PC magazine chose QuickBooks accounting software in 2010 as their editor’s choice for the 2010 best accounting software. Due to its increasing popularity, many businesses choose QuickBooks for their accounting needs, which creates a need for competent users. There is a rising market for professional QuickBooks bookkeepers. One can find career opportunities, and potentially lucrative salaries, in many different areas. Entrepreneurial opportunities are also abundant.

Careers

In small businesses, bookkeepers are responsible for the daily financial transactions of the company. They record the daily receipts into financial software, like QuickBooks, and manage the banking transactions, accounts payable and accounts receivable. In larger companies, these roles may fall on multiple clerks or accountants, but smaller companies may employ a full-time bookkeeper to handle all these functions. Bookkeeping careers do not normally require advanced degrees; however, some individuals may choose to complete college accounting courses to remain competitive. According to the Department of Labor, in 2008 there were 2.1 million bookkeeping and accounting positions in the United States.

Salaries

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median income for bookkeepers as of May 2010 is $34,030, or $16.36 per hour. Becoming a QuickBooks certified bookkeeper can translate into slightly higher income for someone in this profession. Those with advanced training and experience can make up to $51,470. According to the Bureau, the states with the highest concentrations of bookkeepers are California, Texas, New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. California is also one of the top-paying states for bookkeepers, with a median salary of $39,820. Other states with higher salaries for bookkeepers include Alaska, Maryland and Connecticut.

Certification

In order to increase earning potential, bookkeepers may want to consider a certification program. Intuit, the maker of QuickBooks, offers a Certified User designation for software users. In order to obtain this designation, users attend a two-day class and then take a QuickBooks exam at a local testing center. Users have the option of skipping the class and taking the exam outright if they feel confident in their QuickBooks abilities. The promotion for this training states that users will be able to enhance their knowledge of the QuickBooks software, as well as gain a valuable self-promotion tool. The company also offers a Certified ProAdvisor Program for accounting professionals.

Freelancing

Using Intuit’s Accounting Version of QuickBooks, a user can run multiple companies on the software. This enables bookkeepers to offer their services to multiple businesses. Many small companies hire independent bookkeepers to save on the overhead cost of a full-time employee. A QuickBooks independent bookkeeper can charge between $25 and $40 an hour for her services, according to Entrepreneur magazine. It is relatively inexpensive to start a home-based bookkeeping business, and the overhead costs are few.