeeping software and 120+ AI tools
• 3 to 10 years of hands-on experience in U.S. bookkeeping standards
• 7-day money-back guarantee option
• FREE account manager to keep things on track
• FREE bookkeeping manager to cross-verify your statements 
• Onboarding in 60 minutes
• Flexible engagement - part-time or full-time
• Ongoing support and replacement guarantee if needed

2. Local accounting firms

Small accounting firms in your city often offer bookkeeping services tailored for local businesses. They are reliable for compliance and tax readiness, and you can build a personal relationship with someone nearby.

Pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper from local accounting firms

3. Freelance marketplaces

Websites like Upwork or Fiverr allow you to browse profiles, reviews, and portfolios. Hire bookkeepers with strong ratings, verified client feedback, and relevant experience for your industry.

Pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper from freelance marketplaces

4. Professional associations

Organizations like the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (AIPB) maintain directories of certified bookkeepers. Hiring someone certified gives you confidence in their knowledge and skills.

Pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper from AIPB

5. Referrals from other small business owners

Ask peers, business groups, or local entrepreneur networks for recommendations. Trusted referrals often lead to bookkeepers who have a proven track record and understand small business challenges.

Pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper through referrals from small business owners

6. Job boards and hiring platforms

Post a clear, detailed job description on sites like Indeed or LinkedIn. Highlight your software, tasks, and hours. This attracts candidates who are actively looking and serious about bookkeeping roles.

Pros and cons of hiring a bookkeeper through hiring platforms

1. What accounting software are you most comfortable with?
   Make sure they know the software your business uses, like QuickBooks, Xero, or Wave. Familiarity means less training and faster onboarding.
2. Do you have experience working with small businesses in my industry?
   Different industries have different accounting needs. Someone who understands your niche can spot opportunities and pitfalls faster.
3. How do you handle tax preparation and compliance?
   You want a bookkeeper who ensures records are accurate and tax-ready, reducing the risk of penalties or missed deadlines.
4. Can you provide references or client testimonials?
   Past performance is the best indicator of reliability. Ask for small business references to verify accuracy and professionalism.
5. How do you communicate and report financial updates?
   Consistency matters. Whether it’s weekly summaries, monthly reports, or dashboards, ensure their communication style fits your workflow.
6. What is your process for handling errors or discrepancies?
   Mistakes happen. A strong bookkeeper has clear steps for identifying and correcting them quickly.
7. Do you offer any bookkeeping packages or flexible engagement options?
   Some small businesses only need part-time help or monthly reconciliations. Make sure the service fits your budget and workload.
8. How do you ensure data security and confidentiality?
   Your financial data is sensitive. Ask about password protection, secure cloud storage, and privacy practices.
9. How quickly can you start and onboard for my business?
   Time is money. Find someone who can start immediately or within a timeframe that matches your urgent bookkeeping needs.
10. What additional services can you provide beyond basic bookkeeping?
    Some bookkeepers can help with additional services like payroll, budgeting, cash flow forecasting, or reporting insights that can grow with your business.

Here's a complete description of bookkeeper to help you hire the best one.

1. Tech-Savvy and Automation-Oriented:
Look for someone who can leverage AI bookkeeping tools, automated invoicing, and real-time dashboards. They should reduce manual work and optimize processes with modern software integrations. Wishup bookkeepers are trained on 120+ AI and bookkeeping tools like QuickBooks, Xero, and other no-code tools like ChatGPT, Zapier to speed up the accounting process with automation.

2. Data-Driven Insight Provider:
Beyond reports, a top bookkeeper in 2025 can interpret trends, forecast cash flow, and suggest actionable strategies to improve profitability. They turn numbers into business intelligence.

3. Cloud-First and Remote-Ready:
The best small business bookkeepers are comfortable with cloud accounting, secure online collaboration, and virtual tools. You should be able to access your financials anytime, anywhere.

4. Cybersecurity and Privacy Conscious:
With digital bookkeeping comes risk. They must follow up-to-date security practices, encrypt sensitive data, and proactively prevent breaches or accidental leaks.

