With a HH, you can learn how to analyze properties & markets, how to find an investor-friendly agent, how to spot value-add opportunities at properties, how to engage in a strong due diligence process, how to screen tenants, how to manage the property, how to build a network of contractors, plumbers, electricians and other pros, how to manage the book keeping of the property, etc., etc., etc. 

How much do you spend in tax preparations, bookkeeping, and preparing financial statements when you first start your business?

Just to stay on topic with the OP, my check might be net profit or just net sales - depends on whose doing the bookkeeping I guess.

I also have them do my social media, executive assistant and small bookkeeping tasks. 

Everything is approved BEFORE it happensBetter for bookkeeping and it stops a tenant from pulling "I fixed the faucet in the bathroom and a screen door so I took $100 off the rent this month...ok?"

They can also aid with bookkeeping and getting batch discounts from vendors.The only other item I think it might be worth considering is if you can dip into small apartment buildings (5 or 6 plexes) from the get go.

I have no affiliation, but there is a wealth of REI resources on there, including a free bookkeeping spreadsheet you can download.

On multifamily it depends on if you are talking about a 10 unit property or a 100.A 100 unit will usually have a full time bookkeeper, tax accountant, and PM company with professional computer generated reports.A 10 unit many times has an owner that self manages, keeps only basic records to keep a property going, doesn't have reports in the right format, etc. 

I do the bookkeeping for all of them.I wanted to buy one more last year, but my mother did not want to incur any debt, so we only bought 1 last year.

They get a great return and I'm happy to make $13k a year for putting the deal together and doing monthly bookkeeping and oversight.