With student debt averaging over $37,000 and expenses going up, it’s no surprise accountants are seeking extra income.
As an accountant, you have a lot of skills to make money on the side.
Whether you want to save more, clear debts, or just earn more, it’s never too late to start a side hustle.
In this article, I’ll share with you the best and most rewarding gigs.
Ready? Let’s dive in!
Best Side Hustles For Accountants
1. Start a Blog
Starting a blog in the accounting or bookkeeping niche could lead to substantial earnings, potentially reaching six figures annually. For instance, you might decide to focus on providing tips for small business owners to manage their finances effectively.
You could create a content calendar covering topics such as budgeting, tax deductions, and financial planning. As your blog attracts more visitors, you can monetize it through avenues like Google AdSense, where you earn money from displaying ads, or through affiliate marketing by recommending accounting software or financial tools.
But remember, your blog’s subject matter isn’t limited to accounting. You could also delve into personal finance, entrepreneurship, or any other topic that ignites your passion. The key is consistency and providing value to your audience, regardless of the niche you choose.
2. Launch a YouTube Channel
Starting a YouTube channel can be a lucrative side hustle, especially considering the platform’s vast audience of 122 million daily users.
For instance, let’s say you start a channel focused on demystifying accounting software for small business owners. You could create tutorials, reviews, and tips to help them navigate these tools effectively.
Building a successful YouTube channel requires patience and effort, but it’s crucial to have a clear strategy in place.
Before you can start earning money from ads on your videos, you’ll need to meet YouTube’s requirements. This includes having at least 1,000 subscribers and 4,000 public watch hours in the past 12 months to join their partner program.
In the meantime, you can explore other revenue streams. For example, you could partner with companies to promote their products, create sponsored content, or even sell branded merchandise to your audience.
3. Create an Online Course
Have you thought about turning your financial knowledge into a lucrative gig? If so, you might want to create and sell an online course.
Let’s say you’re an experienced CPA with a knack for simplifying complex tax concepts.You could create an online course titled “Mastering Taxes: A Comprehensive Guide to CPA Exam Success.” This course could cover topics like tax laws, regulations, and exam strategies to help aspiring accountants ace their CPA exams.
Platforms like Udemy provide a perfect avenue to showcase your course to a wide audience. Moreover, tools offered by platforms such as Thinkific and Teachable can help you promote your course effectively.
You can also promote your course on platforms like LinkedIn and Twitter to attract potential students from your professional network.
4. Start a Virtual Bookkeeping Service
Starting a virtual bookkeeping service is a rewarding side hustle. As a virtual bookkeeper, you’ll handle essential tasks for businesses, including:
- Maintaining financial records
- Reconciling bank statements
- Preparing financial reports
Since you can manage their finances from anywhere, this side gig allows you to work from your home office or a cozy coffee shop.
You can find clients by networking within entrepreneurial communities or by joining platforms like FlexJobs, Freelancer, Fiverr, Upwork, and LinkedIn. These platforms often have listings for remote bookkeeping jobs.
5. Sell Budgeting Spreadsheets
Want to boost your income as an accountant? Consider making and selling budgeting spreadsheets and other handy printables. These could be things like financial planners, checklists, or customized worksheets.
You can use tools like Google Sheets or Excel, or try free graphic design platforms like Canva or Photoshop to create printable templates. For example, you could design a comprehensive monthly budget spreadsheet with categories for expenses like groceries, bills, and savings goals.
Once you’ve made a product, you can sell it over and over again.
If you’re not sure where to start, you can check out sites like Etsy, Fiverr, or Shopify for ideas and pricing inspiration.
6. Teach a Money Management Workshop
If you’re good with numbers, consider teaching money management workshops online. Seriously, who wouldn’t benefit from that? As an accountant, you can develop strategies to help all sorts of people handle their money better.
For instance, let’s say you specialize in budgeting. You can create workshops that teach practical budgeting techniques for different lifestyles and income levels.
Before you get started, take some time to research the latest trends in the industry. This will give you ideas and a starting point for your workshops.
To get your workshop out there, use platforms like Podia and Skillshare. They make it easy to create and share your workshop with the world.
7. Offer Financial Coaching Services
Do you want to become a financial coach? It’s a hands-on way for accountants to share their expertise without creating online courses or eBooks.
For instance, you can specialize in helping young professionals manage their student loan debt. According to education data, the average public university student borrows $32,637 to attain a bachelor’s degree. So, it won’t be a surprise if you find a lot of potential clients.
You can coach people in person if you enjoy face-to-face interactions. Otherwise, you can offer your services online. Use social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter to reach more clients.
