Did you know that bookkeepers can work from home, too? What surprised me when I started researching this job was that work-at-home bookkeepers earn thousands per month, and you don’t need a degree to start this business from home.
There is a popular bookkeeping e-course, called Bookkeeper Launch (BL), which promises to teach you how to start a virtual bookkeeping business from scratch and make money from home as a virtual bookkeeper.
I wanted to learn if it is legit and a real deal or not, so I did some online investigation to write this Bookkeeper Launch Review. I also signed up for the BL’s affiliate program to be added to their exclusive Facebook group and to give you an insider review of the course!
Read ’til the very end to learn more about BL, some juicy details on what’s inside the course, and testimonials of real students!
This post contains affiliate links. I may earn a commission for sales made through these links at no extra cost to you. Like always, I only recommend resources that I either personally use or trust.
What Is the Bookkeeper Launch?
Table of Contents
The good thing about learning bookkeeping nowadays is that you don’t have to attend a traditional school to earn a certificate or diploma. The fastest alternative route to becoming a certified bookkeeper is taking the right course that you can finish in a matter of weeks or months, depending on your pace.
And with that, you won’t even have to apply to companies to become their bookkeepers. Instead, you can reach out to companies and offer your bookkeeping services as a third-party service provider. That way, you can command the rates that you desire, work on your own schedule, and even acquire more than one client at a time. In short, you won’t be just an employee — you can be a business owner!
If you want to know how to become a bookkeeper even without experience or an accounting degree, then this course is for you.
But first, what is Bookkeeper Launch?
Bookkeeper Launch is an online learning course designed by a CPA named Ben Robinson. This is a very extensive program that provides you with a bookkeeping business blueprint.
Bookkeeper Launch claims to equip students with the skills they need to become the best bookkeepers and gives actionable information on how to land your first paying client.
What’s good about this course is that it does not rely on bookkeeping theories. Rather, it utilizes practical skills and knowledge to establish and run a successful bookkeeping business. Whether you want to start, grow, scale, or optimize your bookkeeping business, this course says it can be a lot of help to you.
Who is Ben Robinson?
Bookkeeper Launch is the brainchild of an accountant named Ben Robinson.
Ben owned a CPA firm for about 15 years. Throughout these years, Ben had trained over 120 bookkeepers. He decided to sell his firm in 2014 and since he was a CPA for most of his life, he didn’t know what else to do. But then, an epiphany of sorts dawned on him.
Ben’s friend, Kelly, lost her job. Kelly has three boys, and she was worried that she might have to go back to work. Ben then realized that he could help people like Kelly run a bookkeeping business from home, instead of working as an employee in the corporate world.
One month later, Ben thought training people to become bookkeepers and helping them put up a bookkeeping business was indeed possible. Kelly didn’t have any bookkeeping experience, but she was able to learn it. So, taking inspiration from Kelly’s experience, Ben has since trained over 8,400 bookkeepers.
Ben is very passionate about three things: freedom, family, and finances (the 3Fs). He invited Kelly to join him in his new venture – Bookkeeper Launch, as the chief operating officer. He is awed by the fact that he can help people achieve these 3Fs in their lives and give thousands more “Kellys” the jumpstart they need to run their own business from home.
Ben Robinson is currently offering a series of FREE classes for you to find out whether bookkeeping is for you. Check out the free classes here!
Who is Bookkeeper Launch For?
Bookkeeper Launch promises that it is the perfect course for all types of people who are interested in learning bookkeeping or taking their bookkeeping business to the next level.
As Ben Robinson claims, this course is designed to help you start, grow, scale, and optimize your bookkeeping knowledge.
Therefore, Bookkeeper Launch is good for everyone who wants to run a successful bookkeeping business from home. It can cater to learners of all types, from aspiring bookkeepers to seasoned ones. And since you can learn it at your own pace, it’s also ideal for stay-at-home parents and corporate workers looking to make the switch to becoming business owners.
Why Bookkeeping?
Anyone who owns a business, whether large or small, needs to know where their finances stand. And the best way to assess a business’s financial standing regularly is by getting a bookkeeper.
Bookkeepers keep your finances organized so you know the ins and outs of your money. Not only do bookkeepers record, organize, and analyze your financial transactions so that they are easier to understand, but bookkeepers also make sure that your business’s transactions legally comply with the law.
