Bookkeeper Launch Review (2023): New Update Changes
Looking for a Bookkeeper Launch review that gives you enough details to make a good decision?
Bottom line: Bookkeeper Launch is legit and worth the money. You're the only person who knows if it's for you, so here are the details you need.
You probably already know bookkeeping is a solid career choice (and that it usually makes the most profitable small business categories list with typical net profit margins of 18.4%). Businesses of all sizes need bookkeepers, no matter how the economy's doing.
Bookkeeper Launch 4.0 will walk you through the transformation from complete beginner to professional bookkeeper – with the must-have skills clients want.
Name: Bookkeeper Launch (previously known as Bookkeeper Business Blueprint and then Bookkeeper Business Launch)
Website: https://bookkeepers.com/
Creator: Ben Robinson CPA
Free Resources or Training: A 3-video training where you'll find out if you'll make a great bookkeeper. You'll also discover what you need to know about bookkeeping to make the right choice for you.
What Is Bookkeeper Launch and Why Should You Care?
Bookkeeper Launch (previously Bookkeeper Business Launch) is a 10-week (or go-at-your-own-pace) course that teaches you how to do bookkeeping for small businesses even if you don't know the first thing about bookkeeping or running a business.
Ben Robinson, the creator of Bookkeeper Launch, has been training people to become bookkeepers for over 21 years. As a CPA with his own accounting firm, he struggled to find quality bookkeepers (so he learned to train them himself). To learn more about Ben and bookkeeping, read my interview with him.
He discovered that specific traits are even more important than bookkeeping skills or experience. You can learn how to do bookkeeping, but what makes a great bookkeeper is much bigger than that. His course, Bookkeeper Launch, is now in its fourth version and Ben has trained over 15,000 people (and counting!) for careers in bookkeeping working from home.
It's the course Ben Robinson always dreamed of finding when he was in the trenches running his own bookkeeping business.
Additionally, for the latest update, Ben has brought a team of teachers on board who are all working bookkeepers and graduates of the BL course. Curriculum Manager Heidi Ryder led the development of the updated program. Alyssa Lang, “The Workflow Queen,” teaches Setup and Transactions. Elizabeth Olsen covers Cleanup and has built her business almost entirely on this service. And Ben Day provides instruction for Statements, Interpret and Advise, and Conversations to Close with many personal details.
Bookkeeper Launch Review: Course in a Nutshell
Is Bookkeeper Launch Worth It?
Pros
- Learn bookkeeping from experienced pros who know how to teach beginners.
- Get the necessary skills you need to run a successful bookkeeping business (like finding great clients without selling).
- Get all the support you need when you have questions or need coaching.
- Take the course in 10 weeks or at your own pace (with lifetime access and support).
- Use the ready-made systems and templates to make starting and running your new business easier.
Cons
- It's not free or cheap.
- You have to put in the work, stick with it, and ask for help when you need it.
Bookkeeper Launch Course Overview
This bookkeeping course has 6 main sections (plus 2 additional “missions”) and bonuses, hacks, tips, and tons of support. So, if you think bookkeeping skills are the only thing you'll get from this course, this Bookkeeper Launch review might open your eyes to many new possibilities. With this course, you'll also learn some excellent study hacks, how to set up your new business, grow it at a pace that fits you with clients you love, and find the right balance for your work and family time.
How the course is set up:
- The 6 main sections teach you the bookkeeping skills you need to attract great clients.
- The 2 additional missions let you test-drive your new skills with real-life examples. Here you will build your confidence and learn what to expect from everyday bookkeeping clients.
- You also get bonuses, hacks, and tips that give you the wisdom learned from years of bookkeeping experience in the form of processes, templates, and checklists.
- And finally, the support picks you up when you need it with weekly live coaching sessions, and opportunities to connect with bookkeeping and legal experts.
The lessons are broken up into fifteen-day segments, but you don't have to do it that quickly. That's because everything is designed to allow you to take the time you need. My Bookkeeper Launch review breaks down these segments so you have a good idea of what to expect before you buy the course.
In the first module, you'll learn the foundations of bookkeeping; how successful bookkeepers view their clients; services you can offer; and business growth. Once you've mastered that, you'll work on how to set up your business systems, how to attract the right clients, and the learning the must-have services clients need.
Testing, Testing…
Bookkeeper Launch also includes quizzes, unit tests, and two final exams. One final exam is on book knowledge, and the other is on practical application.
You do not have to take any of the quizzes, tests, or exams, but if you pass them at 80% or above, you will earn a Certificate of Completion for your website, LinkedIn profile, and social media pages. This Certificate is not just an image anyone can copy and paste onto their site. It is verified by a third party, Credly, and is clickable with a specific code. This means that anyone can click on it and get relevant information. This certification is one of the reasons I chose to review Bookkeeper Launch. It's also a great way to let prospective clients know you're serious about providing excellent bookkeeping services.
There are 3 versions of Ben Robinson’s Bookkeeper Launch:
- Bookkeeper Launch Pro: the full course
- Bookkeeper Launch Premier: the full course plus group coaching sessions
- Bookkeeper Launch Team: the full course, group coaching & everything you need to operate a fully scaled online bookkeeping business
This Bookkeeper Launch review focuses primarily on Bookkeeper Launch Pro. I also note features that are unlocked only for Bookkeeper Launch Premiere and above.
Who is Bookkeeper Launch for?
