How should I choose a bookkeeper for my business?

Staying on top of your finances as a business owner is key for ongoing growth and success.

You need to have confidence that the business is profitable and on a good trajectory, and that any financial obligations are being handled quickly and accurately.

Small business owners may try to juggle bookkeeping responsibilities in addition to their regular duties with growing the business, but often it simply makes more sense to outsource the work to an experienced bookkeeper. This has the benefit of ensuring all the important details are under control — and also gives confidence that you won’t be hit with costly financial penalties from any overlooked details.

But what’s the best way to choose a bookkeeper that is the right fit for your business? It’s a large responsibility and a critical part of your business, so you want to make sure to get it right.

Here are some tips and suggestions we’ve put together to help you qualify and evaluate the options:

Ask about their Past Experience

You’ll want to work together with a bookkeeper that has experience, especially within your industry if at all possible. When the bookkeeper has a firm understanding of the business through dealings with past clients, it helps them to be more proactive in addressing possible opportunities or challenges.

It’s not to say that a less experienced bookkeeper can’t do a great job, but there’s an added confidence from working with a professional who has seen it all before.

Ask about their systems and processes

Some things in life can be improvised on the fly — but bookkeeping is not one of those things!

When it comes to handling something as important as the financial duties of a business, you’ll want to make sure the bookkeeper you’re working with has established systems in place.

Even a small overlooked detail can turn into big penalties, so trust the team that has all the proper checks and balances in place!

Referrals and Reviews

A bookkeeper can describe their services in glowing terms — but reviews from past clients are the most honest representation of what to expect!

Take some time to see how past clients have talked about their experiences and whether or not they would refer the services to a friend. If reviews are overwhelmingly positive, it’s a fair bit to say that it’s a good choice!

Transparency and communication

You’ll want to get clarity in advance about how often to expect your bookkeeper to communicate with you and what insights they will provide on a regular basis. Will you have weekly, biweekly or monthly reports? How often will you meet in person or via video chat?

Clear communication goes a long way in establishing trust — and while there is an adage that “no news is good news”, it’s good to have a little more certainty when dealing with financial matters!

Meet with them (preferably in person)

Lastly, make sure to schedule a meeting to get a sense of your potential bookkeeper’s personality and make sure there is a match. You’re placing a lot of trust in your bookkeeper for the financial obligations of your business, so it’s a good idea to make sure that there is a good rapport and that you can trust them in their role.

Did we forget to mention anything?

Is there anything else that should be added to the list? Feel free to reach out to let us know or to simply get a better understanding of how Tidier Books can help support your business with bookkeeping services. Our team of experts is ready to streamline your finances and give you better control over the bottom line. Simply connect with us today!