What is meant by 'bookkeeping'?

The National Bookkeepers Association (NBA), www.nationalba.org, defines bookkeeping as the recording of financial transactions. Transactions include sales, purchases, income, and payments by an individual or organization. Bookkeeping is usually performed by a bookkeeper. Bookkeeping should not be confused with accounting. The accounting process is usually performed by an accountant. The accountant creates reports from the recorded financial transactions recorded by the bookkeeper. There are some common methods of bookkeeping such as the Single-entry bookkeeping system and the Double-entry bookkeeping system. But while these systems may be seen as "real" bookkeeping, any process that involves the recording of financial transactions is a bookkeeping process.

Public bookkeeping is the recording of financial transactions for multiple individuals or organizations (clients).

For more information on public bookkeeping, go to www.nacpb.org.