Follow Up Marketing Experts Blog: Bookkeeper Marketing

27 Ways to Promote Your Bookkeeping Business - 27-Ways.pdf

http://www.1stratebooks.com/affiliates/27-Ways.pdf

Posted at 10:34 AM in Bookkeeper Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

Top 7 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping Operations | Business 2 Community

The rise of the online community has changed the way in which we do business forever. It has brought us closer to people that can help with our day to day operations as well as backend business needs, enabling our businesses to run smoother and turn more profit. One of the key places that this has really made a difference for business owners is in bookkeeping.

Bookkeeping is much like going to the dentist—no one really wants to take the time out to do it but neglecting the issue can lead to serious repercussions. For the most part, this is why business owners just want to hire someone to do it and not have to think about it themselves until March or April.

Top Seven Advantages youGet from Outsourcing your Bookkeeping

But now, because of that great availability factor that the online world provides, it’s becoming more and more practical for companies to take this one step further. Instead of having in house bookkeeping services or doing it yourself, many businesses are finding the multitude of advantages outsourcing bookkeeping operations has. Here are the top seven benefits you can enjoy as well:

1. More time. Outsourcing your business’s bookkeeping operations frees up valuable time that can be put into bettering the company. Backend office functions can be a heavy distraction from the day-to-day running of things and having your bookkeeping in-house can lead to a conflict of interests. All of these time-wasters and distractions need to go—out of sight, out of mind.

2. Saving money. The bottom line is that by outsourcing your bookkeeping operations, you save money on paying full-time or part-time wages and benefits to an employee. Further, you also save on lost productivity costs that come along with hiring employees onto the payroll. By outsourcing your bookkeeping, you only pay for what you need—nothing more, nothing less.

3. Expertise on your side.Outsourcing gives you a great way to have full-time knowledge on your team without having to pay for it around the clock. By putting your books into the hands of a highly skilled staff who understand the best practices and how to properly staff for certain tasks, your job becomes a whole lot easier—and effective.

4. Focused work staff. By eliminating the distractions of the office from their jobs, places that take bookkeeping jobs are able to provide clients with more focused work. It’s hard for a bookkeeper to do their jobs around the hustle and bustle of a business—removing them from the site by outsourcing not only helps you focus on your business, it helps them focus on your business as well.

5. Team staff versus individual. When you outsource your bookkeeping, you’re placing your financial records in the hands of a staff that thrives on teamwork. Unfortunately, one bookkeeper is often not enough to find every subtle nuance that can benefit your company. But when you outsource, you have a team of workers and managers checking and double checking each other’s work, helping to ensure that you receive the best services possible. This also helps keep a separation of duties i.e. HR and purchasing are as individually accountable as credit services and customer care. When you have your sections running smoothly, they form together to produce a better and more cohesive unit.

6. Access to top systems. Outsourcing your bookkeeping operations gives you more access to the top tools in the industry. Most businesses can’t afford to pay for the extremely expensive bookkeeping programs nor can they afford to spend the time keeping up with changing laws and regulations. By outsourcing, you’re essentially purchasing those tools and that knowledge by proxy, but it’s even better—you don’t have to actually do any of the work! Plus, these top systems create nightly backups and keep organized records and books for years, ensuring that if the IRS ever does come knocking for an audit, you’ll be more than prepared for them.

7. Scalability options. Finally, outsourcing your bookkeeping allows you to expand or cutback in the blink of an eye. Whether you’re looking to grow your business or cut down on spending, having a reliable team at your behest, providing you with different plans and options will help you achieve your goals. Outsourcing provides flexibility that in-house bookkeepers just can’t provide.

Image courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Posted at 10:39 AM in Bookkeeper Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

How to Interview a Bookkeeper | Everyday Life - Global Post

by Nicole Vulcan, Demand Media

Don't reveal any sensitive information, but do have a conversation about the business' financial picture during the interview.

Like any other employee, a bookkeeper should be able to fit in well with the other workers, so that there's open communication between everyone involved. While the interview process doesn't show you everything, it will reveal a lot about the bookkeeper candidates. On top of the usual hiring questions about strengths and weaknesses and the person's availability and drive, ask some basic questions specific to the bookkeeping profession.

Step 1

Make a list of some of the bookkeeping issues you've encountered with your business in the past, such as inconsistencies in billing or payroll problems with wage garnishment. During the interview, tell the candidate that you want to find someone who can handle your special circumstances. Explain the issues you've encountered and ask the candidate how she would handle those issues. The right candidate will have dealt with these things in the past and can provide a detailed answer of the steps necessary to take care of the issues. If not, she should at least know where to go to find a resolution.

Step 2

Ask the bookkeeper about the experience she has with businesses like yours. A bookkeeper who's worked with similar businesses will be the best fit, advises the financial site Samarak.com. Bookkeeping procedures vary from one business type to the next, so it's helpful to find candidates who are familiar with how to keep books in your industry.

Step 3

Ask about the types of bookkeeping software the candidate is familiar with. In the best-case scenario, she will be familiar with the type of software you use so she can dive right into doing your books. She might also have suggestions for an even better program, based on your business' needs.

Step 4

Ask the candidate to take a basic bookkeeping exam, provided by the American Institute of Professional Bookkeepers. This short test will give you an understanding of the accountant's strengths and weaknesses and whether she's competent enough to meet your business' needs.

Posted at 08:22 AM in Bookkeeper Marketing | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

5 Ways to Book the Right Bookkeeper | Idea Cafe Blog

The savvy small business person or entrepreneur should do many things to give their company its best shot to be successful, including booking the right bookkeeper to manage the financial records.