How often do you speak to your accountant?
For some people, their accountant is this borderline-mysterious figure that appears once a year to help with their taxes. You rarely have face-to-face or even telephone contact with them. You simply send off your financial documents and, poof, taxes are done. They’re like a reclusive math wizard that you met on the internet!
As flattering as it is being considered a “wizard,” at The Number Works, we have a slightly different idea about what an accountant and bookkeeper should be to your business. We are a resource that can do much more for you than just your taxes—
although that’s super important.
With our help, you can launch a new business, reduce costs and expenses, set up your accounting software, and get a ton of busywork off your plate. All you need to do is ask!
Startup a Startup!
If you’re an entrepreneur who is looking to build a brand new business from the ground up, getting your financials in order can be one of the most daunting things on your to-do list.
You need much more than just a good idea to start a business. You need to identify your startup costs, plan your operating costs, figure out your business’ legal structure (sole proprietorship, LLC. etc.), and work out the fine details of your business plan.
One of the best things about bringing your accountant into the earliest stages of your business planning is that they’ll be there from the very beginning. As your business grows, your accountant will already know everything about the company. In times of financial difficulty, they’ll be able to help guide you with expert advice. Plus, in the event of an audit or other financial challenges, you can rest assured that your accountant will already have detailed records on hand from the very start.
Set Up Accounting Software
As accountants, we have a love-hate relationship with spreadsheets. It’s just part of the job! But if you’re keeping all of your finances in Microsoft Excel, then you need to get with the times.
Setting you up with online accounting software is another service that accountants can offer in the earliest days of entrepreneurship. It’s also a valuable service at any stage in the life of a business. With cloud-based accounting software, you and your accountant can access your finances from anywhere at any time. With professional features ranging from customized reporting and analysis to rock-solid security, setting your business up with a cloud-based system like QuickBooks Online, Xero, or Wave can be more than a worthwhile investment.
The trick is finding an accountant who can recommend the best platform for your business or one who is already familiar with the program you want to use. That way, they can rapidly import all of your current financial information into the system. All that work could take days if you’re doing it yourself. But if you hire a professional accountant to do it, everything will be ready in no time at all!
Reduce Costs and Expenses
Running a growing business is complicated. There are so many moving pieces that even the business’ owner might not be fully aware of how everything works.
An accountant can help you get a grip on the financial workings of your business, including your incoming cash flow, expenses, and costs. As a professional accountant, they can also identify places where you aren’t spending money optimally, offering you advice as to where you can trim the fat, so to speak.
Get Stuff Off Your Plate
One of the busiest livelihoods out there is that of a small business owner.
While demands can vary depending on the size and type of the company, a small business owner is typically overwhelmed by the amount of work on their plate. Everything, from marketing decisions to customer service to product development, needs to be run through them. It isn’t unusual to have upwards of two dozen non-negotiable items on your to-do list every single day.
That’s why asking your accountant to help with the daily financial headaches of your business can be a massive relief. Rather than having to pour over the numbers, you can instead focus your energies on the things that only you can do as the owner of the business. By outsourcing your financial planning and management to a professional accountant and bookkeeper, you can strike off dozens of those to-do list entries in one fell swoop.
Get the Help You Need
Accountants might be “math wizards,” but we aren’t mindreaders! There are so many other ways that we can help your business grow in addition to your yearly taxes. All you need to do is ask! At The Number Works, we want to do whatever we can to help your business grow. If you have any questions about your business’ finances or how an accountant can help, please feel free to contact us today! Sometimes, all it takes is one question to change everything about your business’ future!