Tag: the number works

So You’re Looking for the Best Accountant in Hamilton?

Are you looking to grow your Hamilton-based small business?

Well, here’s a little secret… One of the best ways to build your Hamilton, Ontario business and super-charge its growth is to partner with a professional accountant that you can really count on.

No matter what size your business, it’s imperative that you have the ability to accurately track and report all money flowing in and out of your accounts that concern sales, expenses, and salaries. Properly managing your books is not only Ontario and federal law, but it’s also the only way to fully understand how your business operates. This is the information that you need to make informed financial decisions and help your small business succeed. In fact, a lack of proper accounting is one of the most common reasons why a business fails.

And guess what? It’s completely avoidable!

So, how do you choose the right accountant for your Hamilton-based small business?

What’s the Difference Between a Bookkeeper and an Accountant

First, it’s important to understand the difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper. Simply put, a bookkeeper is responsible for keeping all financial transactions organized and systematic, while the job of an accountant is to analyze this financial data and interpret it so that it can be compiled it into a detailed report.

Generally, a bookkeeper works year-round to ensure that all of your financial data is accurate and organized. Then, once tax time rolls around, an accountant uses the bookkeeping information to prepare and file your business’ taxes.

No matter what the size of your Hamilton-based business, chances are that you could benefit from hiring both a bookkeeper and accountant. But why hire two separate people when you can find everything you’re looking for in one firm? Here at The Number Works, I can help you with both.

Finding the Best Accountant in Hamilton, Ontario

To pick the perfect Hamilton accountant and bookkeeper, you’ll need to ask yourself, “What really makes for a great accountant?” Is it their years of experience that matters most? Or is it more than that?

By knowing how to recognize proper credentials, you’ll be able to make better decisions about the kind of accountant you want to partner with. This will allow you to better set specific expectations for the working relationship.

1. They’re On Top of Current Trends in Technology

Today, the accounting world has primarily moved into the digital realm. Cloud-based accounting software is increasingly becoming more and more important for managing your books. No matter which bookkeeping software your business chooses, it’s vital that your bookkeeper knows how to properly use all software functions including bank reconciliations, accounts receivable, and accounts payable.

Here at The Number Works, I’m tech savvy and I’m even a Quickbooks Gold Proadvisor. I know how to set up a perfect workflow that will make your accounting processes as smooth, painless, and informative as possible.

2. They’re Detail Oriented with an Analytical mind

As someone who works with data all day, it’s vital for your bookkeeper to be thorough and pay attention to detail. For instance, when you make a sale, your accountant should accurately track who the customer is and the exact terms of the sale.

An excellent accountant should also be able to analyze your financial transactions and accurately record them in financial statements and reports using generally accepted accounting principles. They should be able to use these numbers to analyze your business in a way that will help you make important decisions and, ultimately, grow your business.

At The Number Works, I pride myself on my eagle eyes! Where it might just look like a maze of numbers to you, I find it so satisfying to dive into the puzzle of your numbers and to leave no stone unturned to balance your books.

3. They Have a Good Knowledge of Ontario Tax Laws

The great thing about working with an accountant who also takes care of your bookkeeping is that they aren’t just familiar with the daily transactions of your business, they’re also expects in Ontario taxes. They know the importance of keeping your books in order throughout the year because they’ll also be the one to sort out the nitty gritty when it comes to your year-end tax filing.

At The Number Works, not only am I a bookkeeper and accountant, but I’m also a profit advisor, and a CPA, CMA. I know Ontario tax laws inside and out and I’ll ensure that your business never misses a potential tax credit.

4. They’re Client-Focused

Beyond a good head for numbers, a great accountant should care about you as their client. They should also understand the industry, sector, and their clients in detail. Your accountant should have an excellent understanding of your business’ goals and requirements so that they know which accounting rules or economic measures will best meet your business’ needs.

My goal is to put you first, taking care of your business numbers to eliminate the the pain from bookkeeping and provide unlimited support to you so you can focus on your passions. This is so important to me and I promise to treat your business with attention, care, and integrity.

