One of the decisions you have to make early on in your business is whether or not to hire a bookkeeper. Once you decide to take that step the next question is, “Do I choose a small business bookkeeper near me or go remote?”
A bookkeeper ‘near me’
Historically, one of the main reasons that people chose a bookkeeper near them was the convenience. You could schedule in-person meetings or drop off your financial records with your bookkeeper for processing.
The downside was that business owners were always limited to a handful of bookkeepers in their nearby vicinity and you had to drive to their office. It was also more difficult to find someone who had experience with businesses like yours or had a way of doing business that you enjoyed.
Remote small business bookkeeping services
But then came the arrival of cloud accounting software and a rapid adoption of doing business online (mostly thanks to the pandemic).
More and more small businesses are now choosing online bookkeeping services instead of a traditional local bookkeeper or doing it themselves.
Now you can hire a small business bookkeeper who is located anywhere in Canada (or even the world), giving you better options and expertise. These services are often more convenient than ‘near me’ bookkeepers since you can communicate with your bookkeeper 100% online.
With cloud accounting software like Quickbooks you also no longer have to drop off your records at their offices. Everything can be captured, stored and reconciled online.
Benefits of remote small business bookkeeping
From time-saving to better bookkeeping services you can enjoy many benefits when you choose a remote bookkeeper instead of doing it yourself or hiring one near you.
Time Savings
When you choose a remote bookkeeper you no longer have to spend time traveling to their offices. All meetings are virtual and most communications are via email and online platforms. You also save time by using online accounting software that can manage your records more efficiently than paper and file systems.
Flexibility
Both you and your small business bookkeeper can be more flexible. Meet online, whenever it suits you both.
Efficient Communication
Online bookkeepers are accustomed to using email, video conferencing, and online platforms to communicate with clients. Communication with your remote bookkeeper will be more efficient and faster.
Expertise
Bookkeeping can be complex, especially for businesses that have multiple revenue streams or need to manage inventory. Remote bookkeeping services give you access to a bigger pool of talent. These providers offer a range of services, from monthly bookkeeping services to more complex accounting functions like payroll or bookkeeping cleanup services.
Accessibility
Remote bookkeepers use cloud-based software which allows you to access your financial data from anywhere, at any time. You can easily collaborate with your bookkeeper, view financial reports, and make data-driven decisions based on real-time information.
How do you know if you can trust your bookkeeper?
When outsourcing your small business bookkeeping one of the obvious concerns will be trust. Here are a few things to consider.
- Experience: What experience do they have at providing online bookkeeping services and to how many clients?
- Testimonials: Ask for testimonials from past clients to gauge their performance and reliability.
- Transparency: Are they transparent in their work and communication? A business bookkeeper should be open and honest about their processes and provide regular updates and reports.
- Communication: A lot of small business owners change bookkeepers because of a lack of communication. Choose a company that is responsive and available to answer any questions or concerns you may have.
- Trust your instincts: Finally, trust your instincts. If something feels off or if you have doubts, keep looking.
A small business bookkeeping solution, near you
Ruby Business Solutions provides online small business bookkeeping and accounting services all across Canada. Our goal is to simplify, organize and streamline your business operations with our friendly service and online accounting tools.
If you’re looking for a bookkeeper, consider working with us.
Contact us today to find out more about what we offer small businesses like yours.
