Hiring a virtual bookkeeper for your business should take a bit of time. After all, you’re handing over the financials from your business to someone who, while a professional, is still somewhat of a stranger to you. That’s why it is important to ask them questions, just as you would if you were hiring them as an employee.
What steps does a business owner take when hiring a virtual bookkeeper?
There are a few ways to find a bookkeeper for your business. The first is to ask friends and fellow business owners who they use for bookkeeping. If you’re part of a networking group, whether in-person or virtual, ask who they recommend. Neighborhood groups on Facebook and professional groups on LinkedIn may also provide leads.
Ask specific questions about their experience with the bookkeeper, then ask for the contact information or even a personal introduction. Then interview the virtual bookkeeper before hiring them so that you’re both confident your business is a good fit for theirs.
This is especially important if you have complex business expenses and multiple accounts and employees. Not all bookkeepers are the same. Some of us, like KPI Bookkeeping, specialize in working with established businesses and solopreneurs who are interested in knowing their numbers and either don’t have the interest or don’t have the time to do bookkeeping. Others may work with home-based businesses, start-ups, or specific industries.
Since 2007, I’ve worked elbow to elbow with business owners. I understand their concerns, what they have sacrificed, and what is on the line to make their business succeed. This experience has taught me the value of numbers and information. Ignoring the numbers can make or break the business.
What certifications does the bookkeeper have?
There is no gold standard for bookkeepers like there is for CPAs. I’ve earned the Bookkeeper Business Launch Certification of Completion and am a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, both of which are professional certifications for virtual bookkeepers.
How often do we meet?
Being virtual means we have virtual meetings and I have online access to accounts that I need in order to provide reporting to the business owner. I meet monthly with most clients though that can vary depending on client needs.
What happens in a meeting?
During our meetings, we will discuss financial statements, pain points the business is experiencing, budgets, financial goals, workflow, technology options, and more. It’s really a meeting for our clients to share whatever is working and what isn’t so that we can find solutions.
Does the virtual bookkeeper outsource work?
At KPI Bookkeeping, we specialize in providing hands-on, personalized attention to each client. That means we don’t outsource our work. Why does this matter? It matters because you’re sharing confidential financial information about your business with us and we never want to compromise the confidence you’ve placed in us. Our clients are our highest priority.
In our next article, we will be talking about the specifics of the new client onboarding process including what we discuss at our first meeting, what you need to provide us, and how we get started working together.
KPI Bookkeeping in Phoenix is here to guide you through best practices for virtual bookkeeping and understanding what the reports mean for the future of your business. Call us today at 949-373-5534 to get started!
