Bookkeepers line up all the small pieces of a company's financial records, and accountants view and arrange those pieces. Accounting often requires more education than becoming a bookkeeper, where most accountants hold undergraduate or graduate degrees or even MBAs in accounting, economics, or finance.

Salaries are typically based on education, certification, years of experience, credentials, industry or employer, job description, location, and complexity of work. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2021, the national average salary for bookkeepers was $45,560 and for accountants was $77,250.

A bookkeeping side hustle offers incredible flexibility. It allows you to balance work with personal life. It also opens opportunities to work with a wide range of clients from different locations.

You can expect to work about 3 hours per week per client on their bookkeeping services. However, the total number of hours you work and the number of clients you need to reach different income levels will depend on the size of the client's business and the monthly retainer you charge them.