According to the Corporate Finance Institute, bookkeeping is important for all types and sizes of businesses for the following reasons:
- Keeps you up-to-date with the financial standing of your business
- Allows you to make informed decisions when related to important financial matters
- Provides a benchmark for financial goals
Since bookkeeping is an important job for any business, it is safe to assume that there will always be a demand for bookkeepers. Interestingly, bookkeepers are not always hired as full-time employees. Many bookkeepers are freelancers and remote workers who provide bookkeeping services as independent contractors.
What makes this set-up ideal is that you can be a bookkeeper without leaving your home, and work for more than one client at a time. This means that you can set your own rates, work your own schedule, and accept and reject projects as you see fit.
How much do online bookkeepers make?
Bookkeeping can rake in a decent to lucrative income, depending on your experience and number of clients.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the median pay for bookkeepers as of May 2019 is $41, 230. Meanwhile, ZipRecruiter says that the average pay for online bookkeepers is around $23 per hour but can go higher, to around $27 per hour. Employed bookkeepers typically work full-time. Most of them have overtime work during tax season and when meeting requirements for the end of the fiscal year, monthly or quarterly audits.
These data are true for bookkeepers who work in-office as employees. If you’re going to ask: is virtual bookkeeping profitable? I would say a resounding yes!
But what’s wonderful about bookkeeping is that it can also be a freelance business you can do from home. This means you can juggle two or more clients at a time and charge competitive rates. Depending on your experience, and certifications, it’s possible to make upwards of $50 per hour with virtual bookkeeping.
Course Overview: What’s Inside Bookkeeper Launch
Now we go to the very meat of this Bookkeeper Launch review: What’s inside the course?
Bookkeeper Launch comes in two types: 1). Bookkeeper Business Launch Pro and 2). Bookkeeper Business Launch Premier. Both Pro and Premier have similar content, but with the latter, you will also have exclusive coaching sessions with the most reputable bookkeepers to help you fast-track success on your bookkeeping journey.
Before you commit to purchasing a full course, you can opt to try free classes to get a idea of what bookkeeping feels like and decide whether or not bookkeeping is right for you. Here’s what’s inside of the bookkeeper.com free classes:
- First class – gives you a glimpse of the roles of a bookkeeper
- Second class – tackles the tools and technology bookkeepers use to do their jobs more efficiently
- Third class – teaches you how to attract your first paying clients
- Fourth class – overview of the Bookkeeper Business Launch
Core course content:
Unit 1
The very first part of the course introduces you to bookkeeping. Ben covers the primary duties of a bookkeeper and what a typical day looks like.
Unit 2
This unit tackles the foundations of bookkeeping. This is divided into three modules so it’s easier to understand bookkeeping from different aspects.
The first module, basics of bookkeeping, covers 18 different topics, including the introduction to fundamental elements, assets, liability and equity, the accounting equation, credit and debit accounts, and more. Also included in this module are quizzes to further reinforce understanding of the concepts.
Module 2 is all about financial statements, journals, and ledgers. Covered in this module are topics like balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, posting to the ledger, bookkeeping cycle, and more.
The third module under Unit 2 is all about professional ethics. Here you will learn about the laws and legislation, business entities, and uniform commercial code in bookkeeping.
Unit 3
Called the Building Blocks, this unit contains five modules exploring various topics. This unit introduces you to Xero and QuickBooks and how to use them for classifying and reconciling records, accounts receivable, inventory, fixed assets, accounts payable, payroll liabilities, credit liabilities, loans, equity, income statements, statements of cash flows, and more. This unit contains tons of demos to show how each concept works.
Unit 4
This unit called “Prepare, Review, and Present” has three different modules. This unit discusses the balance sheet, statement of cash flow, and income as well as preparing financial statements.
These four units are incredibly packed with information which was organized into modules so that it’s easier to learn them one by one. Even better, you also have access to six more units to further bring your bookkeeping knowledge to the next level. These six units include:
- 7 modules: To Infinity and Beyond
- 10 modules: Business and Marketing
- 1 module: Practical and Tactical
- 4 modules: Bookkeeping Practicals
- 8 modules: Bonus Training
- 3 modules: f Bootcamp Coaching
Once you pay for Bookkeeper Business Launch, you will have access to the following:
- The entire program including all its demos and examples, quizzes, case studies, and other resources
- Resource Library
- Bonus content such as Clients Advanced, LinkedIn for Bookkeepers, and Hacks and Facts
- Entry to an exclusive online community
- Unlimited access and updates
And if you get the Bookkeeper Business Launch Premier, you will have access to:
- Everything that Bookkeeper Business Pro has to offer
- Coaching sessions
- Open mic sessions
- Live recordings
- Consultations with bookkeeping pros, and more
Check out Bookkeeper Launch info page here!
