1. Quiz
  2. Your result
  3. Your plan
  4. Your guide

Step-by-step guide

Bookkeeping for small businesses: from your first client to a monthly client list

Keep the books for sole traders and small businesses every month: recording, invoicing and bank reconciliations. This guide covers real 2026 fees by transaction volume, the legal line on tax work, a fee menu and engagement letter, scripts and a 14-day plan to your first client.

  • 23 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 2 hours
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • You already know bookkeeping: debits and credits, reconciliations, invoices.
  • You can use, or quickly learn, Xero, Sage or QuickBooks.
  • You are careful, organised and good with deadlines.

Think twice if

  • You want to submit tax returns or give tax advice for pay without registering as a tax practitioner.
  • You are new to bookkeeping: learn it first with the free courses in this guide.

Honest expectations

  • First clients usually come from people you know or accountants who need help, often within a month or two.
  • Published 2026 fees start around R400 to R900 a month for a micro business with up to 30 transactions.
  • Monthly clients stay for a long time if you are reliable, so income builds steadily.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How small-business bookkeeping worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first client5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Pricing and getting paid: real 2026 rates5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Write a fixed-fee menu3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Contact five accountants and ten small businesses3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Finding your first clients: where to look5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Your 14-day first-client playbook6 min (in the full guide)
    6. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Sign your first client3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Get an insurance quote3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Common mistakes new bookkeepers make4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Grow to three to five monthly clients3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Decide whether to become a tax practitioner3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Free courses to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    7. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Laptop and internet
  • Accounting software
  • Professional indemnity insurance

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.