How to Choose a Virtual Bookkeeper for Your Business
When hiring a virtual bookkeeper for your business, you need to know which accounting tasks you want to outsource and which services you might need as your business grows. Most importantly, you need to look around and compare your options based on things like a bookkeeper's fees, the accounting software they use, and how they will work with you on your books.
Step 1: Determine Which Services You Currently Need
First, decide how much of the work you want to do yourself and how much you can easily outsource. For example, if you're a freelancer or sole proprietor, you might need to hire outside help to keep track of the finances while you’re building your business. Hiring a virtual bookkeeper can help with your expense tracking, payroll services, vendor payments and even following up with your clients for payment.
Step 2: Decide Which Services You Might Need in the Future
As your business grows, so will its needs, and you don't want to have to switch bookkeepers. That's why it's important to find a bookkeeper or company that can grow with you.
Step 3: Evaluate Your Prospective Virtual Bookkeepers
Once you know exactly what you need, it's time to do some research and talk to the bookkeeper about the virtual accounting services you're considering. To narrow down your choices, you need to think about important things, such as
Meetings: Some online bookkeepers let you set up meetings once a month, while others let you do it whenever you want. Communication can be as easy as a phone call or as complicated as a one-way video conference where you can share your documents on-screen.
Dedicated bookkeeper: Figure out if you need a dedicated bookkeeper so you can always talk to the same person.
Software: Find out what software your potential bookkeeper uses. Look at the most popular accounting software for small businesses to see which one fits your needs.
Step 4: Preview Your Top Choice, Then Hire
Once you have chosen your top choice, you should use a free trial or demonstration to see how well it fits your business. Some virtual bookkeeping services offer short-term contracts, so if you change your mind, you don't have to worry about losing a lot of money.
How Can a Virtual Bookkeeper Help Your Business?
Most of the time, hiring a virtual bookkeeper is cheaper than hiring a local/on-site bookkeeper. Because they work online, they are usually very tech-savvy and can make changes with very little help from you.