Are you curious about what exactly a remote bookkeeper is and what they do? Working remotely is a relatively new way of doing business, but it can be a more productive and successful way, especially in the accounting industry. Maybe this post can give some insight into what a remote bookkeeper does, if it’s a trustworthy industry, and if your business could benefit from hiring a remote bookkeeper.

1. What is a remote bookkeeper and what do they do?

   While an in-house, full-time bookkeeper may cost you more money, a remote bookkeeper can be a less expensive option if you have a smaller business that doesn’t require full-time accounting. A remote bookkeeper will categorize your transactions, reconcile your accounts, and provide financials while using their own equipment at their own place of work. They don’t require training as they are already well equipped with the certifications and training to do the job. Since you would hire them for monthly work, they would get paid as a contractor which puts the tax responsibility on them and not you. The disadvantage that a remote bookkeeper may have is that they are not following your business policies. They will do the work required, but your communications may be limited and their processes are their own as they are not physically or legally a part of your business. It is important to find a remote bookkeeper that will work with you, has good time-management skills, and has good communication skills.

2. What is the liability of hiring a remote bookkeeper?

   Since there is very little to no physical contact, it can be daunting to hire a remote bookkeeper to handle something as important as your finances. When hiring online, you’ll want to make sure that you do your research on each service. It is important to know that a real person is working on your books and not some software that is messing up your accounts. NEVER give out your financial data without talking with someone first! Also, you’ll want to make sure that one individual will be working on your accounts at one time, not multiple different people. In my experience, each bookkeeper keeps the books differently so if multiple people are working on your books at once, things could get messy. Having multiple people taking care of your books can also make communications tough. The bottom line - do your research and make sure their procedures line up with how you like to do business.

3. What are the benefits of a remote bookkeeper?

   As a small business, you can benefit greatly from a remote bookkeeper. Hiring a remote bookkeeper can cut costs (i.e. equipment, employee training, employee taxes, etc) which is probably the biggest benefit a remote bookkeeper has to a small business. Also, by providing monthly financials, a remote bookkeeper can equip a small business with the tools to scale and grow their business.

If you are in the market for a remote bookkeeper, click the button below and let’s chat!