Elevate Your Knowledge: Bookkeeping Training Online Made Easy

Getting the Hang of Bookkeeping

Bookkeeping is all about keeping track of the money coming in and going out of your business. It’s like the heartbeat of your finances. Knowing the basics can help you stay on top of things and make smart choices for your business.

Why Bookkeeping Matters

Bookkeeping is like the unsung hero of your business. It keeps everything in check and helps you avoid nasty surprises. Here’s why it’s a big deal:

• Clear Financial Picture: Good bookkeeping shows you exactly where your money is going and coming from. It’s like having a financial GPS.
• Stay Out of Trouble: Keeping accurate records means you’re less likely to get into hot water with the tax folks.
• Smart Decisions: When you know your numbers, you can make better choices about where to spend, save, or invest.

Want to dive deeper? Check out our article on the value of bookkeeping.

Bookkeeping Basics

To keep your books in order, you need to know a few key things:

• Double-Entry System: This might sound fancy, but it just means every transaction gets recorded twice – once as a debit and once as a credit. It’s like a built-in error checker. Curious? Read more about the double-entry system.
• Chart of Accounts: Think of this as the master list of all the places your money can go. It includes everything from assets and liabilities to income and expenses.
• Financial Statements: These are the big three reports you’ll need to understand:

Financial Statement	What It Does
Balance Sheet	Shows what you own and owe at a specific time.
Income Statement	Tells you if you’re making money or losing it over a period.
Cashflow Statement	Tracks the cash moving in and out, showing how liquid you are.

New to this? Our basic bookkeeping course is a great place to start.

Bookkeeping might seem like a chore, but it’s a skill that pays off big time. With the right training, like our online bookkeeping course, you can handle your finances like a pro. Ready to get started? Check out our online bookkeeping courses and take control of your business’s financial future.

Online Bookkeeping Courses

Looking to up your game in managing cashflows? Online bookkeeping courses are your ticket. Whether you’re a newbie or a seasoned pro, there’s something out there for everyone. Let’s break it down.

Free Bookkeeping Training Options

Who says you need to spend big bucks to learn bookkeeping? Some top-notch organizations offer free courses that cover everything from the basics to advanced concepts. Check these out:

Alison: Alison’s got a bunch of free courses on business accounting, effective bookkeeping, payroll, trial balance, and double-entry accounting. You’ll learn how to record and classify transactions and analyze business performance.

QuickBooks: QuickBooks offers free video tutorials that are gold for both beginners and pros. These step-by-step guides will help you master the software and sharpen your bookkeeping skills.

Harvard Business School Online: Harvard’s got a free e-book on cost-benefit analysis, a must-read for anyone wanting to make smart financial decisions.

Platform	Course	Focus
Alison	Various bookkeeping courses	Business accounting, payroll, trial balance, double-entry accounting
QuickBooks	QuickBooks Video Tutorials	Software navigation, bookkeeping techniques
Harvard Business School Online	Cost-Benefit Analysis e-book	Financial decision making

For more details, check out our guide on online bookkeeping courses.

Paid Bookkeeping Courses

Free courses are great, but if you’re looking for something more in-depth with certifications, paid courses are the way to go.

Coursera: Partnering with top universities, Coursera offers specialized courses that dive deep into bookkeeping and come with a certification. Perfect for those wanting to stand out in the job market.

edX: edX has courses from big names like Harvard and MIT. These cover financial analysis and business performance monitoring. They might cost a bit, but the credentials are worth it.

Udemy: Udemy offers a range of courses from beginner to advanced levels. Learn practical skills like using bookkeeping software, managing payroll, and conducting financial analysis. Plus, you get lifetime access to the materials and a certificate.

Platform	Course	Cost
Coursera	Specialized bookkeeping courses	Varies by course
edX	Bookkeeping and accounting courses	Varies by course
Udemy	Range of bookkeeping courses	Typically $20-$200

Certifications from these courses can give you a leg up in the job market and potentially lead to higher pay. For more on certification and recognition, check out our section on certification and recognition.

Whether you’re aiming to become a self-employed bookkeeper or looking to boost your qualifications for bookkeeping jobs, there’s a course out there for you. Dive in and start learning!

