Last Updated on April 11, 2023
If you're a young accountant looking for ways to make money on the side, we've got good news: You're in the right place! With your flexible schedule, there is plenty of free time to pursue a side hustle.
Whether you're trying to gain professional skills before graduation or just earn some extra coin to spend on those new headphones you've been eyeing, starting an accounting side hustle is easier (and way more profitable) than ever.
Thanks to your superb problem-solving and analytical expertise, you can likely find a way to turn your hobby into a way to make money. Not only that, but the transferrable skills you’ve gained in your career—from communication to trend forecasting—will help you reach independent success even faster.
So, from making printables to teaching online courses and everything else, here are five great ways to earn some extra cash as a young entrepreneur.
1. Sell Printables
A printable is a digital file (usually an Excel spreadsheet or PDF) you can download and print. Customers simply need to fill in the spaces with their relevant information, and voila! They have a custom-made worksheet (calendar, recipe, grocery list, etc.) ready for use.
As an accountant, you can create and sell printables to help your clients manage their money, plan for retirement, find tax deductions and credits, and more. Your main clientele could consist of small business owners, freelancers, independent contractors, college students needing budgeting guides, and anyone else who's looking to spend/save their income more wisely.
You can even use the same method to create other types of resources: planners, checklists, spreadsheets with formulas, and instructions on using them—whatever you think would be helpful for your target audience.
Thankfully, you're not recreating the Mona Lisa here, so designing printables is pretty straightforward. You can create your materials using Canva, Photoshop, or even Microsoft Word. As for where to sell them, try Etsy, Amazon, or any other marketplace specializing in selling printables.
2. Freelance Writing
Do your classmates always come to you to explain issues related to accounting and finances? Turn that knowledge into profit by getting paid to write about it!
Freelance writing is another easy way to make money, and it's especially useful for young accountants. You can find freelance writing gigs on sites like Upwork and Fiverr. The main people who'll be buying your services are businesses and entrepreneurs who need help writing blog posts, articles, and website content (like landing pages)—so you would want to market yourself as a Content Writer specifically.
Who knows, you might even write blog posts and guides like the helpful ones on Accounting+!
You're free to specialize in any topic you want, but small businesses often need articles written about finance, business practices, and other niche topics your fellow writers might not be knowledgeable in. Also, consider writing blog posts for accountants, bookkeepers, and auditors who are growing their websites and need financial writing expertise.
Not only will this help you stand out, but as you begin earning referrals and positive reviews, it also means you get to charge top dollar for your services! Need we say more?
3. Make a Twitch Channel
Most people might think accountants have no life outside of work, but you can fight this stereotype head-on by proving how fun, engaging, and interesting you are on Twitch.
Since you're free to be as creative as you want on Twitch, the sky is the limit. You can be a gaming streamer, an accountant-themed comedian, or even a motivational speaker who shares tips on saving money and running your business more efficiently.
As for getting paid, Twitch has a partner program that allows you to earn money from your content. How do you reach this level? You'll need to:
- Get at least 50 followers
- Stream at least seven times per month
- Have at least three concurrent viewers per month
- And broadcast a minimum of 500 minutes per month
4. Teach an Online Course on Money Management for Young Adults
Chances are, you're not the only one pursuing an accounting side hustle. In fact, 43% of Gen Z workers freelanced in 2022!
If you want to help your fellow hustlers (and earn extra cash in the process), you can teach an online course on money management for young adults. Ask friends about the financial concepts they’re most interested in learning about, research the latest industry trends, and more to find inspiration for which accounting topics to cover.
Platforms like Skillshare and Udemy can help you get started, and if it interests you long-term, you can even create your own website to host your class.
5. Remote Bookkeeping
As a remote bookkeeper, you'll be helping small businesses and entrepreneurs with their accounting needs. You can work as an independent contractor or through an agency, but either way, you'll need to have solid experience in accounting software like Quickbooks.
If you're interested in starting your own business one day, this is another excellent accounting side hustle to add to your list. By taking the initiative to help other small businesses, you’ll gain more experience with what goes on behind the scenes at various companies and how they handle their operations.
Ready to Start Your Side Hustle? An Accounting Career is Calling!
As you can see, accounting is more than what you’ve been taught.
There are a lot of great side hustles for accountants out there, and this list is just the beginning! Start off by learning the skills that will make you successful in entrepreneurship. Visit Accounting+ to find the resources that will help you on your journey.
