Find The Right Bookkeeper

How to find a bookkeeper that fits your business and its needs?

One of the first and most difficult aspects is admitting you need one, and would benefit from it.  Why?  Because companies need to bring in sales which brings in cash.  If you are too busy dealing with day to day entries and billings, when will those quotes go out.  When will you meet with your client?  Get the website updated?  Whatever you need to grow your business on the income side.  Bookkeepers can handle all that day to day, to free you up to do those important things.

How much time do you need a bookkeeper for?  If you are a one man company, and think “it is not that much time, I can do it”,  then outsourcing may be your answer.  Look for a bookkeeping co that specialized in custom hours.  Outsourced or freelance bookkeepers tend to take on those smaller accounts.  Those 2 hour a week positions work fine, for both of you.  Just imagine what you can do in that time, with no payroll, and only paying for what you need.

If you need more than 20 hours a week then you may want to look for a part time on staff person.  Remember that a bookkeeper can do some of those administrative duties as well, mail, phone, filing, mailings.  These things will all free you up to deal with the big picture.

 

• Are they a good fit for you?  Sometimes a very skilled bookkeeper just does not work out.  Take the time to interview each candidate.  Have a discussion of expectation, and get a “feel” for the person.  You will be working with this person as will some of your staff.  Can they get the team together and bring harmony and good workflow?
• How much time have they spent in the field?  Like any profession the more you do it the better you get.
• Do they have errors and omissions insurance?  A true professional will have the correct insurances.
• Are they members of any organizations in their field?  Most professional fields have continuing education and resources.  Such the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers.  A good bookkeeper will keep their education and skills up.

 

Fawn Choate, owner of The Office on The Go, is a Certified QuickBooks Advisor with over 20 years of bookkeeping experience. She specializes is working with small businesses in order to have a proper set of books so their business can be organized and streamlined. Her core belief is that small business owners should spend their time growing their business opposed to being bogged down with mundane day-t0-day tasks. The Office On  The Go is based in Marblehead MA, but her bookkeeping company also serves businesses in Salem MA, Beverly MA, Danvers MA, and Peabody MA.  She can be reached by visiting her website at www.theofficeonthego.com or via email at fawn@theofficeonthego.com.