How I Made Over $4,000 Last Month as a Work-From-Home Mom
I'm sitting here at 9:47 AM on a Monday,
still in my pajamas, watching my youngest build a fort out of couch cushions while I finish up a client's monthly reconciliation. This is the life I dreamed of when I started my bookkeeping journey three years ago – and last month, I hit a milestone that still feels surreal.
I made $4,438 of recurring revenue in May working just 61.75 hours total – that's only 15.5 hours per week.
When people ask me how it's possible to make a full-time income working part-time hours, I used to just shrug and say "bookkeeping magic." But today, I'm pulling back the curtain and showing you exactly how I did it, because I want every mom reading this to know it's absolutely possible.
The Complete Breakdown: Where Every Dollar Came From
Let me be completely transparent about my income streams last month:
Monthly retainer client: $450
Working under a mentor bookkeeper: $1,120.50
My own client work: $2,087.50
Teaching Microsoft Excel class: $780
Total: $4,438.00
Now, due to us being in the thick of tax season- and the fact that I specialize in small business bookkeeping I was very busy and picked up some additional work. That is not a standard every month. The deadline in Canada for Sole Proprietors is June 15th.
My actual Gross Income for May 2025 was:
I don't necessarily want to brag about this value, because it did mean extra late nights and early mornings. I had the opportunity to pick up more work - so I did. I don't want to work as much as I did in May, so I will stick to my $4438 figure which is more of what I have been striving for.
Before you think this happened overnight, let me be clear – it took me almost three years to get to this point. Three years of learning, growing, making mistakes, and slowly building my skills, network, and client base.
Breaking Down Each Income Stream
The Monthly Retainer Client ($450)
This is my "set it and forget it" client. A small non-profit that needs basic monthly bookkeeping – bank reconciliations, categorizing transactions, and preparing financial statements. It takes me about 10 hours per month, and they pay me $450 like clockwork.
Why this works: Consistent, predictable income that I can count on every month.
Working Under a Mentor ($1,120.50)
This is probably the part of my income that surprises people most. I still work as a subcontractor for the bookkeeper who trained me. She sends me overflow work from her established client base, and I handle it at my own pace.
Why this works: I get higher-level experience without the pressure of finding these clients myself. It's like having training wheels while I build my own business.
My Own Client Work ($2,087.50)
These are the clients I've found and manage completely on my own. Last month included:
A Real Estate Investment company (monthly bookkeeping)
A local Taxi Service (monthly invoicing & bi-monthly payroll)
2024 Year End Bookkeeping for a local Restaurant
Q1 books for a small home based business (with GST/HST submission)
Why this works: Higher rates because I'm the primary contact, and I can choose clients that fit my schedule and working style.
Teaching Excel ($780)
I taught an introductory workshop for Microsoft Excel for anyone looking to learn the program through our local adult learning centre. Two hours on Thursday each week for 5 weeks in May, $150 per session They paid me $750 total plus $30 vacation pay (I never asked for the vacation pay - it is just in their policy to pay it out to their contracted instructors).
Why this works: It positions me as an expert, generates referrals, and uses skills I already have.
I have taught my bookkeeping basics course at this learning centre 3x now, teaching over 40 students how to do bookkeeping. Watching them gain the confidence to move into this field of work has been so fulfilling.
The Real Numbers: What 15.5 Hours Per Week Actually Looks Like
During the month of May I did have daycare 2 days per week to help me achieve this goal of getting not just my regular workload done, but additional work too. Where I live we don't have any family within 1200kms. Not having grandma or auntie to rely on when we are in a pinch to help us look after the kids is really really hard. Thankfully we have found an amazing network in our 3 years of being here that helps us out with play dates from time to time.
I kept this daycare connection just 2 days a week for the first half of 2025 to ensure I would be able to get through tax season.
Some weeks I work more, some less. Some days I work early morning before kids wake up. Other days I work after bedtime. And yes, sometimes I work Saturday morning while my husband takes the kids to soccer practice, or the park.
But here's what I don't do: I don't miss school plays. I don't ask anyone to watch my kids. I don't stress about calling in sick when someone has a fever.
The Three-Year Journey: How I Got Here
Year 1: Learning and Earning $500-800/month
Took an online bookkeeping course
Started with one small client
Made every mistake in the book (literally)
Year 2: Building and Earning $1,500-2,500/month
Moved across the country & found a mentor in my new town.
Raised my rates (scary but necessary)
Started specializing in small contractors and farms.
Learned how to use Sage 50 and Sage Cloud software
Year 3: Scaling and Earning $3,000-4,500/month
Started building my own client base
Raised rates again
Added the Bookkeeping & Excel teaching
Only take clients that fit my ideal profile (mostly ones that are flexible with me working exclusively from home or bringing my kiddo with me to the office if necessary)
What Makes This Field Perfect for Moms
1. Flexible deadlines: Most bookkeeping work has monthly deadlines, not daily urgency.
2. Scalable income: You can literally work more when you need more money, less when you want more family time.
3. Recession-proof: Businesses always need their books done, especially during tough times.
4. Work-from-anywhere: All I need is my laptop and internet connection.
5. Builds on skills you already have: If you can balance a chequebook and use a computer, you can learn this.
The Reality Check: It's Not Always Easy
Let me be honest about the challenges:
Some months are slower (December was only $2,800)
Client communication can be tricky around family schedules
You need to be disciplined about working when you say you will
The learning curve is real – bookkeeping has rules and regulations
You're responsible for your own taxes and business expenses
But even with these challenges, I wouldn't trade this flexibility for anything.
If You're Thinking About Starting...
The question isn't whether you can make good money in bookkeeping as a work-from-home mom. The question is whether you're willing to invest the time upfront to learn the skills that will give you this freedom later.
Three years ago, I was spending more on daycare than I was making at my part-time. I felt trapped between wanting to contribute financially and wanting to be present for my kids.
Today, I'm writing this blog post while my 4-year-old plays lego's next to me, and I just scheduled a call with a potential new client for during tomorrow's quiet time.
This is the life I wanted, and if you're reading this feeling that same tension I felt three years ago, I want you to know it's absolutely possible.
Your turn: What's keeping you from taking the first step toward this kind of flexibility? Drop a comment below – I read every single one and love hearing from fellow moms navigating this journey.
Ready to learn the skills that could change your family's financial future? Check out my comprehensive bookkeeping course designed specifically for busy moms who want flexibility without sacrificing income.
