Bookkeepers are not required to have certifications or specific education unless required by a specific employer. However, completing a bookkeeping certification program can teach you basic accounting and how to perform bookkeeping tasks and has the potential to set you apart from other bookkeepers.
A bookkeeper comes to the organization once a week to do the bookkeeping. If he has other clients, controls when the work will be done, and gives the client the results (i.e., monthly financial statements), it is pretty clear he is an independent contractor.
When creating your accounting and bookkeeping contract, be sure to include the following details: Identifying information for both parties. Effective date and contract term. Description of services to be performed. Fees. Representations. Confidentiality clause. Termination conditions. Legal terms.
Many contract bookkeepers establish their own businesses after gaining experience working as employed bookkeepers. Working in-house for one company can provide you with the skills required to establish your own bookkeeping firm. For example, understanding how a company develops a strategic financial plan.
Submit a paper Report of Independent Contractor(s) (DE 542) using one of the following options: Downloading a fill-in DE 542 (PDF). Ordering the form to be mailed to you through our Online Forms and Publications. Printing your data directly from your computer to the DE 542 by following the Print Specifications (PDF).
Following this step-by-step checklist will mean that you can write your contract with confidence: Know your parties. Agree on the terms. Set clear boundaries. Spell out the consequences. Specify how you will resolve disputes. Cover confidentiality. Check the legality of the contract. Open it up to negotiation.
The independent contractor should complete the W-9 and return it to the business with other requested information. When should the Form W-9 be completed? Contractors should complete it at the start of their working relationship with a company.
The agreement should have an introductory paragraph outlining who is the client and who is the service provider. It should contain the legal names of both parties, the date, and the physical addresses of each party.