Bookkeeping
A small business bookkeeper may also help with forecasting and budgeting to make sure your business is stable and can handle any future changes or events. This bookkeeper will definitely provide financial reports on a regular basis to keep you up to date.
If a bookkeeper offers other bookkeeping services which including meeting with you one-on-one then it's called outsourced bookkeeping . The best thing about this form of management is the fact that they really do have their finger on the pulse of your entire business.
I'm going to assume that most people reading this post are looking for an individual small business bookkeeper near me, as opposed to bookkeeping services in general. In this instance, I think it's safe to say that the bookkeeping service is going to be a very small company or individual bookkeeper who might not have a larger client base. If you're thinking about this bookkeeping option then I would recommend using a quickbooks bookkeeper near me .
While there are a lot of benefits with a bookkeeping service, there are also some downsides. The main negative being cost-- bookkeepers aren't cheap! That being said, if you plan on running your own business for awhile and don't want to take care of all the business management yourself then it's definitely worth the investment.
Another reason why you should use an outsourced bookkeeping service is because bookkeepers truly care about the success of your bookkeeping and bookkeeper software training.
Personally, I think if you're looking for a bookkeeper, the best way to find one is through traditional bookkeeping services such as quickbooks bookkeeper near me or even some bookkeepers on Craigslist . This way you can get references from people who used their bookkeeping services before. Just make sure it's someone with positive reviews!
Although bookkeepers are very good at bookkeeping, taxes, bookkeeper software training, etc. they might not have the time or knowledge to help you with forecasting and budgeting like an outsourced bookkeeping service would do.
When I started my business I had no clue how much money was coming in or going out of my company. It wasn't until I used Linda Rost's Better Bookkeepers did I find the answer! The quickbooks bookkeeper taught me that it is okay if you don't know important details about your company's financial situation (i.e.: what % of revenue is profit). Because once you get familiar with this information then any changes will also become apparent which will allow you to take action and keep growing your business.
So in summary, when choosing a small business bookkeeper near me or using quickbooks bookkeeper services or other traditional bookkeeping services here's what I recommend:
1) See what people think/say about their bookkeeping service. It doesn't matter if they use an outsourced bookkeeping service , the point is there must be good reviews for them to promote their services - sometimes even on Craigslist . You can also check with your chamber of commerce (or any other associations that might pertain to your chosen profession) and see if they have any recommendations for you. Make sure they're not just bad reviews! If they are then I would steer clear from that particular company since it means they can't communicate properly with others (which means they won't communicate properly with you which will make it harder for them to help your business).
2) Get referrals. If you've used any bookkeeping services before then ask around - do they have a good relationship with their outsourced bookkeeper ? What was the final price? How fast did their bookkeeper complete the job? Were there any hiccups or surprises? Was their quickbooks bookkeeper knowledgeable and easy to work with?
3) Be honest about what you need. Some outsourcing companies offer different levels of plans, depending on your needs. A small business owner might only need monthly financial reports, while someone who's looking for an outsourced bookkeeping service will require more support.
4) Be upfront about your budget and how much time you're willing to spend learning the ins and outs of business management (i.e.: accounting, tax filing, bookkeeping services). Some small business bookkeepers near me offer monthly packages over a year contract where they'll help your business grow through managing payroll taxes , etc. This way you can learn what it's like to have a full-time bookkeeper without actually hiring someone full-time!
5) Start with a weekly financial report . Depending on the size of your company this should be enough for you to get familiar with your Google calendar or whatever other online calendars that might pertain to your company.. Then from there see if there is anything else you need help with and if you actually like the bookkeeper's work .
6) Be flexible. Don't dismiss a potential outsourced bookkeeper because they don't know your industry like the back of their hand - you never know when someone can surprise you with an unexpected solution to a problem! And vice versa, don't dismiss a small business bookkeeper near me for not knowing how to fix accounts receivable issues on QuickBooks - maybe they have knowledge in some other areas that would be beneficial to your company.
7) Get everything in writing. If it's too good to be true then it probably is. How do you expect them to help grow your business if there are no written records of what was discussed? This will also allow both parties to understand expectations.
8) Don't just trust your bookkeeping online software . Even with the best small business accounting software , there are still things that you won't know unless you hire someone to help. If you trust your outsourced bookkeeper then it will be much easier for them to do their jobs well.
If you want to compare different outsourced bookkeepers near me and small business bookkeepers near me , I would suggest visiting their websites (of course!) and read what they have to say. Don't just skim for keywords - actually read through their pages because you can learn a lot about what they're trying to sell you. No contracting business owner is going to put anything on their website that would be detrimental to their sales!
So, if you are looking for some help in getting your QuickBooks sorted out and want to make sure everything is done correctly and on time, a bookkeeper may be a good option for you. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions about our services or would like a quote. Thanks for reading!