Key Elements of Online Training

Interactive Learning Resources

Interactive learning resources are the bread and butter of effective bookkeeping training online. These tools make learning more engaging and help you remember bookkeeping concepts better. Here are some examples:

• Video Tutorials: Platforms like Alison offer free video tutorials on various bookkeeping topics, from payroll to software usage. These tutorials range from 2 to 15 hours, giving you options for both certificates and diplomas.

• Quizzes and Practice Tests: AccountingCoach provides practice quizzes and FAQs to test your understanding and reinforce what you’ve learned. These self-paced courses are perfect for getting the basics down.

  
  

Platform	Interactive Features	Duration	Cost
Alison	Video Tutorials, Certificates, Diplomas	2 – 15 hours	Free (with ads), Paid
AccountingCoach	Quizzes, FAQs, Crosswords	Self-paced	Free, $99 (PRO), $159 (PRO Plus)
Coursera	Applied Learning Projects, Customer Scenarios	2 months (10 hrs/week)	Paid, Professional Certificate
ACCA (edX)	Quizzes, Self-Assessment	30 – 48 hours	Free, $150/year (certificate)

Certification and Recognition

Getting certified is a big deal for building credibility and boosting your career in bookkeeping. Here are some platforms that offer certification:

• Coursera: Partnering with Intuit, Coursera offers a professional certificate course series in bookkeeping. This includes an Applied Learning Project with real-world customer scenarios and can be completed in about 2 months with 10 hours of coursework per week. You’ll get a bookkeeping certificate when you finish.

• Alison: Alison offers free courses with the option to earn certificates and diplomas. While the courses are free with ads, you can pay to remove ads and get official certifications.

• ACCA (edX): The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants offers an Introduction to Bookkeeping course on edX. This course, which takes 30-48 hours to complete, covers essential bookkeeping topics and includes quizzes for self-assessment. While the course is free, getting a certificate requires becoming an ACCA student, costing around $150 per year.

For more info on starting a career in bookkeeping, check out how to become a bookkeeper UK or explore level 2 bookkeeping course options.

Building a Training Program

Creating a solid training program isn’t rocket science, but it does need a bit of planning to make sure everyone walks away smarter. This section will help you figure out what training is needed and how to keep tabs on its success.

Figuring Out What Training You Need

First things first, you gotta know what training is actually needed. This means looking at who needs training, what kind of training they need, and the best way to deliver it.

Here’s how to break it down:

• Company Goals: Look at what the company is trying to achieve and see how training can help.
• Job Tasks: Identify specific tasks or skills that need improvement.
• Individual Skills: Check out what each employee already knows and where they need help.

Here’s a quick table to keep it simple:

Type of Assessment	Focus Area
Company Goals	Big-picture stuff, overall needs
Job Tasks	Specific tasks, skills needed
Individual Skills	What employees know, what they need to learn

By doing this, you can set clear goals for your training program. These goals should spell out what skills and knowledge employees should gain and what the end results should look like.

Keeping an Eye on Things

Once your training program is up and running, you need to keep an eye on it to make sure it’s working. This means checking in regularly and making tweaks as needed.

Here’s what to do:

• Get Feedback: Ask participants what they think about the training.
• Track Performance: See if employees are getting better at their jobs as they go through the training.

Finally, you need to evaluate the whole program to see if it worked. You can do this by:

• Learning Checks: Use tools like Explorance Metrics that Matter (MTM) to see how effective each part of the training is. MTM gives you key performance indicators (KPIs) and data-driven strategies to measure learning outcomes.
• Outcome Analysis: Compare the results to your original goals to see if the training did its job.

Here’s another table to keep track of key metrics:

Metric	Purpose
Get Feedback	See what participants liked and didn’t like
Track Performance	Measure improvements in skills and performance
Learning Checks	Evaluate each part of the training
Outcome Analysis	Compare results to goals

By keeping tabs on your training program, you can make sure it stays effective and meets your employees’ needs. This not only boosts their skills but also makes the workplace a happier and more productive place. For more info on related topics, check out bookkeeping jobs and online bookkeeping courses.