How long does it take to finish the entire Bookkeeper Launch?
If you decide to purchase the course after reading many of Bookkeeper Launch reviews online, then you should expect that it won’t spoon-feed you with the knowledge and skills you’ll need to become a successful bookkeeper. You need to dedicate time and effort to learning them.
What I love about this course is that it’s so comprehensive and jam-packed with over 58 hours of valuable content. It goes straight to the point and teaches you what you need to know. According to most students, the course takes around 10 weeks to finish.
The course is self-paced. You can study anytime you like, whenever it’s more convenient for you. You can have a day job, run a business, or raise your kids while taking this course. Don’t worry, once you’ve paid for it, you will have lifetime access, including when it gets updated with new information.
At the end of the course, you will get a BL certification and electronic badge which you can put on your website to reinforce your reputation and credibility.
How Much Does Bookkeeper Launch Cost?
The cost of Bookkeeper Launch depends on the type that you want to purchase.
Bookkeeper Launch Pro costs $1,999. You can pay it upfront and enjoy a $389 discount. Alternatively, you can break down the payment into 12 equal months for $199/month.
On the other hand, Bookkeeper Launch Premier is more expensive at $2,999. You can pay it upfront and get a discount of $589. Or, you could pay it in monthly installments costing $299 per month, for 12 months.
The Bookkeeper Business Launch comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
You can check out the courses here!
Pros and Cons of Bookkeeper Launch
PROS
- Quality content – Bookkeeper Launch gives you all the information you need to start and run a successful bookkeeping business from home. It methodically walks you from the basics, going to the practical concepts and real-life scenarios involved with the business.
- Value – from the content to all its features, this course gives you the best bang for your buck. Apart from high-quality materials, Bookkeeper Launch also comes with exclusive group support from fellow students, consultations with professional bookkeepers, and a library of resources.
- Flexibility – this bookkeeping course isn’t time-bound, so you can log in whenever it’s more convenient for you. You can do other things, such as take care of your kids or work on your business while you study this course. Also, the course is periodically updated with new information which you’ll get access to as well.
CONS
- It requires work – Bookkeeper Launch is not for people who want to get rich overnight. You have to put in some work and study the course comprehensively. On average, students can finish the entire program in two to three months.
- It is expensive – while there are monthly plans available when you purchase the course, dropping $2,000 for it can be quite a hefty amount for some people.
Is Bookkeeper Launch Legit?
With its price and hype, people are certainly going to ask, ”Is Bookkeeper Business Launch legit?” Perhaps, at the back of your mind, you’re asking the same thing.
Before I started promoting this course, I dug deeper into this course to get to the bottom of the issue. One of the first places to check when legitimacy is a concern is the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
I looked up Bookkeeper Launch on the BBB database and found that its business details checked out. It’s been in the business for five years and its CEO is Ben Robinson. Its registered address is 1712 Pioneer Ave, Ste 622, Cheyenne, WY 82001.
Importantly, it has a BBB A+ rating, which pretty much means that this course is credible.
Is Bookkeeper Launch accredited? Unfortunately, it is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
It’s also good to check out the course creator himself: Ben Robinson. Ben is a CPA with no reported shady transactions. Ben’s work history is flawless. Before establishing Bookkeeper Launch, he worked as a senior airman for the US Air Force, then went on to become a tax accountant, CPA exam instructor, chief marketing manager, and senior tax manager for various accounting firms. I believe that with his work history, Ben is credible enough to come up with the BL.
Given that Bookkeeper Launch is highly rated on BBB and was created by a reputable CPA, I believe that BL is a legit course.
However, most of Bookkeeper Launch complaints revolve around the amount of work this course demands. Some people take online courses and ditch them halfway because they didn’t expect the amount of work they needed to put in.
In the end, they claim that such courses were scams. It’s good to assume that BL will demand your equal share of work. You will not get rich with it right away or land your first client after finishing the first unit. It is legit, but you also need to make it work.
