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

Step-by-step guide

Remote bookkeeping or finance job: your step-by-step start

Employed bookkeeping, accounts payable and finance assistant roles for local firms and foreign companies.

  • 18 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 1 hour
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • Bookkeepers with a qualification or experience in Xero, Sage or QuickBooks.

Think twice if

  • You need money within the next two weeks: first income usually takes about 45 days.
  • You have no laptop or computer to work on.
  • You cannot free up about 30 hours a week.

Honest expectations

  • First income usually takes about 45 days.
  • Part time, this can become a meaningful second income once you have regular customers.
  • The main risk to plan for: errors have consequences: work to checklists.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. What remote bookkeeping or finance job really involvesFree · 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. What it pays and how you get paid5 min (in the full guide)
    3. Your numbers: what lands in your account5 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: Apply to 10 roles3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Update your CV with the accounting software you know3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Where to find openings and what to send5 min (in the full guide)
    5. Messages to copy: applications and follow-ups5 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: Aim for earn a free software certificate (Xero or Sage)3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Apply to five roles a week and track replies3 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: Aim for employed3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Add a certificate in Xero, Sage or QuickBooks if adverts ask3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Getting paid and spotting fake jobs4 min (in the full guide)
    5. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to R3 000 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Pnet
  • Remotive
  • Xero advisor certification

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 24 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 24 October 2027.