The “right” number of clients for a Bookkeeping Services Buffalo isn’t a fixed number; it’s a highly personal metric that depends entirely on the complexity of the clients and the bookkeeper’s efficiency.
For a full-time, solo bookkeeper, a common range is 15 to 40 clients, with around 20 to 30 often cited as an ideal average for a sustainable, full-time workload.
However, a bookkeeper handling five large, complex clients (high transaction volume, inventory, payroll, etc.) might be busier than one managing 30 very small, straightforward clients (low transaction volume, simple service-based business).
Key Factors That Determine Client Capacity
Instead of focusing on a number, focus on your capacity in hours of work. A good starting point is estimating that a small client requires 5-10 hours per month and a large client requires 20+ hours per month.
Client Size and Complexity
The single biggest factor is the client’s needs. Ask yourself:
Transaction Volume: How many transactions (bank, credit card, payroll) do you need to categorize and reconcile each month? A client with 50 transactions is much easier than one with 5,000.
Services Provided: Are you only doing monthly reconciliations, or are you also handling payroll, accounts payable (A/P), accounts receivable (A/R), and advisory reporting? The more services, the fewer clients you can manage.
Industry Niche: Certain industries (e.g., e-commerce with inventory, construction with job costing) require specialized, time-consuming bookkeeping processes.
Automation and Workflow
Your capacity is directly tied to your efficiency.
Software and Automation: Bookkeepers who heavily use cloud-based software (like QuickBooks Online or Xero), document fetchers (like Dext or Hubdoc), and workflow management tools can handle significantly more clients with less effort. Automation is the key to scalability.
Standardization: If you specialize in one niche (e.g., dental practices) and have a standard workflow for every client, you’ll be much faster than if you serve 10 different industries.
Personal Workload Preference (Part-Time vs. Full-Time)
How many hours do you want to work?
A part-time bookkeeper aiming for a sustainable side income might cap their client list at 5-10 clients.
A full-time bookkeeper with efficient systems and a desire for a high income might aim for 30+ clients.
Export to Sheets
To reach a sustainable full-time workload (and income), you might aim for a mix like: 2 Large Clients, 5 Medium Clients, and 10 Small Clients (Total 17 Clients). This mixture offers both complexity and stability.
Ultimately, the Bookkeeping and Accounting Services Buffalo is to prioritize quality over quantity. It is always better to have fewer profitable clients that you serve excellently than a high volume of demanding, low-margin clients that lead to burnout and poor quality work.