Bookkeeper Testimonials: What Do Students Say About BL?
The BL is quite a solid program for anyone looking to start a career in virtual bookkeeping. But to give this Bookkeeper Launch Review more credit, I looked around the interwebs about what students think of this program. Here’s what I’ve found out.
I’ve found this Bookkeeper Launch Reddit thread, and found that people had mixed feelings towards the course. Some say that it’s better to study bookkeeping in a community college, while others say it’s a legit and helpful course.
According to VivariumGo, one of the people who purchased the course, she was happy with BL. She said it’s a great program to launch your bookkeeping career from home because it has solid content and a supportive community. Although there are cheaper courses out there, BL is more comprehensive because it goes beyond the foundations, and helps you set up a full-fledged business.
Belinda Mikel also laid out her thoughts on BL on a forum site called Cash Flow Frog. According to her, BL is a fantastic course for people who are interested in bookkeeping but have zero bookkeeping knowledge. It’s also just as good for people who are already in the bookkeeping business but want to learn more and fill up those knowledge gaps. Overall, Belinda believes that BL is worth the price.
Bookkeeper Launch Student Reviews on Facebook
Apart from gathering information from other websites, I also went straight into the exclusive Facebook group of BL. Unfortunately, this group is only open to students and publishers like me.
I’ve found that Ben has created a huge community of bookkeepers online with over 7,000 members!
I decided to dig deeper to see what the students have to say about BL, and here are some of the recent posts in the group:
I can’t post all the Bookkeeper Launch reviews I’ve read in the BBL community because there are a lot!
But to sum it up, the students are sharing their progress and wins as well as questions inside the community. I can only see really good reviews about BL as well as positive and inspiring posts such as the screenshots I have shown above.
Bookkeeper Launch Review: Is It Worth It?
Bookkeeping is an in-demand job both in the virtual and corporate settings. If you want to become a bookkeeper but don’t have the knowledge or experience, I believe that Bookkeeper Launch is the right course for you!
Bookkeeper Launch sets you up properly for a virtual bookkeeping business that you can run from home. It begins with free intro classes so you get a feel of what bookkeeping looks like, and proceeds with the core contents. It’s amazing how Ben Robinson put together the materials in a logical and organized way. You can take one lesson at a time and at your own pace so you don’t feel overwhelmed. It starts with the foundations, and then moves right to the marketing and business sides of bookkeeping.
I conclude this Bookkeeper Launch review with two thumbs up to the course. It may seem expensive, but it is solid, meaty, and packed with all the information you will need to start an online bookkeeping business. I think the quality, caliber, and reputation of BL are what sets it apart from other bookkeeping courses out there.
Have you purchased the Bookkeeper Business Launch? What do you think of it? Do share in the comments!
Katia Pagan
Good to find you, I live in Puerto Rico too, and I was wondering how to transition from a normal 8 to 5 job to a stay at home mom and wife but keep working. I am searching all over the place about this BBl course to know if its worth it doing this in Puerto Rico, knowing that there is a lot of graduated college accountants out there. I’ve seen a lot positive comments but no one from PR that I know.
Jane
Hi Katia! Thank you for stopping by! Nice to meet you! I was in the same situation as you. It may take some planning at first and some work to build something from the ground up but it is doable. You may just need to dedicate a few extra hours to the work at home job you want to do. I don’t know anyone in PR who has taken BBL yet but that may be an advantage for you. I’d still recommend that you contact BBL and ask if the course will work for you in PR, or take their free classes here–> BBL FREE CLASSES. Hope that helps! Good luck and feel free to contact me if you need anything else 🙂
Meleah Reardon
Thank you for this very comprehensive review. It has convinced me to give it a go. They also offer a 30% discount to military and their spouses, which is great for me
Kara
I purchased the BBL course, and absolutely love it! The course has almost everything I need to know, but if I ever run into a snag, the facebook group is so helpful and there’s always someone that’s available to help me answer my questions. You can also email the BBL company directly and they’ll do everything they can to help you as well. You have to help yourself just as much, but they will never leave you stranded.
Since I started the course last year, I’ve brought on 3 clients, and am bringing in $850 a month, and it’s only going to get better from here 🙂
Jane
Hi Kara! I am glad to hear the course has helped you! Thank you so much for the feedback on the course!