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How to start a bookkeeping business in Northland

Everything you need: what it costs, what you can make, what Northland asks for, and every step from your first idea to your tenth customer.

Start this business with PressUp

Checked October 2026 In New Zealand dollars 12-minute read

The prices and costs in this guide are estimates for New Zealand: researched US figures converted to New Zealand dollars by price levels. Registration fees and taxes are New Zealand's own.

To startNZ$1.3k–3.2kLean to full setup

Per monthNZ$4.8k–16kOnce established

Profit margin80–90%After software, insurance and payment fees

First customer2–8 weeksFrom today

DifficultyNeeds accounting basics and care

From homeYesOr you go to them

01Is it right for you?

A good fit if you like numbers, order and steady clients

Most small business owners would rather do anything than their books. As a bookkeeper you keep their records tidy every month, from home and on your own hours, and good clients stay with you for years.

You'll like it if

You enjoy detail and getting numbers to match
You like quiet, focused work at a desk
You want clients who pay you every month
You can keep private information private

Think twice if

You find spreadsheets and software a chore
You'd rather be out and about all day
Deadlines at month and year end stress you out
You want to give tax advice without a license

02What it costs

From NZ$1,280 to start

Start lean with the essentials and upgrade as customers come, or set up fully from day one.

Total to startNZ$1,280

What	Cost
LaptopAn everyday laptop is enough for bookkeeping software	NZ$960
Software, first three monthsBusiness email, plus practice software to track every client's month	NZ$30
Training and certificationSoftware training, or a bookkeeping certificate course	NZ$0
Registering your businessFree as a sole trader; more to form a company	NZ$0
Insurance, first three monthsProfessional liability, plus general liability in the full figure	NZ$170
Website and marketingWebsite, domain and business cards	NZ$120
Total	NZ$1,280

Once you're running: about NZ$120 a month, plus about 3% of what you earn. Insurance, email, practice software and your website every month, plus card or bank fees on each payment.

03What you can make

Work out your own numbers

Move the sliders to match your plans. The chart shows a first year that builds up as word gets around.

Average price per hour NZ$70 NZ$25NZ$200

Hours a week 20 150

Monthly costs NZ$120 NZ$0NZ$480

Typical in Northland: NZ$50–NZ$100 per hour, 10–30 hours a week once established.

Revenue a month—

Profit a month—

Pays back in—

Your first yearTotal: —

Money inCosts

Side hustleNZ$1.7k–2.8k

About 10 hours a week, 3–5 small clients

Full-time, on your ownNZ$4.8k–9.6k

20–30 billable hours a week

With a helperNZ$9.6k–16k

A part-time helper does the data entry

04Step by step

12 steps to your first customers

Each step says what it costs and how long it takes. Most owners get through them in a few weeks.

1
Brush up your skills
2–8 weeks Up to NZ$430

Learn the software small businesses use and the basics: matching bank accounts, bills, payroll and sales tax. A certificate is optional, but it builds trust.
- Learn QuickBooks Online or Xero
- Practice on a sample company
- Optional bookkeeping certificate
2
Pick who you'll serve
2–3 days Free

Bookkeepers who focus on one kind of business, such as contractors, salons or online shops, learn its numbers fast and get referrals.
- One or two kinds of business
- Monthly books, catch-up work or payroll
- Check local bookkeepers' prices
3
Choose your name
1 day Free

Pick a name that sounds trustworthy and says what you do. Make sure no one in Northland has it.
- 3–5 name ideas
- Check no one else uses it
- Check the domain
Get name ideas for your businessFind a name
4
Register your business in Northland
1 day to 2 weeks NZ$0–NZ$148

Most owners start as a sole trader; registering a company with the Companies Office keeps business debts separate.
- Start as a sole trader: free
- Register a company: NZ$148.05
5
Get your IRD number
1–5 days Free

Your business's tax number from Inland Revenue, for taxes and banking.
- Register with Inland Revenue
- Open a business bank account
6
Sort out GST
1–3 days Free

You must register for GST once your sales pass NZ$60,000 a year. The rate is 15%.
- Know when to register for GST
- Keep records of income and costs
- Set money aside for income tax
7
Get insured
1–2 days Quotes are free

Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on a job. Get quotes from two or three insurers.
- Professional liability (errors and omissions)
- General liability
- Cyber liability
8
Set up your tools
2–3 days NZ$990–1.8k

Use secure tools from day one: you'll hold clients' bank details and tax records.
- Laptop and business email
- A safe way to share documents
- Accountant access to clients' software
9
Set your prices
1 day Free