5. They Have Impeccable Communication Skills

It’s important that your accountant knows how to clearly translate complicated accounting concepts into crucial insights. After all, if your Hamilton accountant can’t accurately explain their insights to you, then why would you want to hire them? Always look for an accountant who can communicate their ideas in simple, easy to understand language so you can work together to improve your business.

At The Number Works, I promise to take the jargon out of your accounting! I’ll make your accounting smooth and easy to understand and communicate with you every step of the way so there are no surprises or unknowns.

Why The Number Works is Your Best Choice for Accounting in Hamilton, Ontario

The Number Works Professional Corporation is a virtual accounting, and financial coaching firm that helps creative entrepreneurs, like yourself, tell their financial story. Services offered range from full cycle accounting, financial statement analysis, strategic planning, and taxes.

I can be your one-stop shop for the best accounting in Hamilton and the surrounding Southern Ontario area. In fact, I can help you no matter where you are in Ontario, working with your business seamlessly with virtual technology.

By outsourcing your accounting needs to The Number Works, you get all the benefits of competent financial reporting without the hassle of needing to onboard, train, and pay a full-time employee. I have a passion for process, efficiency, simplicity, and helping small businesses succeed.

If you’re looking for an accountant in Hamilton, let’s connect! I’d be happy to have a conversation with you to get to know your business and to see if we’re the right fit to partner with one another to help your business succeed.

Business Plan to turn Passion into Profits

For many business owners, the idea of creating a business plan is either new or overwhelming. With no clear place to start or understanding of its importance, business plans go left unwritten, and your business could be suffering because of it.

A business plan provides a roadmap to get your business running and headed in the direction of growth and profitability. Getting and keeping your business on track.

A business plan is a requirement when looking for investors. You may have a great pitch, but investors want to see the numbers and the logic behind it. A solid business plan will give investors an understanding of what to expect from your company, as well as a good indication of who you are as a creative entrepreneur.

Not looking for any investors to get your business going? You may think you are off the hook for creating a business plan, but you should think again. Writing a business plan solidifies your product offerings, your fees, expenses and projected revenues which allows for the creation of a strong plan to carry you forward. Something that you can hold yourself up to and check in with to make sure you are on track to getting where you wanted to go.

Some key concepts found in good business plans are:

  • A clear purpose which explains why your business is important, which problems do you solve for? Which pain points to you alleviate for your customers?
  • An identification of who your ideal customers are. Have a clear understanding of their pain points, their challenges. An explanation of why your product/services are perfect for them to help alleviate their stresses you have identified.
  • A description of your product/service clearly identifying what you are offering to your customers, and what makes your business unique from competitors.
  • A plan for marketing your brand. What resources will you use to promote your business and what results are expected from your efforts.
  • A sustainable monetization model. How will you make money from your product/services to create a profitable business, what type of key performance indicators do you need to track to monitor your profitability.

Once your business is off the ground, you will need to make sure that you are tracking to your business plan that you spent some much time creating. This is where we can help build the content to craft your financial story, turning your passion into profits.

Benefits of Outsourcing

Unless you are an accountant, you likely didn’t start your own business to crunch numbers and balance your books. In the interest of time, money and quality, outsourcing to an expert can be beneficial.
5 benefits to outsourcing are to:
Reduce Costs – hiring, training and monitoring staff in areas that you aren’t familiar, such as HR or finance, can be costly.  Outsourcing these tasks will reduce your overhead, you only pay for what you use and can ensure it is a qualified professional that you won’t need to train.
Increase Efficiency – by removing the stress of tasks that your business doesn’t specialize in, allows time for you company to focus streamlining your business and doing more with less.
Improve Quality – by focusing all of your resources on the aspects of the company which drive the product for the end user, and outsourcing effectively the areas that you don’t specialize in can lead to an improved quality product or service.
Reduce Risk – with a rapidly changing market and environment of government regulations, technologies, and financial conditions, outsourcing to those that specialize in these areas can help to guide your business decisions to avoid taking unnecessary risks.
Drive Results – by hiring the right company to help with back office tasks that you don’t specialize in,  allows you the time to spend on what you do best, focusing on the core of your business needs.

Focus on what you do the best, and outsource the rest. Contact us to outsource your accounting needs.