Bookkeeper Launch is for you if:
- You're willing to put in the effort to learn new skills (bookkeeping, software, and running a business for example).
- You're an honest, trustworthy person who likes serving others and helping small business owners.
- You want more freedom and flexibility in your schedule.
Wondering if these qualities will make or break your bookkeeping career? My Bookkeeper Launch review can help clear up a few myths:
- Introverts and extroverts both make great bookkeepers, so if you've heard that you need to be one or the other, you can let go of that idea.
- Advanced math skills are not required to be an excellent bookkeeper. Of course, if you hated math, you probably wouldn't be reading this review.
- Making money and finding great clients as a bookkeeper is NEVER about being salesy. You'll learn solid, low-cost (or even free!), organic ways of making connections that can lead to great clients.
What Do the Bookkeeper Launch Lessons Look Like?
The course has video lessons, exercises, and hands-on projects to practice. Each video lesson also has an accompanying transcript, audio, and captions. The lessons also include downloadable resources below the video such as an Excel spreadsheet or a particular form for an exercise.
Ben and his team teach the material in a very simple and clear manner.
First, the instructor explains a procedure. Then they show you how to do it. Finally, you have the opportunity to practice the skill yourself and reinforce your learning.
Ben also uses plenty of stories and comparisons, and topics are often presented in more than one way, making them easier to grasp.
What's Inside the Bookkeeper Launch Course
Bookkeeper Launch has six main sections and two additional missions. Let's quickly walk through what you'll learn and do (because as you learn new skills, you gotta practice them).
The Go section (Days 1-15)
This section gets you started on the right foot. You'll learn the basics of bookkeeping. You'll also build the mindset of a successful bookkeeper with these units:
- Foundations (Foundational bookkeeping principles)
- Leader U (A different way of thinking about yourself, your business, and bookkeeping)
- Money U (Setting yourself up for success and thinking about money differently)
The Ignition section (Days 16-30)
This important part of the course guides you through the essential bookkeeping foundational skills:
- Setup (Navigating QuickBooks Online, cloud-based bookkeeping software)
- Transactions (Contains 116 lessons, plus additional exercises and an answer key!)
- Yakkity Yak (The non-salesy way to find the right clients for your new bookkeeping business)
- Lifestyle (Building a business that supports the life you want)
Liftoff (Days 31-45)
Here, you learn exactly what you'll do for your clients as a professional bookkeeper, such as:
- Transactions Projects (Closing Project and Final Project to test your understanding of transactions)
- Statements (Preparing statements and delivering to clients)
- Traditional Networking (What it is and how to do it even if you're a beginner)
- Irresistible Selling Statement (What it is, why you need it, and how to create your own)
Ascent (Days 46-60)
In this section, you test your knowledge and learn advanced skills to find your first clients.
- Cleanup (An upgraded unit on how to clean up a new client’s books)
- Final Exams (book knowledge and practical application)
- Online Networking (Another new unit on how to use your time online to help you market your business)
- Conversation to Close (How to turn leads into paying clients without being salesy at all)
Acceleration (Days 61-75)
Bookkeeper Launch gives you practical systems you can use right away to get your bookkeeping career started fast.
- Get Software Certified (A combination pep talk/ explanation of why this is an important step to take)
- Templates (A library of customizable templates so you’ll never have to “start off with a blank piece of paper”)
- Processes and Checklists (Another library of customizable templates for the processes you’ll need as a bookkeeper to get more done in less time)
- Your Money (Ben discusses several money truths and tactics to help you manage your new income)
Orbit (Days 76-90)
This is the final section in the main course where you set up your new official bookkeeping business.
- Tools & Tech (Resources to get the job done faster and better, plus tips on when less is more)
- Setup 7 (The seven essential steps to setting up your bookkeeping business, plus an interview with a lawyer)
- Website and Social Media Marketing (This new unit explores how much to do, when to do it, and the Website Challenge)
Mission 1: Serving Your 1st Client for 2 Months
These mission units will help you grow your new business while serving your first client in more specialized ways.
- Interpret & Advise (This freshly-overhauled section gives you deeper insight on explaining the statements and becoming a trusted advisor to your clients)
- Spreadsheets (Everyone needs to know the basics!)
- Prospect Follow-Up System (A method to gather and enter information on prospective clients, then follow up with the ones who need you most)
Mission 2: Serving 3+ Clients
Now that you have a growing client list, some ways to help your business prosper.
- Email Outreach (Learning which potential clients are the best fit for your business)
- Referral Partners (How to use referral partner marketing effectively)
- Niche Power (Why specializing in a particular industry and becoming an expert pays richly, and how to do it)
Resources and Bonuses: the Bookkeeper Launch Extras
This is a course that really never stops evolving. That's because Ben Robinson and his team spend a great deal of time with their students. Student feedback also plays a major part in keeping you on track to finish the course, getting clients, and easing you through those awkward moments as a new bookkeeper. Even more, Ben and the team use student feedback to improve the course (which is why I've done so many Bookkeeper Launch reviews).
Extra Resources:
- My Notes (Your notes from all topics in one place – searchable and exportable into Word)
- Live Q & A Recordings (View past Weekly Q & As that go as far back as 2015!)
- Weekly Live Zoom Coaching Calls (These have replaced the old Live Q&A calls).
