All businesses need to devote at least a portion of their attention to the topic of accounting. Regardless of the industry niche or service sector, it is vital that you have a strong awareness of your financial standing at all times so that you stay current on obligations to state, local, and federal revenue agencies. As such, there are a number of key reasons why enlisting the help of a qualified bookkeeper makes a great deal of sense.
Understanding Your Finances
There is no substitute to always knowing your company’s financial status at any given point in time, including whether you are generating profits, if you are gaining or losing clients, if you are exceeding your goals, and if you have sufficient reserves to meet all obligations. When you lack this kind of information, your business can quickly spin out of control. You must always have a firm grasp of your inventory situation, whether you need to place orders, whether your suppliers are extending the right kind of credit, and whether you are prepared to cover every type of overhead your business must pay. Without having the right detail on your financial circumstances, you also run the risk of falling out of compliance with regulatory authorities on local, state, and federal levels. The best way to stay on track is to ensure that your books are always updated and entirely accurate. In this way, you can keep tabs on cash flow, negotiate the best rates from suppliers and lenders, and stay on top of all governmental rules and regulations.
Achieving Tax Compliance
Every business must meet obligations imposed by taxing authorities on a regular basis. These duties encompass paying employee withholdings, social security and Medicare taxes, federal income tax, local sales and business taxes, and more. Filings must be timely, and quarterly payments must be promptly made. Inaccurate financial statements and books increase the chances that these duties will be neglected or done in shoddy fashion.
Benefits Of Hiring A Bookkeeper
Professional bookkeepers can reduce the pressure by assuming responsibility over many of the aforementioned functions, letting your focus remain on strengthening the enterprise. Bookkeepers possess the type of experience and know-how needed to conduct oversight over your business finances and keep your tax filings and payments organized and filed.
For businesses with a large amount of vendor payments and customer receivables, an additional clerk may be useful for processing invoices, assisting in collections, and remitting amounts due. Bookkeepers can then assist on a monthly or even a quarterly basis to ensure that all functions are being handled appropriately.
While we have referred to this type of professional as a bookkeeper, if your business is of a certain size or scope, it may be wise to hire an accountant who can keep more formal controls over your enterprise’s financials. Such an individual can also aid in crafting income and asset protection strategies. These may include flexible spending accounts, IRAs and other financial tools that can lower your overall tax liabilities and boost wealth at the same time. Regardless of the actual job title used, savvy business owners understand the innumerable benefits of having a financial professional on their side.