5. Agile and Adaptable to Business Models:
Modern small businesses pivot often. Your bookkeeper should handle subscriptions, e-commerce, gig economy revenue, or hybrid business models without missing a beat.

6. Compliance-Smart in a Changing Regulatory World:
Tax rules, remote work regulations, and digital payments are evolving fast. A future-ready bookkeeper stays current and ensures you never run into compliance issues.

7. Collaboration and Communication in Real-Time:
They should be able to work with your accountant, VA, or CFO seamlessly, providing updates through chat, dashboards, or video calls — not just spreadsheets.

Many small business owners assume that hiring a bookkeeper has to break the bank. But spending too much on bookkeeping rates can actually hurt your bottom line, especially if your business is just starting or seasonal.

For context, hiring an in-house bookkeeper can cost $45,000 or more per year. That’s a huge chunk of revenue for small teams, taking away money that could be invested in clients, marketing, or equipment.

The good news? You don’t need to overspend to get quality bookkeeping. Platforms like Wishup offer flexible, affordable options so you can keep your finances accurate without draining your budget.

Here’s a breakdown of realistic budgeting options from Wishup:

1. Managed Bookkeeping Services – $300 per month

• Perfect for solo operators or small business teams who don’t need full-time support.
• We handle all your bookkeeping behind the scenes. No training or management needed.
• Ideal for seasonal businesses or companies just starting out.
• No hidden fees. No fluff. Think of it like your monthly cleaning supply restock — essential, stress-free, and always done on time.

2. Dedicated Virtual Bookkeeper – $699 / $999 / $1799 per month

• Best for growing small businesses with regular clients and recurring income.
• Your own fully trained virtual bookkeeper handles everything: invoices, payments, payroll, reconciliations, expense tracking, job costs, and reports.
• Choose your support level depending on your needs:
  • 40 hours/month → $699
  • 80 hours/month → $999
  • 160 hours/month → $1799

By allocating an affordable monthly budget, you get professional bookkeeping without the financial strain of a full-time hire. Wishup makes it easy to pay for only what your business truly needs, keeping costs predictable and scalable as you grow.

With Wishup, you can hire a professional bookkeeper ready to work for your small business in just 60 minutes.

Here’s how Wishup makes it possible:

1. Pre-vetted bookkeeping experts:
Every bookkeeper is thoroughly vetted across six rounds for skills, reliability, and industry experience. You don't have to deal with the hiring process. Immediately hire a bookkeeper who’s ready to handle your books from day one.

2. Quick matching to your needs:
Tell us your requirements — industry, tasks, hours — and we match you with a bookkeeper who fits perfectly. No wasted interviews, no guesswork.

3. Flexible plans for every budget:
Whether you need managed bookkeeping services for $300/month or a dedicated virtual bookkeeper starting at $699/month, Wishup gives you flexible options that suit your business.

4. Fully managed onboarding:
Your bookkeeper is onboarded and trained on your systems before they start. You don’t have to spend hours explaining your workflow. We handle it all.

5. Start today, work today:
No waiting for payroll approvals, no recruitment delays. In 60 minutes, you can hire an experienced bookkeeping assistant ready to manage your invoices, reconciliations, payroll, and more.

6. Unlimited interviews:
Wishup is the only company that lets you conduct unlimited interviews with bookkeepers. While other companies charge money for interviews or don't even let you conduct one, Wishup lets you meet its bookkeepers beforehand to gain trust and confidence.

Here are the tasks a Wishup bookkeeper can handle.

Schedule a free consultation with Wishup bookkeeping experts now and get $100 OFF your first hire.

Jitin Kakkar

A Chartered Accountant with a strong passion for diverse areas of Finance and Accounting, recognized for a solid theoretical foundation in Ind AS, IFRS, and US GAAP, and proven practical expertise in financial reporting, analysis, and forecasting. Highly motivated and continually seeking to expand capabilities and deliver impactful financial insights.

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