Ok you are now convinced you need a bookkeeper, now what do
you do?
Being bookkeepers are not licensed by any state or federal
agency or organization, anyone can say they are a bookkeeper. Accountemps
list five things to consider when hiring a bookkeeper. I have used a few of
these and added a couple of my own. With
both you can’t go wrong!
- First, make sure this is the person’s full time job. This brings some more security that they are just not going to walk away.
- Second, make sure they are insured. They should have both general liability and errors and omissions insurance.
- Third, make sure they have some sort of engagement letter or contract that you sign. This leaves no doubt as to the work to be done and the cost for doing so.
- Fourth, make sure they have either a formal education or training in accounting. A good bookkeeper should be familiar with all the facets of accounting.
- Fifth, ask for references and do you due diligence. Although you may think no one is going to give you a reference that is going to speak poorly of them, you can get a good idea if the person has the same work ethic and business values based on who they give as a reference. Also, check the internet for information on them. Linked in, Facebook, website, Google search can be very insightful.
- Sixth, are they a member of or certified by any professional organizations. For bookkeepers the American Institute of ProfessionalBookkeepers (AIPB) and QuickBooks offer both membership and certification.
- Finally a really good bookkeeper should be able to work with you on your terms and make you feel comfortable. You may not be ready to divulge all your log ins and passwords yet and you may never be. The person you are working with should be okay with that and accommodate and adjust.
So go ahead take that big step in growing your business and
surround yourself with the right people to help you. You and your business will be glad you did.
