How do I find a good bookkeeper?

Introduction

Finding the right bookkeeper for your business is essential to running it. If you don't have a good relationship with your bookkeeper, you will struggle with everything from getting accurate financial information to paying the right amount of tax. Here are five steps that will help you find a good bookkeeper for your business:

Do your research

Please make sure you are comfortable with the bookkeeper; it's important to have good chemistry with your bookkeeper, who will handle sensitive financial information daily. You should be confident that they have your best interests at heart, so make sure their personality is right for you!

Ask friends and colleagues for recommendations

The best way to find a bookkeeper is by word of mouth, which is why it's important to ask the people you trust about their experiences with bookkeepers. You can ask your friends or colleagues who own small businesses similar to yours; they'll likely have some insight into how you should find a good bookkeeper. If any business owners in your network mention having had bad experiences with their current bookkeeper, that could be an opportunity for you!

Check out the reviews

Reviews are a great way to understand how bookkeepers treat their clients and how they run their businesses. Before you start vetting potential candidates, make sure you've done the following:

Check LinkedIn reviews

If your candidate has been in business for more than two years and has at least 20 connections on LinkedIn, chances are they have some reviews. Check these out to see if former clients have shared positive or negative experiences with the bookkeeper.

Check Facebook and Google+ reviews

The same goes for Facebook and Google+, where people leave public feedback about their business interactions. In addition, your potential candidate may have used their profiles to conduct business (for example, by offering tax preparation services). If so, check those profiles as well!

Check reviews on social media sites

Checking what other people say about your candidate's work can give you an idea of how they perform under pressure and what kind of client experience they offer when things go wrong (and they always do!).

Pick up the phone

It is so easy, and you can get the information you need without leaving your home! All you have to do is pick up your phone and call someone who has been recommended as a good bookkeeper by one of your friends or family members.

You can ask them if they will be able to help with your taxes, what sort of rates they charge for their services, and how much it would cost for them to prepare your taxes this year.

Arrange a meeting

Once you've found a bookkeeper, arrange a meeting in person. You can ask them about their experience and qualifications at this meeting. You may also want to discuss the specific needs of your business—this will help ensure that the bookkeeper is qualified for the job. You should ask these questions first:

How long have you been in business as an accountant or bookkeeper?

Bookkeeping services are essential to any business, but it can be hard to find a good bookkeeper. You could do your own bookkeeping if you have the time and resources. However, since most businesses are already busy with their core business activities, hiring a professional bookkeeper is often the best option.

Conclusion

If you're looking for a bookkeeper, we hope these tips will help. We know that finding the right person for the job can be tricky, but there are plenty of options for small businesses like yours. It all comes down to knowing what kind of support you need and then doing your research so that when you meet with potential candidates, they'll be able to answer all your questions (and hopefully offer some helpful suggestions too).