Where To Find Online Bookkeeping Courses

More Formal Bookkeeping Training

You may find that you need more formal bookkeeping training than what CRA offers ... or my site provides. Here is an affordable solution ... in terms of your time AND your money.

Hidden Profit Academy (formerly Best Small Biz Help) no longer offers the excellent, affordable video series called The Solopreneur's Lifeline . You can however find Dawn Fotopulos's book, "Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners."  She focuses on, "Are you making any money?".

Her blog is still available as well. Dawn's blogs talk about actual bookkeeping as opposed to how to read your financial statements. For example her article, "6 Numbers that Drive the Success of Your Small Business" is a good read.

I haven't read her book but did watch her introductory video series. She is an Associate Professor of Business at The King's College and her blog, BestSmallBizHelp.com was award winning. Dawn Fotopulos is an engaging speaker. She knows how to teach and her lectures are not boring!

While exchanging e-mails with Dawn in 2010, she let me know that "we just got named as one of the top ten small business websites by CommuniquePR out of Seattle. We're pretty excited about that ...".

Bookkeeping-Essentials.com was listed as a small biz resource back in 2010. Dawn explained that "we don't list everyone, just for the record. Your niche is important and there are few people really doing the job as you are."

Find out a bit more about Best Small Biz Help in the U.S. section of "The Bookkeeping Resources".

On the Hidden Profit Academy website, Dawn now offers her course Small Business Made Easy. It requires an investment in yourself and your business.

Principles of Accounting.com is not really an online bookkeeping course. It is a bit more formal and more like an online introductory accounting course.

It is a free online textbook that covers financial and managerial accounting. It is very comprehensive and if you take the time to work through it, it would be similar to taking an accounting course at university.

Each chapter has 3 study guides which tests for goal achievement ... fill in the blank ... multiple choice. There are also problems, checklists of key concepts and key terms.

Some chapters have a link to preview the global edition. I'm guessing this would be the textbook revised to reflect IFRS instead of U.S. GAAP ... but I'm not sure as I couldn't find any notes as to what was different about this edition.

Each chapter has a video you can play to hear a free lecture on the topic by the author Larry Walther, Ph.D., CPA, CMA.

You can also download and print the pdf files for your own individual use ... so you can work away from the computer. WOW is all I have to say!!!

Q: What Canadian online bookkeeping courses could you take to improve your bookkeeping training ... and have fun doing it?

A: The bookkeeping industry in Canada is not regulated at this time. Therefore, I have gathered the following information about programs that help to professionalize and increase the quality of bookkeeping in Canada.

While many colleges throughout Canada have bookkeeping diploma programs ... some of which have online bookkeeping course offerings ... I will not be discussing them here.

• A Canadian company, The Knowledge Bureau offers on-line bookkeeping courses towards certification as a Distinguished Financial Advisor (DFA). Graduates of the accredited institution are licensed to use the designation if they maintain a minimum of 12 hours of professional development annually. There are two bookkeeping certification choices:
       ✔ certified bookkeeping specialist; or
       ✔ tax services specialist.
  
  In my opinion, this online bookkeeping program differs from college based programs in that graduates must meet continuing professional development to maintain their licence. Most college programs have no further requirements upon completion of their program.
  
  
• Canadian Institute of Bookkeeping (CIB) program sold its assets to CPB Canada in 2022. Now CPB Canada offers as an academic program partnered with Canadian Community Colleges ... not an association ... and may or may not include online bookkeeping courses.
  
  The diploma results in achieving a non-certified technical or apprentice level status. Visit their website for information on their educational partners.
  
  
• The National Payroll Institute (formerly the Canadian Payroll Association) offers a certification program. You can choose between the Payroll Compliance Practitioner (PCP) or the Certified Payroll Manager (CPM).
  
  They also offer web seminars. This online training provides easy access to continuing your professional education.
  
  The NPI has been representing employers’ payroll interests since 1978, through its mission of payroll leadership through advocacy and education and its values of community, professionalism and authoritative knowledge.