Finding a Great Bookkeeping Partner

accounting paperwork

Thinking of taking your bookkeeping offsite? For most businesses, particularly small businesses, that is a great idea. You will save time and money, sleep easier knowing your financial records are in order, and always have the information needed to make sound business decisions at your fingertips.

There may be a lot of options in your area. Finding the top Cincinnati bookkeeping companies may take a bit of digging, but once you find the right partner, you will be surprised how much easier your life is with that task off your plate. You will be able to give your full attention to running your business.

The Basics

In searching for a local bookkeeping firm, you want to make sure they offer the following:

  1. Income statements
  2. Profit and loss statements
  3. Balance sheets
  4. Tracking of revenue and expenses
  5. Payroll options
  6. Detailed, visual reports upon request
  7. Responsive customer support
  8. Automatic bank statement imports
  9. A choice of monthly or weekly reports
  10. A choice of cash or accrual accounting
  11. Cloud-based accounting software
  12. Tax-season-ready financials
  13. Categorization of all transactions
  14. Data entry
  15. Login access for your CPA
  16. Bookkeepers nearby, not overseas

The Extras

You can be choosy with so many options. You want a bookkeeping service known for:

  • Professionalism
  • Responsiveness
  • Quality
  • Accuracy
  • Reliability
  • Friendliness

So how do you find the right one for you?

First, ask around and look online. Review the options’ websites to see if they offer the services you need. Find out who they serve. Do they work with only large businesses? Or maybe they only work with small businesses? Do you they have clients in your field? Do you know any of their clients?

Pick a few bookkeeping companies and then meet them in person. See if you communicate easily with them, particularly around financial terms. Do they make complex financial issues clear?

Ask for references. Check the references. Ask what they like and don’t like. Ask how much time they are now saving that they used to spend on their bookkeeping. Ask if the bookkeeping company has helped them make important decisions for their business.

Make sure the companies you are considering offer the option of leaving the firm if you are not satisfied with their work after a month or so.