Choosing a bookkeeper is one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make as a business owner. The right person will save you hours of stress and help you understand your numbers. The wrong one? They\u2019ll cost you time, money, and peace of mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re wondering how to choose the right bookkeeper foryour business, read on. In this article, we\u2019ll break it down step-by-step so you know what to look for in a great bookkeeper and where to look.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Know what you need help with<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Before you can choose a bookkeeper, you\u2019ve got to know what you need from them. Bookkeeping isn\u2019t just data entry,it covers everything from bank reconciliation and invoicing to budgeting and forecasting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Do I just need someone to keep the records tidy?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Or do I want strategic support with financial planning?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 If I had a financial expert at hand in my business, what would I ask them?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Make a list of the tasks you want to hand over, and then think about what you\u2019d really like to know from a financial expert in your business. This will help you choose the right bookkeeper. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Choose someone with the right skills and expertise<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s not all about qualifications. A great bookkeeper combines skills, experience, and expertise. Your bookkeeper is likely to be a business owner themselves, so as well as being able to do a great job of the bookkeeping, they\u2019ll also be able to talk strategically with you about the financial aspects of running yoru business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Look for someone who:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Is qualified with a reputable professional body<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Is licensed and insured \u2013 a licensed bookkeeper needs to follow strict procedures for Anti Money Laundering Regulations and will have professional indemnity insurance <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Understands your accounting software <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Communicates clearly and regularly<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Can explain financial terms in plain English<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 Thinks ahead and brings you solutions<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want someone who\u2019s more than a number-cruncher, your bookkeeper will see every financial working in your business, why not choose a great bookkeeper who will become a trusted advisor for your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. Ask the right questions before you hire<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s tempting to ask, \u201cHow much do you charge?\u201d – but there are more revealing questions to ask first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try these:<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cDo you work with other clients in this industry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cHow regularly will you be in touch with me?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cCan you walk me through how you\u2019d handle catch-up work?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cAre there any opportunities to automate or streamline any of the bookkeeping process we have at the moment?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u2022 \u201cHow do you keep up with changes in the industry?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The right bookkeeper will be able to answer with confidence, and may even raise things you haven\u2019t thought about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Pick someone who keeps learning<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bookkeeping industry changes fast. Regulations shift, software evolves, and best practices move on. Professional bookkeepers are obliged to complete ongoing professional development and as a business owner, you benefit when they do, so make sure you choose somebody who stays up to date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That means they’re not just keeping up, they’re often ahead of the curve \u2013 and learning things that will enhance your business too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Don\u2019t Just Go for the Cheapest<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing the cheapest bookkeeper can cost you more in the long run.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Just like you\u2019d choose the mechanic you trust over the cheapest mechanic, Bookkeepers who charge more often provide more value. They can streamline your processes, help you plan ahead, and free up your time to grow your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So if a quote seems high, ask what\u2019s included. You might be surprised by the return you\u2019ll get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Conclusion: How to Choose a Bookkeeper You Can Rely On<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Choosing a bookkeeper doesn\u2019t have to be a gamble. Take the time to understand what you need, ask the right questions, and choose someone who\u2019s committed to their own development as well as your business\u2019s.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you work with a great bookkeeper, you’re building a foundation for business growth. Choose wisely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Choosing a bookkeeper is one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make as a business owner. The right person will save you hours of stress and help you understand your numbers. The wrong one? They\u2019ll cost you time, money, and peace of mind. If you’re wondering how to choose the right bookkeeper foryour business, read on. In this article, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"","ast-site-content-layout":"default","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","ast-disable-related-posts":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"default","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-opacity":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-blog"],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"melanie","author_link":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/author\/melanie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Choosing a bookkeeper is one of the most important decisions you\u2019ll make as a business owner. The right person will save you hours of stress and help you understand your numbers. The wrong one? They\u2019ll cost you time, money, and peace of mind. If you’re wondering how to choose the right bookkeeper foryour business, read on. In this article,…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=591"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":592,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/591\/revisions\/592"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/msacc.co.uk\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}