- Premier Coaching (includes 8 bonus group coaching sessions followed by open mic sessions – only unlocked for Bookkeeper Launch Premier students)
- Recommended Reading (Additional information to hone your skills)
A portion of the template library
Bonuses:
- Hacks & Facts (Round table discussions with successful former course members)
- Profit Maximizers (Ways to add more value for your clients while increasing your profit)
- LinkedIn (How to use LinkedIn to effectively market your business to your ideal clients)
- 1099 Blitz (Everything you need to know to help your clients get their 1099s filed properly and on time)
- Breakthrough Marketing (Additional marketing lessons to help attract clients, what to do when you meet with a potential client, sales funnels, ads, etc – only unlocked for Bookkeeper Launch Premier students)
5 Stars to Measure Student Success
Ben Robinson knows bookkeeping students like you might need help staying on course. That's why there's a recommended study track, a 90-day success plan, and 5 Stars to help keep you motivated and moving forward. Each star represents a different milestone that is necessary to becoming a successful bookkeeper.
- Complete the Course (Complete all lessons through Day 90)
- Bookkeeper Launch Certificate of Completion (Pass all parts of the Knowledge and Practical final exams)
- Software Certificate (Submit your certification in any bookkeeping software program)
- Launch Your Business (Complete the Setup 7 checklist to get your business up and running)
- First Client (Tell Bookkeeper Launch when you have your first client)
And when you complete all 5 Stars, you'll get advanced bonus content too.
Is Bookkeeper Launch Legit: What Kind of Support Do You Get?
Ben Robinson’s bookkeeping course gives you:
- unlimited email support
- weekly live Zoom Coaching Calls
- a private, no advertisement, no distraction community on Facebook
But let one of his bookkeeping students tell you what she thinks of the support:
“You will always be a student of Bookkeeper Launch, so you can always take part in the Facebook group, you can always take part in the weekly Q&A’s, and you can always email Ben’s team for support. And you always have the friends you have made through the program to help and support you along the way.”
“They can go over your website for you, they will look at any direct mail piece you might want to send out, they will go over anything that is in the training that you might have questions about and anything else bookkeeping related.”
Amy McLaughry
Bookkeeper Launch graduate and Professional Bookkeeper
The Different Q&A Sessions You Get
ANNOUNCEMENT:
Bookkeeper Launch has made some exciting changes to their weekly Client and Course Calls! They’re now conducting these as Zoom Coaching Calls, rather than their former Q&A webinars. Their goal is to provide a more personalized, interactive experience for every participant.
The Coaching Calls offer students the chance to dive deeper into specific topics with more “one-on-one” style guidance. They will also allow for more opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals and build a strong community.
This is one more example of Ben Robinson’s commitment to bringing students better and better course experiences.
Bookkeeper Launch offers two weekly Q & A sessions.
Course-Related Questions
Ask any question about the course in live question and answer sessions. You can also go back into the archives and watch any of the recorded replays.
Client-Related Questions
Each of these sessions feature three students who each have one-on-one conversations with their SST (Student Support Team) to find answers to their situation and get them back in action.
Legal Lunch Q&A Sessions
These monthly Q&As with lawyers help Bookkeeper Launch students get answers to important legal questions.
Student Success Team Sessions
The Student Success Team (SST) has daily office hours (Monday through Friday, 9-5 EST) for students who are working with clients and have a challenge needing additional help. They can work one-on-one with a team member to deal with the challenge.
Can I Start a Bookkeeping Business with No Experience?
After interviewing 7 Bookkeeper Launch students (plus listening to plenty of others while preparing my many Bookkeeper Launch reviews since it debuted so many years ago), this is what I've noticed:
According to Ben, fewer than 10% of students have bookkeeping experience when they start the course. Even when graduates have some basic bookkeeping experience, they usually know very little about running a business, finding clients, and learning how to advise their future clients. Those are the skills Ben Robinson and his team teach you (plus the important bookkeeping skills too).
Plenty of BL graduates came in with no bookkeeping experience.
“Before I found Bookkeeper Business Launch (now called Bookkeeper Launch) I was working as a Virtual Assistant, way undervaluing my services, and doing some other odd and end jobs….My only experience was doing my own books, poorly, and I helped with my dad's business books when I was a teenager.”
Callie Sitek
BL graduate and Pro Bookkeeper
Bookkeeper Launch Reviews on Reddit
I've chatted with and interviewed a bunch of course graduates, but that doesn't mean I know everything. So, I looked all over the internet for valid BL reviews. And I found some very interesting conversations about Bookkeeper Launch on Reddit.
Especially this one:
Don't you just love it when people are so generous? I do!
Other Bookkeeper Launch Reviews
This isn't the only place you can find reviews for this course. I also found plenty of them at the Better Business Bureau. I've also interviewed many Bookkeeper Launch graduates. And these reviews are very similar to what I keep hearing from course members.
In the review section, I couldn't find any less-than-stellar reviews. Here are a few of them:
Bookkeeper Launch Complaints
I did find some Bookkeeper Launch complaints at the Better Business Bureau (and personally they just convinced mw even more how committed BL is to your success. But I think you should read them for yourself. Here's one:
Bookkeeper.com responded and it matches 100% what other graduates have told me over the years. They go above and beyond to help you succeed. If you're willing to do the work, you'll have a new career that pays well.
How Much Does Bookkeeper Launch Cost?
You can pay for the course all at once or spread it out over 12 months. Either way, you've got a 30-day money-back guarantee, no questions asked. Also, active and retired military (and their spouses) get a special 30% discount.
