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What is a Virtual Bookkeeper and How Can One Help Your Business?

Hiring a bookkeeper can be a great way to make sure your company's accounting needs are being handled. But you might be surprised to know that the bookkeeper doesn't have to be in-house, at all. Virtual bookkeeping is becoming much more common today, and a virtual bookkeeper could be the perfect choice for your business needs. With so many remote and telecommuting options available today, outsourcing your company's bookkeeping needs is a great way to make things easier.

What is Virtual Bookkeeping?

Virtual bookkeeping is bookkeeping and related accounting services that are handled remotely. With the need for creative staffing, along with changing workloads and requirements, many companies continue to look for options that fit their specific needs. By looking at the costs involved, and the flexibility required, a company can choose a virtual accounting professional with confidence. With the right arrangement, both the bookkeeper and the company can experience big benefits.

A bookkeeper who works virtually may be right down the street from your company, across the country, or the world. As long as they know the local laws and requirements for your particular location, and understand how to provide what you need, they can be a very viable choice. Time zone considerations are important, of course, but there are plenty of ways to work around those concerns. Choosing a virtual bookkeeper gives your company a larger pool of talent to select from, helping keep your business strong.

How Can a Virtual Bookkeeper Help Your Company?

There are a lot of ways your company can benefit from virtual bookkeeping. Cost and flexibility are two of the most valuable opportunities when you choose this kind of accounting option. There are no space or office supply requirements for a virtual accounting professional, so your company isn't paying for that additional overhead. That means your business' costs will be lower, which can improve your bottom line or help you use the money for other work-related needs.

In addition to a lack of overhead, there's another way that virtual bookkeeping can potentially save company money. When you hire someone to work virtually, you can hire them for the amount of time you need them. In other words, your business may not need a bookkeeper on a full-time basis, or there may be times throughout the year that you need them more or less than other times. Companies and virtual bookkeepers generally both enjoy this higher level of flexibility.

What Should You Look for in a Virtual Bookkeeper?

Before you jump in and start seeking out a virtual accounting professional, you want to be clear on what you're looking for. To choose a virtual bookkeeper, consider how that person presents themselves online. You want someone who has an online profile, a website, social media accounts, or other evidence that they have the kind of experience you're looking for. Even if you choose to hire a bookkeeper through a service (which can help you vet bookkeepers more easily), you still want to know about the person.

Ideally, you'll also want to look for a remote bookkeeper who has experience in your particular industry. It's not an absolute requirement, but it can help reduce any learning curve that might come with working with your company. Also keep in mind that a bookkeeper who knows your industry will be more familiar with credits, tax deductions, and the right way to categorize transactions than someone who doesn't have industry experience. That can help you save even more money in the long run.

The kind of software your virtual bookkeeper uses, or what they have good experience with, will matter. If you have company-wide software that you want them to use on their home computer, for example, you'll need to make sure they understand it and are familiar with it, to reduce the chances of mistakes. You can usually onboard someone for virtual bookkeeping faster if they don't need to learn the software your company already uses.

Online reviews won't tell you everything you need to know about a virtual bookkeeper, but they can provide you with some extra insight that can help you make the right choice. If you see that someone you're considering has bad reviews, it's a good idea to take a look at what those reviews say. Also consider the number of reviews, along with their age. If there are a couple of bad reviews from years ago, that's not nearly as much of a concern as a bunch of poor reviews from the last few months.

Ready to Hire a Virtual Bookkeeper Today?

If you're interested in hiring a virtual bookkeeper to help your company operate smoothly, reach out to us today. We are a full-service, virtual, outsourced accounting service provider, and can help you find the right fit for your virtual bookkeeping needs. One of the biggest advantages of choosing a bookkeeper who works virtually is having the opportunity to choose the right person for the job, no matter where they're located. That can provide you with great service, along with more peace of mind.

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