Do I need to register with Valsts ieņēmumu dienests before taking a single client?

Ask Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (SRS) directly whether your specific activity and income level require registration. Explain the nature of the work, expected income and whether you will issue invoices. SRS will tell you the correct registration steps for your case.

Can I accept card payments through Websta and get the money into my bank?

Yes. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe when you use Websta. Check with Stripe support and your bank about payout timing and any required account setup.

Should I charge hourly or per project for bookkeeping?

Both approaches work. Hourly pricing is flexible for advisory work; per-project or package pricing is easier for monthly bookkeeping. Choose the model that matches predictable tasks and makes invoicing simple.

What if a client doesn’t pay on time?

Use written payment terms, send timely invoices, and follow up with reminders. For persistent non-payment, ask SRS or a legal advisor about formal debt-collection steps appropriate in Latvia.

How many clients will I need to replace a full salary?

There is no single answer. Income depends on prices, workload, client retention and costs. Treat growth as gradual: start with a few clients, refine your processes, and scale carefully rather than expecting immediate replacement of a salary.

How to make money as an accountant in Latvia on your own

Updated October 21, 2026

Where paying customers come from

Clients for accounting services in Latvia come from a few predictable places. Neighbours and the local community - small shops, craftspeople and household businesses - often need help with bookkeeping or payroll. Colleagues and former colleagues can refer you; workplaces sometimes allow you to take on extra accounts from inside your industry network. Schools, hobby groups and churches that run small budgets occasionally need periodic bookkeeping. Online search brings private entrepreneurs and small companies who look for local, affordable help. Word of mouth remains important: one careful client who recommends you can lead to others in the same business cluster.

Neighbours and local small businesses
Workplace contacts and colleagues
Freelancers and sole traders found via online search
Community organisations, schools and clubs
Referrals and word of mouth

How to set a first price and talk about money

Decide whether you charge by the hour or per task. Hourly is clearer for advisory or irregular work; per-task pricing is easier for routine packages like monthly bookkeeping. To set an initial price, check what similar listings show, ask peers in accounting groups, and calculate your costs - time, software, taxes and social contributions. Start with a clear scope: what documents you will process, how many transactions, who prepares source documents, and deadlines. Put payment terms in writing: when invoices are due, which method you accept, and whether you charge for late changes. When negotiating, focus on scope and value rather than feelings about fairness.

Decide hourly versus per-task
Calculate your time and costs before setting a price
Write a clear scope and payment terms
Be explicit about revisions and extra work

What the first ten customers usually look like

Your first ten customers are typically a mixed, local bunch rather than large companies. Expect a few family members or friends who want help, a couple of neighbours or small shops, one or two freelancers or traders you find online, perhaps a contact from your main job who outsources part of their bookkeeping, and a community organisation. Many early clients want one-off help with year-end accounts, VAT questions or payroll setup. You should expect varied needs and irregular rhythms in the beginning, rather than steady monthly retainers.

Friends and family referrals
Neighbours and local microbusinesses
Freelancers and sole traders
One-off projects from workplaces or clubs
A few repeat clients for predictable monthly work

What to sort out before taking money

Before charging clients, check registration and tax obligations with the relevant Latvian authorities. Contact Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (SRS) to ask whether you need to register as self-employed or as another legal form, how to issue invoices, and whether VAT registration applies to your situation. Contact the State Social Insurance Agency (Valsts sociālās apdrošināšanas aģentūra - VSAA) to ask about social insurance contributions for the form of work you plan to do. For bank and payment questions, check with your bank about receiving business payouts into a personal or business account and with Stripe support about payouts to Latvian bank accounts. If you hold personal data for clients, ask the Data State Inspectorate what steps are needed for secure handling and any registration obligations.

Ask SRS about business registration, invoicing and VAT
Ask VSAA about social insurance obligations
Check bank rules for receiving business payments
Ask the Data State Inspectorate about personal data handling

What tends to go wrong in the first months

Common early problems are undercharging, unclear scope, late payments, missed deadlines and data-management errors. Undercharging makes it hard to cover taxes and contributions once those are due. Unclear scope causes scope creep - clients add tasks that take more time than you budgeted. Late payments disrupt cash flow; use clear payment terms and consider requesting upfront deposits for larger jobs. Also prepare for occasional software or file-format issues, and keep regular backups. When work grows, avoid taking on more than you can manage without a written agreement or subcontract help.

Underpricing and not covering tax costs
Scope creep from vague agreements
Late payments and cash-flow interruptions
Data or software issues and lack of backups
Taking on too much before systems are ready

How a Websta profile fits into finding clients

A Websta profile gives you a single page to show services, prices, photos, a contact form and online booking. You can send that page to prospects, add it to your email signature, or share it on social media and in local groups. Websta also runs a marketplace where people nearby post tasks and providers can make offers. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe and you set the prices you offer. If you check the platform details, you will see the marketplace settings for accountants listed as {"category":"accountants","country":"Latvia","countryCode":"LV","matrixPath":"/marketplace/finance"}. Remember a profile is a tool - it makes it easier for people to find you and to book, but you still need to reach out and build trust.

One page that looks like a website to send to clients
Services, prices, photos, contact form and online booking
Marketplace where nearby people post tasks
Stripe payouts to your own bank account
You set your prices

Practical first steps

Start small, document everything and learn from each client. Create a basic service list with clear scopes and payment terms. Register or check obligations with SRS and VSAA before you accept recurring paid work. Build a simple Websta profile so you have a professional page to share. Ask early clients for permission to be listed as a reference and to refer you. Keep records, back up client files, and set aside money for taxes and contributions. Expect to iterate your pricing and workflow as you learn.

Decide services and write clear scopes
Check registration and social insurance with authorities
Create a Websta profile and add a booking option
Keep backups and set aside funds for taxes

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to register with Valsts ieņēmumu dienests before taking a single client?: Ask Valsts ieņēmumu dienests (SRS) directly whether your specific activity and income level require registration. Explain the nature of the work, expected income and whether you will issue invoices. SRS will tell you the correct registration steps for your case.
Can I accept card payments through Websta and get the money into my bank?: Yes. Card payments from customers are paid out to your own bank account through Stripe when you use Websta. Check with Stripe support and your bank about payout timing and any required account setup.
Should I charge hourly or per project for bookkeeping?: Both approaches work. Hourly pricing is flexible for advisory work; per-project or package pricing is easier for monthly bookkeeping. Choose the model that matches predictable tasks and makes invoicing simple.
What if a client doesn’t pay on time?: Use written payment terms, send timely invoices, and follow up with reminders. For persistent non-payment, ask SRS or a legal advisor about formal debt-collection steps appropriate in Latvia.
How many clients will I need to replace a full salary?: There is no single answer. Income depends on prices, workload, client retention and costs. Treat growth as gradual: start with a few clients, refine your processes, and scale carefully rather than expecting immediate replacement of a salary.

About the numbers

Counts in this guide were read from the Websta catalogue when the text was written and are refreshed above from the live catalogue. Part of the catalogue was built from the public business register and is marked as such on each profile.

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