Great bookkeeping plays a critical role in the success of every business. But not all bookkeepers are the same. Inaccuracies caused by poor bookkeeping can have serious tax ramifications and put you at a disadvantage by not having the data you need to make important business decisions.
When looking for a bookkeeper for your business, it's important that you know what questions to ask. This article examines the benefits of good bookkeeping and makes recommendations for finding the best bookkeeper who suits your unique business needs.
What a bookkeeper can provide for your business
Bookkeepers record a business’s financial transactions and might also perform day-to-day tasks such as recording sales and invoices, paying bills, and processing payroll.
While recording transactions is the first thing that comes to mind when envisioning bookkeeping, a bookkeeper can provide much more value to your business.
How to Know if You’re Ready to Hire a Bookkeeper
The chances are that you’re wondering if you need a bookkeeper. Here are some guidelines to consider when deciding whether it’s time to start the bookkeeper hiring process.
10 interview questions to ask when looking for a bookkeeper
It’s important to have bookkeeper interview questions ready for prospects to help you pick the one who’s the best fit for your business. Here are some questions to consider asking during your bookkeeper interview process:
- Describe your work experience. Why did you decide to become a bookkeeper? When did you decide that being a bookkeeper was the right career path for you?
- Tell me about your industry certifications and accreditations. Do you have any experience with my business’s industry?
- Can you provide me with any testimonials, references, or case studies from previous clients or employers?
- How do you approach working with a business for the first time? How would you familiarize yourself with my business? Do you need access to spreadsheets or tax returns?
- Do you prefer working remotely or on-site when performing bookkeeping services?
- What's your approach to time management, and what is your typical response time to follow up on client emails and phone messages?
- Some bookkeepers are generalists, while others are specialists. Which of these would you consider yourself to be?
- Do you provide an engagement letter that clearly outlines what services you will be performing for my business?
- What security practices do you follow to make sure my confidential information and financial data remain secure?
- What is your fee rate? Do you prefer to work by the hour or charge a flat fee?
Traits of an experienced bookkeeper
These are the top traits you’ll want to make sure that your bookkeeper possesses.
You can look for these traits and use these other great suggestions for finding a bookkeeper for your business.
A good bookkeeper can help your business grow and thrive
Finding the right bookkeeper can help your business grow, and hiring the wrong bookkeeper can result in a major setback. You need a problem-solving bookkeeper who is a detail-oriented expert in handling your financial records, income statements, bank statements, cash flow, and more. You need the bookkeeping services from 1-800Accountant, America’s leading virtual accounting firm for small businesses.
Whether it's bookkeeping, payroll, tax advisory, or any of our professional accounting services, we have the affordable pricing solutions you need to help your business stay compliant with an experienced bookkeeper familiar with your state and industry. Schedule a quick consultation – usually 30 minutes or less – to learn more.
This post is to be used for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, business, or tax advice. Each person should consult his or her own attorney, business advisor, or tax advisor with respect to matters referenced in this post. 1-800Accountant assumes no liability for actions taken in reliance upon the information contained herein.