Abstract: A method for the preparation of fatty acid alkyl esters by transesterification, in particular catalytic transesterification, of a mixture of triglycerides and fatty acids, wherein from a reaction mixture, in which the transesterification is carried out, an ester phase containing fatty acid alkyl esters and a glycerol phase containing fatty acids are formed, which are separated from each other, and the fatty acids are separated from the glycerol phase, whereby a fatty acid phase containing fatty acids is formed, which fatty acids are esterified with an alcohol, which method is characterized in that the fatty acid phase is mixed with a further mixture of triglycerides and fatty acids and the fatty acids contained in the obtained mixture are esterified with an alcohol, whereby an esterification mixture containing triglycerides and fatty acid alkyl esters is obtained, which esterification mixture is transesterified with alcohol so as to form further fatty acid alkyl esters.