Monthly packages based on how many accounts and transactions a client has are easy to sell. See the prices below.
- Starter, standard and full service
- Catch-up work by the hour
- A written agreement for each client
10
Put your business online
1 day Included

Owners look for a bookkeeper they can trust. A clear site with your services, prices and a way to book a call does the selling for you.
- Website with your packages
- Free consultation booking
- Google Business Profile
Describe your business and PressUp builds your websiteBuild your website
11
Get your first clients
2–8 weeks Free

Start with people who already know you, then ask accountants and tax preparers to send you clients.
- Tell friends who own businesses
- Meet local tax preparers
- Ask every client for a review
Ask your customers for reviews by email with PressUpSee how
12
Bill and keep track
Ongoing Included

Send each client's invoice on the same day every month and see at a glance who has paid.
- Monthly invoices
- Client list
- Year-end reminders
Keep your customers and invoices in one place with PressUpSee how

05Licenses in NTL

What Northland asks for

Registering, taxes, and what this business needs. Check the details with each authority: rules change.

Start as a sole trader

There's nothing to register: you tell Inland Revenue you're working for yourself.

Inland RevenueFree

Register a company

Reserving the company name and incorporating, including GST. A company also files a yearly annual return, for a fee.

Companies OfficeNZ$148.05once

IRD number

Your business's tax number, for banking and taxes.

Inland RevenueFree

Anti-money laundering rules

If you'll manage, authorize or process transactions for clients, the AML/CFT Act may cover that work.

Department of Internal AffairsVaries

06Equipment

What to buy first

Buy the "must haves" to start. Add the rest when customers pay for them.

LaptopEveryday model, kept up to date

NZ$960–NZ$1,650Must have

Second screenMakes matching statements easier

NZ$80–NZ$190Later

HeadsetFor client calls

NZ$25–NZ$100Later

Business email and files, a yearYour own address and secure storage

NZ$120–NZ$230Must have

Practice software, a yearTracks each client's monthly tasks

NZ$310–NZ$810Later

07Pricing

3 packages that sell

Simple choices make it easy to say yes. Most customers pick the middle one.

Starter

NZ$410 per month · Up to 2 accounts

Bank and card accounts matched monthly
Profit and loss report
Year-end file for your tax preparer

Standard

NZ$690 per month · Up to 5 accounts

Everything in Starter
Bills and invoices tracked
Monthly check-in call

Full service

NZ$1,250 per month · Growing businesses

Everything in Standard
Payroll runs
Sales tax reports
Cash flow report

Monthly bookkeeping fees in NorthlandTypical: NZ$340–NZ$2,050

Average NZ$620

NZ$0NZ$690NZ$1.4kNZ$2.1kNZ$2.8k

08First customers

How to get your first customers

You don't need an ad budget. These work for new owners almost everywhere.

Accountants and tax preparers

Many don't do monthly books and are glad to refer clients who need them.

Partnership

Google Business Profile

Owners search for a bookkeeper near them. A free profile with reviews puts you on the map.

Free

Local business groups

Chambers of commerce and networking groups are full of owners behind on their books.

Low cost

Catch-up offers

Owners who are months behind need a one-off cleanup. Many then stay for monthly books.

Repeat income

Reviews

Trust is everything with money. Ask every happy client for a review.

With PressUp Reviews

09Your first 30 days

A month from now, you could be open

Week 1

Set up

Choose your name
Register your business
Get insurance quotes

Week 2

Get ready

Brush up on the software
Set up secure email and storage
Write your client agreement

Week 3

Go live

Website with your packages
Google Business Profile
Set your prices

Week 4

First clients

Call 10 owners you know
Meet 3 local tax preparers
Ask for reviews

10Questions

Common questions

Do I need a license to be a bookkeeper in Northland?

In the US, there's usually no license for bookkeeping itself. You need a PTIN from the IRS only if you prepare tax returns for pay, and only licensed accountants can call themselves CPAs. Other countries have their own rules, shown above.

Do I need to be an accountant?

No. Bookkeepers record and organize the numbers; accountants and tax preparers use them for taxes and advice. You need to understand the basics and the software well, and know when to send a client to an accountant.

Can I start part-time?

Yes. Most monthly work can be done any time before a client's deadline, so many bookkeepers start with a few clients in the evenings or on weekends.

Should I charge by the hour or by the month?

Many bookkeepers use monthly packages for regular work, so clients know their costs, and charge by the hour for catch-up or one-off projects.

What software should I learn?

Learn what small businesses near you use most, often QuickBooks Online or Xero, and get comfortable with bank feeds, bills and reports.

Costs and earnings are estimates from the sources below, checked October 2026. Fees and rules change: confirm with the authorities named in this guide. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Sources