8. Start Your Own Accounting Podcast
If you’re an accountant who prefers talking over writing, you might want to start a podcast. It’s a fun side gig where you can work just a few hours a week.
For example, let’s say you’re a tax expert with a knack for explaining complex concepts in simple terms. You could start a podcast where you break down common tax issues and provide tips for maximizing deductions.
As your audience grows, you’ll also become known as an expert in your field. This opens doors to opportunities like sponsorships or consulting gigs down the line.
Platforms like Spotify or Buzzsprout have everything you need to create, promote, and even make money from your podcast.
9. Write Business Plans
If you enjoy writing, you might want to consider offering your services in writing business plans for people starting new ventures.
For example, let’s say you’re an accountant who specializes in small businesses. A local entrepreneur wants to open a bakery but needs help putting together a solid business plan to secure funding. They could hire you to help them outline their goals, financial projections, and marketing strategies.
Entrepreneurs often need help figuring out what to include in their business plans, so they turn to experts like accountants for guidance.
With your knowledge of business operations, you can help clients develop well-researched strategies to present to potential investors and lenders.
You can find jobs on Writing Studio, Wise Business Plans, MasterPlans, Upwork, etc.
10. Sell Software Tutorials
If you’re familiar with virtual accounting software, you can make money selling online tutorials about it. It’s a flexible side job you can do in your spare time.
To get started, pick a software and learn all about it. Most software providers offer detailed guides to help you understand everything.
After that, create easy-to-follow tutorials to answer common questions people have. For example, you could focus on features of a payroll program.
You can find gigs on platforms like Hippo Video, Camtasia, Screenflow, Synthesia.io, and iSpringSuite.
11. Become an Adjunct Professor
Being an adjunct professor means teaching part-time at a college or university. It’s a way to earn extra money using your accounting skills without needing any upfront investment.
To start, look into different schools and network with colleagues to find teaching opportunities.
You can also search for openings on websites like GovernmentJobs.com, Indeed, Inside Higher Ed, and The Chronicle of Higher Education.
12. Offer a Virtual CFO Service
Small businesses and startups often need a chief financial officer (CFO), but they might not need one full-time. That’s where you come in: offer your services as a virtual CFO for your accounting side hustle.
As a part-time remote financial controller, you’ll handle tasks like managing the accounting department, overseeing insurance, creating budget plans, tax reporting, conducting CPA audits, and ensuring financial compliance.
You can find opportunities on job search sites like Vistage, Tatum-US, Monster Jobs, Michael Page, and LinkedIn.
13. Become a Freelance Writer
If you’re good at writing, freelance writing can be a great side job for you.
Many accounting firms and financial professionals need content related to their field. You could write blog posts, articles, or social media content about topics like tax tips, financial planning, or small business accounting.
You can find writing jobs on websites like BestWriting.com, SolidGigs, ProBlogger Job Board, Working In Content, and Contena.
14. Self Publishing
This is a great way to generate passive income from your writing skills. If your eBook becomes popular on Amazon, you can just sit back and collect royalties.
For example, let’s say you specialize in tax-saving strategies. You could write an eBook titled “Maximizing Your Tax Refund: Expert Tips for Individuals and Small Businesses.”
You can also turn your eBook into an audiobook. This can attract more people, especially those who don’t like reading, and it makes your content more accessible.
This side hustle is great if you enjoy writing, but it can also work if you’re not a writer. You can hire ghostwriters on Fiverr to help you with the content of your eBook.
15. Data Entry
If you’re good at accuracy and like working with spreadsheets, consider a data entry side job.
These jobs are available in many industries as freelance gigs. They let you work from home and earn extra money by doing straightforward tasks.
You can look for job opportunities on platforms like FlexJobs, MicroWorkers, Amazon MTurk, Clickworker, and SigTrack.
16. Tax Consultation
Everybody deals with taxes, and lots of small businesses and people need assistance with their tax forms. As a tax consultant, you can earn money by guiding them through the process, filling out forms correctly, and finding deductions.
During tax season, there’s a big opportunity to make money in this gig, especially if you’re a CPA or CGA who can handle complex tax issues.
Besides doing tax returns and other prep work, you can also offer tax planning services. This means helping businesses get ready for tax time and showing them ways to pay less tax.
You can find jobs on sites like Intuit, Deloitte, Zippia, ZipRecruiter, and Indeed
17. Freelance as a Forensic Accountant
If you’re an accountant looking to increase your income, consider working as a forensic accountant. Your role involves uncovering fraud, money laundering, or other illegal financial activities in organizations.