Bookkeeper Launch Pro: The Full Course
You've got 2 choices for payment:
- 12 Payments of $249
- Save $489 and pay in full: $2499
Bookkeeper Launch Premier: The Full Course + Group Coaching
Choose either option and pay:
- 12 Payments of $299
- Save $589 and pay in full: $2,999
Find out if you’ll make a great bookkeeper with these 3 free trainings. This high-paying profession isn’t for everyone. Is it right for you?
So, Is Bookkeeper Launch Good?
I started reviewing this course back in 2015 when it was still Bookkeeper Business Blueprint. I've lost count of how many times I've re-reviewed Bookkeeper Launch.
Bottom line: each time, it gets better (and I've checked out and reviewed a TON of courses over the years). These guys are on a mission to create the best bookkeeper business training online.
You get access to all the new improvements because of your lifetime access and support too.
If you want to learn bookkeeping in 10 weeks, you could do it with another course. BUT if you want to learn to run a successful bookkeeping business, how to find the right clients for you, create a business that fits your lifestyle, and get all the support you need along the way, Bookkeeper Launch is my only recommendation for you.
Or are you ready to get started? Become part of the Bookkeeper Launch family now.
Have Questions About this?
Still got a question about Ben Robinson’s course that I didn't answer in this Bookkeeper Launch review? Chances are someone else probably does too! Big or small, ask them all below. If I can't answer, I'll contact Ben and his team. So go ahead and ask it 😉
I've got access to all the brilliant bookkeeping minds on the team, so I'm happy to reach out to them or course graduates and get you some answers.
Hi,
Intriguing! After completing the training and becoming familiar with the processes how long would you anticipate it take to land my first clients? How many clients would it take to replace a full-time income at approximately $90K? How many hours would you estimate it would take to support this level of effort? Understanding each client is different but a ballpark figure would be appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Dave,
I didn’t really know how to answer all parts of your question. So I asked Justin Boynton, a graduate of the course and owner of Watch My Green. I decided to just quote his answer so as not to lose any of the essence of it:
I love this question…
I bought the course on 12/31/16. I got through the course in 3 months and had my first client in March 2017. I talked to Ben in May of 2017 and had 4 clients at the time.
I asked him this same question (income and all)! He told me if I put my head down and really focused on bringing in business, that I could do it by the end of 2017. I left my $90K/yr banking job in October of 2017. I hadn’t completely replaced my income at that time, but I had the majority of it covered.
As far as hours go, it is really hard to estimate. I worked 50-60 hrs/wk for the bank, and then worked my business at night between 8pm and 12am and then some on the weekends. It was hard, but when I looked back on it, I would do it all over again, especially given what I know now with systems and developing a team.
Estimating – 20hrs/wk for 10 months is 800 hours. (Wow, that sounds like a lot!)
But again, I would do it all over again given what it gives me now.
I would tell him those numbers and reassure him that it can absolutely get done, with some hard/smart work! Systems and developing a niche is the key though, without those, it will be a heck of a lot harder!
I am happy to chat with him as well. Feel free to give him my email here or he can email me at jboynton@watchmygreen.com.
I love talking about this stuff…the opportunity we have is unbelievable!
Justin Boynton
Wow, very impressive review. I am in the process of reviewing potential new business ideas and came upon your review.
Hi there! Thank you for this detailed article. I’ve never heard of starting a bookkeeping business before. What kind of services or products does this kind of business provide? And you’ve said that this is a cheaper alternative than going to college. Do you mean that this can help someone get a job or is it only self-employed?
Hey, Gabrielle! What kind of services does a bookkeeper provide? That’s a great question! Only when you asked it I realized that it isn’t (and should be) in the content of my post.
Basically, a bookkeeper keeps track of the financial transactions of the client’s business much in the same way that you or I keep track of what goes in and out of our bank accounts. And then they usually provide some sort of report. Some bookkeepers do bill paying, invoicing, payroll, taxes, etc as well. But that is totally up to the person how many other services to offer.
Nowadays much of this data entry (of transactions) is semi-automatic just due to the developing nature of technology. This gives a bookkeeper a lot more scope to provide more value to the clients. If you set up your digital bookkeeping business the right way, your main tasks could be
– Record financial activities
– Double-check them
– Prepare and explain reports
– Suggest future courses of action
The first two steps are pretty obvious.
The next steps are where Ben’s course allows you to deliver more than traditional bookkeepers. He teaches you how to prepare financial reports that are accurate, look good, and are presented in a way that any client can understand. And then to go a step further, you can suggest ways to help the client’s business improve financially. That may sound difficult, but with the right training and preparation, it is possible and it makes you into a trusted advisor for your client.
Regarding your second question regarding whether this can help someone get a job or if it is only to become self-employed, Ben’s Bookkeeper Launch definitely teaches you how to build your own profitable business, i.e. become self-employed. He goes deep into marketing strategies as well as the work/life balance aspect. That being said, there are students of the course who choose to join into business together splitting the tasks among them – one may take over the marketing while others just do the bookkeeping tasks or something like that. And of course, anyone could just do the bookkeeping skills portion of the course and then go out and look for a job, but that would be a waste of money in my opinion. 😀
When I said that this is a cheaper alternative than going to college, I just meant that you can pay a few thousand dollars to learn the exact skills you need and have a business started up and running in a number of months or you can go to college, spend a few years there and thousands of dollars and then still have to start your business from scratch.
