Hiring a local bookkeeping firm is usually a matter of Googling to find which firms are in your area, and then doing your homework to see which ones are the best fit for your business. It’s important to ask if they guarantee a certain level of quality, so the accuracy doesn’t change from person to person. ExperienceĪ firm may employ a range of bookkeepers, from beginners to experts.

You don’t need to worry about your bookkeeper getting sick or leaving on vacation, since your books can be picked up by other other bookkeepers at the firm. Scheduleīecause a firm coordinates the work of multiple employees, it’s unlikely you’ll encounter the same service gaps you might expect from a single freelance bookkeeper. This is worth asking about in your initial meeting. If not, they should be able to refer local accountants. Since some bookkeeping firms also employ accountants, they may be able to handle your tax filing-and other accountant duties-in-house. Other options may include having a someone from the firm come by your business to pick up paperwork, or dropping off paperwork at the firm’s office yourself. On the other hand, it’s a step towards building a paperless office. This may present a learning curve for you. In this case, you’ll need to become acquainted with and use the same bookkeeping services your firm does. With the growing popularity of cloud-based services, many firms work remotely with clients. How much you’re charged will depend-as it does with a freelance bookkeeper-on how much time it takes for someone to do your books, and whether you have catch-up bookkeeping to be completed. Typically, it’s more expensive to hire a firm than a freelance bookkeeper, since firms have higher overhead to cover.Ī bookkeeping firm may charge either an hourly or monthly rate.

If you’re worried about not having someone you can count on everyday, and don’t mind paying a bit more, a bookkeeping firm is a smart choice. Just look for a bookkeeper with high reviews from other customers like you.Ī bookkeeping firm employs multiple bookkeepers under one roof. There are lots of places online to find a quality freelance bookkeeper, but is a good place to start. The books of an ecommerce startup are different from the books of a dentist try to find a bookkeeper who has worked with businesses like your own before, and has experience in your niche. However, expertise is not only measured by years of operation, or by third-party certifications. That’s why it’s important to find a bookkeeper who knows what they’re doing. The effect of incorrect books could range from misinformed business decisions on your part, to misreported taxes (and the resulting IRS penalties) on the part of your business. ExperienceĮven if your bookkeeper is insured against errors and omissions, you-or your business-are on the hook in case of errors. Your bookkeeper may not be able to devote as much attention to your business during this time of year as they normally would.Īsk about these things in advance so there’s no surprises throughout the year. This typically comes at the end of the financial year, when clients’ books need to be “closed” for tax season. One drawback of working with a solo freelancer is they may leave you hanging if they go on vacation or get sick unexpectedly.Īlso, bookkeeping has its busy season. Ask about this during the consultation process, to determine their capacity for helping an accountant file your taxes on time. They may be able to import expenses remotely, cutting out email threads or trips to the office.Ī freelancer may or may not have experience working directly with CPAs. In both cases, if you use dedicated bookkeeping software, you should ensure that your bookkeeper uses the same brand.

If you have a paperless office with digitized documents, you may find you’re comfortable hiring and working with a freelancer online. ProcessĪ local freelance bookkeeper should be able to visit your business in person in order to collect and organize your paperwork. The time a bookkeeper puts into your business is determined by how many transactions you process per month, whether you have employees, and how complex your industry is.Īlso, if you have catch-up bookkeeping for them to complete, that will be an additional, one-time project that they need to handle.Īs you continue working with them, a flat rate may become feasible, and offer the benefit of a predictable bookkeeping expense in your monthly budget. A freelance bookkeeper will charge either an hourly or flat rate. On average, freelance bookkeepers charge lower rates than firms do, since they have less overhead.

A freelance bookkeeper is the most affordable option if your finances are simple, and you’re okay with your bookkeeper not being available for you every single business day.

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