Usually, forensic accountants are hired by companies for audits. But you can also find clients independently by creating a website, networking, or using social media.
Platforms like FBIJobs.gov, Glassdoor, LinkedIn, iHireAccounting, and AccountingJobsToday are great for finding freelance forensic accounting gigs.
18. CPA Exam Tutor
As an accountant, you’re in a great position to help others become CPAs. Becoming a CPA exam tutor is easy. You know the exam material well, and you’re good at teaching, so you can guide students effectively.
For example, let’s say you specialize in tutoring for the Regulation (REG) section of the CPA exam. You can offer one-on-one sessions where you break down complex tax laws and business regulations, helping your students grasp the material and excel in their exams.
Decide which CPA exam(s) you want to tutor, then spread the word online or by talking to people. You can find opportunities on websites like Wyzant, Tutor.com, and Chegg Tutors.
19. Affiliate Marketing
Affiliate marketing is a great side hustle for accountants looking to boost their income. As an affiliate marketer, you promote products from other companies using unique referral links. For every sale made through your links, you earn a commission.
To stand out from the competition, you can leverage your expertise in accounting to target specific audiences. For instance, you could promote accounting software like QuickBooks or Xero to small business owners or recommend online courses on tax preparation for people looking to enhance their financial knowledge.
If you want to make more money, you might consider starting an affiliate website. It allows you to establish yourself as an authority in a particular field, such as retirement planning, and build a loyal base of readers.
20. Amazon FBA Business
If you’re interested in selling products online, consider trying out Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon). It could be a lucrative gig for you as an accountant. With FBA, Amazon handles storing, packing, shipping, and customer service for your products.
Accountants are good at managing inventory and analyzing sales data, which is handy for this hustle. It’s a chance to learn about online retail while making extra money. Besides, you get access to Amazon’s huge customer base, which means big potential profits.
With smart product choices and good marketing, you have the potential to earn around $1000 per month per product. However, this side gig may also incur financial losses.
What’s the Best Side Hustle for Accountants?
Well, it really depends on your interests, the free time you have, and your financial goals.
If you’re tired of spending your free time on accounting tasks, like credits and debits, then a bookkeeping side hustle probably shouldn’t be at the top of your list.
But don’t put too much pressure on yourself when just starting out. Try your hand at some easy tasks, like selling budgeting spreadsheets.
With time, I’m sure you’ll find some inspiration from this list and pick a side hustle that suits you perfectly.
For more ideas, check out our side hustle database.
FAQs
1. Can accountants have side hustles legally?
Yes, generally, accountants can pursue side hustles legally. However, there are important legal things to keep in mind.
Make sure you get any needed licenses or permits, follow tax laws, and adhere to professional standards in your area.
2. What are some common mistakes that accountants make when pursuing a side hustle?
Accountants, just like everyone else, can make mistakes when starting a side hustle.
One big mistake is not doing enough research. Successful side hustles need a good grasp of the industry, risks, rewards, and legal stuff.
Another mistake is not focusing enough on marketing. Without good promotion, it’s hard to find clients and make money.
3. How much time do you need to commit to side hustles as an accountant?
The time you’ll need for your accountant side hustle varies based on your chosen business and income targets.
Some options, like bookkeeping or financial consulting, might need fewer hours because of the type of work.
Think about how much time you have and what you want to achieve to find the best match.
4. Is side hustle income taxable?
Yes, any money you make from your side hustle, whether you’re an accountant or doing something else, counts as taxable income. You have to report it to the IRS. How you report it depends on your work situation.
If you’re an employee getting paid, you’ll get a 1099 form. If you’re working for yourself, you’ll report your earnings using a Schedule C when you file your taxes.
If you’ve started an LLC for your side hustle, you’ll likely need to file a separate tax return for your business.
Make sure to follow tax rules to avoid problems later on.
5. How much can you realistically make as an accountant with a side hustle?
The amount you can make from your accountant side hustle depends on things like what you do and how skilled you are. If you offer freelance accounting or bookkeeping, you might make anywhere from $20 to $150 per hour.
It all depends on what you specialize in and how much demand there is for your services. If you’re specialized in things like tax prep or financial planning, you might earn even more.
Anthony Smith is an internet entrepreneur. He created the Side Hustle Ideas Database to help people find side hustles for making extra money, with the potential of turning into a full-time income.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania with a business degree, he gained business experience at a consulting firm. At the same time, he tried various side hustles including freelance writing, blogging, and eCommerce. He managed to turn his side hustles into a full-time business, earning over $3 million. Now, he enjoys financial freedom and travels around the world as a digital nomad.