Online Training

by Kendra Clarke
(London, ON)

I am wondering what time (editor's note: I think this is supposed to read "kind") of online training is available for bookkeeping training?

I am new to this field and I am doing the books for a new start up company, any suggestions?




Hello Kendra,

As you probably know, the bookkeeping industry in Canada is currently unregulated, so business owners should choose their bookkeeper carefully.

The Institute of Professional Bookkeepers (IPBC) and the Canadian Bookkeepers Association (CBA) have online directories business owners can search for a qualified professional bookkeeper in their area ... you, as a bookkeeper, may want to consider joining one of the associations.

It is very important when you are performing unsupervised, public bookkeeping (assuming you are self-employed and have not been hired as an employee), not to take on work you are unqualified to do. Poor bookkeeping can ruin a business ... usually this happens after a CRA tax audit ... where the poor bookkeeping finally comes to light.

With that caveat, here is some information you can find on my site that might be useful (but it does not replace the need for ongoing training):

• This article on Just Starting Your Own Business? provides some useful resources like Canada Business.ca .



• Consider if voluntary GST Registration as a tax planning opportunity is appropriate for your circumstances. It allows a start-up company to recover their startup costs and business input tax credits, even though they are under the $30,000 mandatory registration threshold.



• Checkout my article on Online Accounting Training and Tutorials.
  
  In this article, I write about:



• bookkeeping courses for non-accountants (business owners who do their own books);
• U.S. and Canadian bookkeeper certification programs; and
• starting your own bookkeeping business.



• I have also just created a new feature on this site entitled The Bookkeeping Resources - Your Favorites. Readers have a chance to contribute references that are general in nature ... or perhaps for a specialized topic ... or weigh in by reviewing and rating contributions.
  
  Kendra, I hope as you find out information, you take the time to drop back to bookkeeping-essentials and share your newfound knowledge ... because if you are looking for this information ... others will be too! :0)

Good luck with to your start up company!




See you on the next page ... Your tutor Lake :0)