I hope this helps. If not please continue asking,
Robin
I come from a numbers orientated family and have always enjoyed numbers, possibly starting with my dad always playing number games with us when we were kids. I did a bookkeeping course after my degree and worked in finance in the UK for several years, before moving to Italy 20 years ago.
I looked at this course a few months ago, but my concern is that I am a shy introverted person, so where and how will I get clients from? I do not have any technical Italian accounting language skills, so if I do this course, how will I be able to make my money back? So getting clients from my local area is not really feasible for me.
Do you have other suggestions for me?
Well, Line, guess what! In Bookkeeper Launch, Ben teaches how to become a digital, remote bookkeeper. You can be anywhere and have clients from anywhere else. The whole process can be and is online. So even if you are now in Italy, you can have English clients if you prefer.
You might be wondering then does Bookkeeper Launch only teach how to do American bookkeeping? It is geared towards American students. That being said, the course has students from all over the world – the basic bookkeeping skills are the same everywhere. Ben suggests that international students who plan to conduct international business and seek to retain clients in the US or wherever may want to research regulations in their region regarding that specific process.
As far as being an introvert, that isn’t a problem either as long as you are ready to put in the effort. There are whole lessons on clients – how to get them (the right ones that are a fit for you) and how to keep them. Ben also includes a lot of mindset-related material/advice to help each one make the best of themselves. He suggests a book “The Introvert’s Edge” by Matthew Pollard which students have said is really powerful and useful. The topic of how to overcome or make use of your introvert tendencies is also discussed at length in the private FaceBook group by graduates and students alike. So being an introvert isn’t really an issue for a bookkeeper.
Have you taken Ben’s free introductory course yet? If not, it may help you decide. Not only will you get more of a taste of the bookkeeping side, but you will get a taste of Ben’s teaching style. You may get more of a feeling of whether or not the course s for you.
Hope this helps. If not, keep the questions coming!
Robin
Wow! This looks like something I’d be interested in. You mention a 30% military discount. Do you know anymore details? Who exactly qualifies, how, etc.?
Also, the interviews of successful students you provided are all women. Do you know of any successful bookkeeper dads?
Hi Daniel,
Regarding the military discount:
It is 30% off of Bookkeeper Launch and/or any COURSES (not subscriptions like Lab or DBA). To qualify, the individual must be on ACTIVE DUTY or the SPOUSE of an active duty service member. They can also be RETIRED or the SPOUSE of a retired service member. Retired means that the U.S. DoD is paying them a monthly pension for their service. Typically this means they served 20+ years UNLESS they were retired due to injury/disability. If the individual served a stint (4, 5, 10 years, etc.) and is now discharged, they do NOT qualify. Active or retired status only. To prove their eligibility, the individual must supply a copy of their orders (active) or DD214 (retired).
Oh, dear! Yes, there are definitely successful bookkeeper dads. In fact, we interviewed one – Justin Boynton. I better add his interview to my list in the review. Thanks for bringing that to my attention.
Hope this answers your questions,
Robin
This is a really interesting article. You certainly are thorough and seem to disclose everything that anyone could possibly hope to have disclosed – and then some! I was particularly impressed that you pointed out that this opportunity is not for people who can’t stand numbers. Unfortunately, that is me. They make my head spin. But I am the sort of person who can get swept away with the enthusiasm of your review and decide to give it a try anyway, so I REALLY appreciate your concern. You earn my respect.
I was also really impressed with how you follow through with people’s comments and even go so far as to check with the company and ask graduates about the questions that the commenters raise. When you say that this is a legit opportunity I am completely convinced! I would be giving it a try myself except for my unfortunate problem with numbers. But I really wish you and all your readers the best with this program. It seems to be one of the absolute best of its kind.
Thanks, Lisa.
I do my best to be as straightforward and thorough as possible.
Letting readers know what the programs really are is my aim.
Robin
Hello I must say I am very impressed with all the reviews and comments. Well done. There are a number of things I liked about the website, one being the colours and how they all seem to work together. I liked the layout of the website as well and how all the pros and cons in the reviews were very clearly spelt out. One thing I thought was great was that Ben was using Monopoly to explain a concept in this review of Bookkeeper Launch. All in all, thumbs up!
Glad you like it, David.
I’m happy if the reviews help readers make their decisions.
Yes, Ben does do a good job of finding clear ways to explain the concepts he teaches in Bookkeeper Launch.
Thanks again,
Robin
I love numbers and am always excited to work with numbers. But talking about detail oriented I’m afraid I might not have that kind of trait. I sometimes feel I’m so reckless with detail that I make mistakes I shouldn’t be making. I do not mind working hard, but I don’t feel at ease working and communicating with people at all. I would say I’m very introverted which is the reason why I might have a hard time to get clients. I’ve been reading and researching this course since I first found it online last year.
I’m so hesitant to sign up for the course as I don’t know if it can really work for me. I did find all the reviews very inspiring and motivating and I keep asking myself whether or not to give it a try. I would be very happy to hear some more advice from people who have encountered the same problems as mine.
Hi May,
Sorry for the delay, but I needed to reach out to the Bookkeeper Business Launch community to be able to answer all of your questions. They have many introverts who have established their own bookkeeping businesses. Ben provides the tools necessary to know what to say and who to say it to….He calls it Yakkity Yak – there is a whole section on it in the training. He also has the saying of ‘Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway.’
Once your confidence level in your bookkeeping abilities begins to grow and you know that you can truly help a business owner, you know that you have something of value to offer. Ben offers a full 60 day, no questions asked, money-back guarantee – more than enough time to decide if this is the right path.
