Self-taught bookkeepers use a variety of courses, seminars, books, and other online resources to learn about bookkeeping and accounting. You can also learn how to use accounting software, like QuickBooks, which can teach you about the basics of bookkeeping as well as the technology used by many businesses.

To become a bookkeeper, you need a background in accounting and specialized knowledge in payroll and taxation. You can gain this knowledge through a course or on-the-job training in an accounting department or working underneath an experienced bookkeeper. You will also need to gain experience with bookkeeping software.

Intuit, the company that created QuickBooks, offers bookkeeper certifications through Coursera. You can enroll for the Intuit Academy Bookkeeping Professional Certificate to get 65 hours' worth of training and a credential to show for your work.

Yes, a bookkeeping business can be very profitable. In fact, ZipRecruiter reports that the national average income for an independent bookkeeper is $56,100, though some report income as high as $122,000. The cost of doing business is relatively low, mostly related to bookkeeping software, so profit margins are high.