HOWEVER, attention to detail is VITAL. Remember, that bookkeepers are dealing with sensitive financial information and need to have an Eagle Eye for discrepancies. Again, remember that BBL offers a full 60 days to review everything! The lessons, the weekly webinars, being interactive with the other students in the private Facebook group.
The coordinator said that she would also be sending some responses from other graduates in response to your wanting to have some advice from others who have encountered the same problems as you. I’ll add that as soon as I get it.
Hope this helps!
Robin
Hey May! They sent a responses from several graduates! Here it is:
Advice from Graduate Students:
Kristi Gelas – Wildflower Bookkeeping – https://wildflowerbk.com/ : My advice would be not to come into this thinking you are going to have instant success. You have to keep a positive attitude, work hard and be willing to give a little to get anything. I feel that living in a small, tight-nit community has helped me to get my name out there. I imagine living in a larger area would be more difficult to break in to.
Karla Johanna Navarro Rodriguez – ATS Accounting and Tax Services : I think anybody can get the skills to be a virtual bookkeeper. As with any other job if you like what you do and you enjoy it you will probably be successful. If you are going to be virtual I think it is necessary that you are organized with your time. It is easy to waste your time doing something else because nobody is checking on you to see if you are working or not. It is important to have a schedule and follow it. Do the BBL course! It has all the tools you need from scratch to make you successful. Besides the support, the Facebook group is an awesome community.
Jenna Lombardo – ACE Accountable Bookkeeping – http://www.aceaccountablebk.com : A couple of books really helped me when I first got started, and I refer to them even today. Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway by Susan Jeffers shows the reader that everyone is afraid and being uncomfortable is the only way you learn and grow. The only way to get over your fear is to do it anyway. Profit First by Michael Michalowicz shows business owners how to handle their cash using the old-fashioned envelope system. In this case, multiple bank accounts take the place of the envelopes. If you are thinking of starting a bookkeeping business, do not expect to have a ton of time on your hands once you get going. The time you do not spend on clients, you will be spending on improving your business, whether looking into applications, trying to make things more efficient, developing processes and procedures, and so on. My husband thought I would have all the time in the world and thought I started the business in order to have more time. This is a misconception. However, the difference is you decide when you work on these tasks, so you need to have the self-discipline to be able to complete them on your own without someone checking to make sure work has been completed. You are your own boss, and I must say, I have the best boss in the world!
Amy McLaughry – ADEM Bookkeeping – https://www.adembookkeeping.com/ : Being a business owner is harder than you think. There are some tough times and there are some great times. There is a lot of hard work that goes into running your own business and most people will never see the hard work – they will only see the stuff above the surface. And owning your own business is not for everyone.
So, find some people that you connect with. People on the same journey or are going through the same things you are. Share stories, talk it out with someone and ask for help. You don’t have to be alone in the journey, there are other’s willing to help hold you up when you need it and just listen to you when you need a shoulder.
I think the support system that you can find with Bookkeeper Business Launch is beyond anything you will find anywhere else. You get to join a Facebook Group with over 5000 students who have also signed up for the course, where about 300 plus are active on a monthly basis. You have email support where you can access more detailed help or support. There are weekly Q&A’s for client questions and student questions. These are all sources for support when you are struggling and the fear kicks in. We have all been there done that – for real!
Hi May,
I do hope that this helps with your decision. You can always email us here Success@learntobeabookkeeper.com with questions or request an appointment so we can give you a call, a tour of the course, and/or personally answer any questions you have.
Have a great day!
Faith (member of Ben’s team)
This is all great inspiring and realistic advice. It doesn’t sound like something that is too good to be true, but needs your hard work and effort to make it happen. I do appreciate that. Of course, I did learn in the review that it’s an unconditional money back guarantee. Is it really no question asked and get just get money back if I feel that it’s not the right course for me? It sounds cool but at the same time I don’t know if it’s that really easy to get money back?
Yes, Ben’s unconditional money-back guarantee is real. He refunds the amount easily as long as it is within the first 60 days. I know of a number of people who have decided that it is not for them who have had their money refunded.
Hope this helps,
Robin
Hi Robin! Thank you very much for the full description of the program!.. I do have questions about the ” you could work anywhere anytime.”
I live in Canada. How this program would be affected by Canadian procedures, opening a new online business, also taxes and law? I noticed there are a lot of successful students from USA. But what about Canada? Are there any limitations that I should know before join it?.. Would love to see experiences from Canadian students and see how their success is going. Thank you very much if you could share any knowledge about it =)
Hi Gabriela,
I’m happy you found the review useful. Lots of good questions!
More than 130 Canadian students have registered to do the BBL course this year past alone. And they even have a BBL Canadian support group!
There are no bookkeeping differences really, but definitely some differences in what are allowable deductions for taxes, differences in payroll, in sales tax, and in the types of tax forms and remittances.
The basics are the same, and you do need to learn about Canadian federal as well as provincial specifics in those cases.
Also, there are students who have international clients. It is just recommended to make sure to follow local law and regulations when conducting international business.
Please let me know if you have any other questions,
Robin
Thank you very very much!!.. I would love to get in contact with those students. I am already in the program but not sure how to search for the BBL Canadian Support group..
I’m really happy with your reply! Thank you so so much!
Happy to help. 🙂
This looks like the Canadian BBL group. Being a BBL student, you should be able to join easily. Let me know how it goes!
Robin
Oh my god you are so amazing!! Thank you so so much!!
Hi Robin!
First off I loved your review! It was so detailed and answered a lot of questions that were buzzing in my mind. I was also wondering if I would be cut out for this course because while I do believe I possess a lot of the traits that are needed, I realize I can be a somewhat unorganized person although I actively work on this with time. With that being said, would I be in over my head in starting this course?
Thanks in advance for your time!
Hi David,
I’m glad you found the review useful and got answers to many of your questions. Regarding your question about whether or not you’d be in over your head starting this course – personal questions like these are always hard to answer. So let’s look at a few things:
For one, you can work on your organizational skills as you said you are doing. There are books, workshops, online videos, and help groups dedicated solely to helping someone become more organized.
In relation to Ben’s bookkeeping course, anyone, whether they are organized or disorganized can register and go through the lessons. They are step by step and entirely self-paced, so the student can work on learning the bookkeeping skills and setting up their business at their own pace and according to their own schedule. (And he has a 30-day money back guarantee so that if you realize that it isn’t for you, you can get a refund no questions asked within the first 30 days.)
However, we must keep in mind that when working directly with clients and their sensitive financial data, you should be as organized as possible to ensure that the clients are served, and their work is done in a timely and accurate manner. You would spend a good amount of time interacting with the clients and letting them know what goes on. So being on time, with the appropriate paperwork for meetings is a necessity.
Most of your work would involve categorizing and organizing financial records, and then pulling those into financial statements for clients, and then advising them on what they should be doing. Ben’s course shows how this can be automated as much as possible, and also how to batch the activities to be as efficient as possible.
BUT – at the end of the day, only you, the student, can say if you are organized enough to handle that responsibility. So I guess it is up to you to decide.
Let me know if this helped enough or if you have any other questions,
Robin
Thank you so much! That’s so helpful I appreciate you taking the time to get back to me!
Warmly,
David
No problem! 🙂
Robin
I have been on the fence for some time about this course and cannot decide what type of online business would be beneficial, worth my time, expense and meet my qualifications. I have accounting experience, customer service, email, mostly receivables and it has been quite a few years, so I worry that, like most virtual businesses, I need a lot of education ( I do have a business degree) or current experience and technology to gain trust and acquire clients.
Why would anyone want to hand over their bookkeeping to someone not very credible without a lot of degrees or education? I couldn’t tell if he offered some type of Quickbooks online certification or just used it for training. I feel like I need that to succeed. So confusing and I want to make the right choice jumping in. I feel I can do the work, it may take me longer to catch up to speed and gain clients.
It seems Lori, that your accounting and customer service experience could be helpful if you decide to take up virtual bookkeeping. Did you know that, according to Ben, bookkeeping is first and foremost a relationship business? So from his point of view, being personable and caring are the most important traits. I only mentioned that because you mentioned that you had customer service experience.
As far as why someone would want to hand over their bookkeeping to someone without a lot of degrees, etc – by law, you don’t actually have to be certified to be a bookkeeper! Ben teaches you the matter you need to know to get the job done well and he teaches you how to present yourself. So others aren’t going to think of you as someone who doesn’t know anything as you can prove otherwise. I’ve heard that few people even ask for qualifications as long as you show you can do the work.
You can get Quickbook certified while doing the course and Ben encourages it as well. This is all taken care of in the course material – Ben teaches you what you need to know or shows you where to go to get it.
The course also has a 90-day success plan. So if you put in the work and follow the plan, you can succeed. I’m not sure why you think it will take you longer to catch up and get clients – if you do the course work it won’t take you longer than anyone else doing the course.
I don’t know if I’ve answered all your questions. But if there are more, please don’t hesitate to keep asking,
Robin
Very interesting. As I was reading along through the review I thought hmm, I could try that, but soon brushed that thought away because i’m Not numbers oriented.
This course sounds pretty complete in that you learn book keeping and business as well, but my concern would be that after this little training I would come across things I didn’t know about. 10 weeks seems like a quick bare bones course that wouldn’t really prepare me for the real world.
Well Stew, I can see why you would brush it aside if you aren’t numbers oriented. But unless you actually have an aversion to numbers, it most probably wouldn’t be an issue.
As far as this “little course” goes, it is an intense course packed with nearly everything you need to be prepared for the real world. Ben teaches what you need to know to actually get the job done, not a bunch of theory. He explains concepts/processes, shows them and then has you do them. The course is organised to build your skills and business as you progress through it. Of course no course can actually teach everything… so there is plenty of support in the form of a very active Facebook group, emails and other one on one ways to get you the answers and help you need to be serving your clients in the real world.
I know it almost sounds too good to be true, but it is a well thought out course which Ben is continually tweaking and adding content to based on student input and other things he himself continues to learn. Obviously it does take work – lots of it. You have to be ready to immerse yourself into it and give it all you have. Some people do this slowly as their schedule permits and others zoom through it getting their first client even while still working on the course!
Sorry, I didn’t mean to go on and on. But when you described it as a bare bones course, I couldn’t but respond as bare bones is the last thing this course is!
Robin
This looks good, but do you know any moms who are successfully doing it?
Actually Indy, I do. I’ve interviewed a few of them and have also had a couple of moms answer readers’ questions too! So if you’d like to hear straight from some Mom bookkeepers, check out these interviews:
Callie (1st one)
Callie (follow up)
Amy
My dream has always been to work for myself online at home. I don’t have any background in finance at all but I really like the idea of being able to work from home with a bookkeeping business, do you think someone without much financial background can succeed?
I also feel like there’s a lot of hills to climb here. There’s the 10 week course, then after that you still need to advertise your business and skills to attract customers, then you need to build that customer base. Seem like all this could take a year or two. Is there a faster way to make money after completing the 10 week course?
you mentioned that the course teaches you how to do bookkeeping as well as build a business. What if I don’t want to build a business and just want to work for someone else, do you know of any websites that hire you to work for them as a bookkeeper?
You might be surprised to know, Kent, but it is possible to successfully build an online bookkeeping business even without much of a financial background. Bookkeeper Business Launch is a very thorough course and Ben starts from the ABCs. The course is organised so that you are starting to build your business as you progress through the course.
Some students have had their first client towards the end of their ten weeks, others have taken longer. But a year or two is not at all needed. In fact Ben offers a 12 Month Double Your Money Back Achiever’s Guarantee which is: if after 12 months you have completed all the work and don’t see results, he will refund your initial investment and pay you an additional $2,000.00. Either way, you will have made your money back plus some (if you do the work!).
The course is geared towards building your own business. Unfortunately I don’t know offhand of any websites that hire bookkeepers. I’m sure a quick Google search could provide you with some though!
Robin
Wow, very impressive review. I am in the process of reviewing potential new business ideas and came upon your review. I must admit I had not considered bookkeeping until now. I have always enjoyed accounting, it is a business that very straight forward and once you understand how it works, it’s only a matter of keeping up with the changes.
The primary focus for my new business search is the ability to work entirely over the web. I get the impression from your review that this business can be primarily web-based. In your experience can it be done entirely online?
Yes, Glenn, this can definitely be done completely online. In fact Ben’s course aims at that – being able to build an online bookkeeping business that allows you, where ever you are, to serve clients who are also from anywhere. He teaches all the techniques and skills you need to do the bookkeeping tasks and find clients and communicate/serve them all virtually. With online bookkeeping programs, online banks, the Cloud, Skype, email, etc and a scanner this all become quite easy. The world has sure changed, hasn’t it!
Hope you find what you are looking for,
Robin
As more and more businesses are created and are expanding services like bookkeeping will indeed be in high demand, just as this article has said it.
After reading this review of the Bookkeeper Business Launch course it seems like it might be on the top of the list for people who want to start up a bookkeeping business. For such specific business models, it is often hard to find courses or guides as most places online just say to go with your idea. But sometimes extra detailed lessons are really needed.
Is it easy though to take the course at a slower pace than advised?
It is a fact, Rihard, that it is hard to find courses that give the specifics for a particular business model. Of course you can go back to college. But that takes time and you still need to wade through everything you learned to pick out the main things you actually need. Because this course is based on a “Tell, Show, Do” approach, you really get the theory and experience you need to just go for it and get a business up and running.
The course provides a 90-day plan. But the full course material is available from the time you get access. So you can do it at your own pace according to how much time you have and how hard/easy the material seems to you.
Hope that answers your question,
Robin
Different areas have different rules, regulations, and taxes. Could you tell me what areas this training is good for? (Example: States, provinces, territories, or countries.) Thank you.
Actually, Betty, the training is applicable for bookkeeping pretty much the world over. Basic bookkeeping strategies are pretty much the same everywhere. And bookkeepers aren’t actually responsible for taxes, so you don’t need to worry about that. Most of the students of Ben’s course are practicing in the US. But I know of students from Canada and Australia as well.
The whole point of this course is to train virtual bookkeepers – great bookkeepers that can work from anywhere for clients that live anywhere.
There are some differences in the tax rules for Canada and the US, though they are quite similar. But since a bookkeeper handles very few tax related issues, if any at all, that shouldn’t be too big of a hurdle to deal with. And of course, every country has different regulations and laws that you need to research if you would like to pursue starting a bookkeeping business.
Let me know if this doesn’t answer your question,
Robin
I worked for financial institution working with both numbers and money for 23 plus years. I have enjoyed this type of work. I also do our yearly tax return.I have plenty of customer service experience and am a detail oriented person. I would like to sign up for this class then eventually work at home and earn additional income.
Would this class work for me if I don’t have a Facebook account for webinar. I am not interested in opening a Facebook account. Is there an alternative other than webinar? Also, do I need to take a state certification test before starting my business. I hated taking timed tests.
I hope to hear from you.
You do not need a Facebook account for the free classes webinar, Faith. And you don’t need a Facebook account to watch the video taped classes in the course either. So, no Facebook account is not required. But the Facebook group associated with the course is very active – many questions are asked and answered, tons of support provided and so on. So it is up to you whether or not you decide to join it.
And luckily for you, the second answer is also no – you do not need to take a state certification test before starting your business.
Hope that answers your questions,
Robin
I am looking to make extra income on the side of my teaching job. I like math, but don’t know if the fact that I could only work in the evenings or on weekends would make it difficult to get clients. Do you know?
That shouldn’t be a problem, Patricia. The course teaches you how to develop your skills and business completely online. Your communications with clients may include Skype calls (or other similar methods of communication), but a lot will be done via email, etc. And the bulk of the work you do for your client will be on your own time – the timing of it doesn’t affect your client as long as you get it done.
Have you taken Ben’s free course yet? It should give you a good picture of what a virtual bookkeeping career entails.
Let me know if you have any other questions,
Robin