Everything You Need to Know About Outsourced Bookkeeping

Figure out which works for your business and start tackling the problems, or potential problems, with your books. Bookkeepers are in charge of maintaining your books closely day in and day out. At Milestone, we can help you with all your bookkeeping and accounting needs and provide a customizable and scalable solution that fits you perfectly.

• Many small business owners outsource their bookkeeping to an accounting firm.
• There is a massive price difference based on complexity, transaction volume, and many other factors.
• The bookkeeper does this on a regular basis to ensure every transaction that has been recorded is precise.
• In this article, we’ll delve into the world of outsourced bookkeeping rates, shedding light on what to expect, factors influencing costs, and the benefits of this strategic financial decision.
• SLC Bookkeeping manages day-to-day back office functions, but we also provide guidance for more complex challenges.

The time you spend pouring over receipts and invoices could be much more valuable doing other things important to your business’s operations. Not to mention, if you want your business to grow and scale, you’ll need to let go of some of these tedious tasks, like balancing the books. Outsourcing may require paying an hourly rate for the professional’s work, or you may decide an agreed-upon set monthly rate for the services. In most cases, working out a set rate is best and makes it easier for your budget. You’ll also have to consider the cost of benefits if you hire a full-time employee to do your bookkeeping. That can mean tens of thousands of dollars in insurance, paid time off, and other employee benefits you’ll have to pay for.

Virtual and outsourced bookkeeping and accounting services are a happy medium between do-it-yourself software and pricey in-house bookkeeping. If that description fits what you’re looking for, one of the nine best virtual bookkeeping providers can save you time, money, and stress. But there’s more than one virtual accounting company in the world, and solutions range from on-demand CFO services to simple pay-by-the-hour book balancing. Below, we review the best virtual and outsourced accounting services for small-business owners like you. Ideally, hire part time bookkeepers when you can do some of the accounting yourself, and could use extra help for employee timesheets, accounts payable, and accounts receivable tracking. Even if you hire a part time bookkeeper, your management would still have to review their work.

Hire a Local Bookkeeper

Don’t worry about financial reporting, payroll taxes, accounting tasks, or offline vs. online bookkeeping. You have made your choice, and now it’s time to enjoy having a dedicated account manager and bookkeeper do the job for you. Essentially, you’ll give a third-party bookkeeper access to important financial information like bank statements, payroll, tax documents, and your accounting software.

• For example, a bookkeeping firm may hire professional bookkeepers with certifications.
• Keeping your books in order and up-to-date is the foundation of the financial strength of your business.
• If you are a client of ours already, you can call or email us at any time if you have a bookkeeping problem, or if you just have a general question.
• According to GrowthForce, outsourcing your bookkeeping will come with a price tag that spans anywhere from $500 to $2,500 per month.
• Bookkeeper.com’s cheapest virtual bookkeeping service starts with bookkeeping basics, like preparing key financial statements.
• Typically, the lower your expenses (and the fewer your accounting needs), the less you’ll be charged.

Professional bookkeeping provides more in-depth financial reports than typical in-office bookkeeping. Because online bookkeeping uses virtual platforms, business owners can see their records anytime, including the cash flow and balance sheet. Did you know the average small business spends over 100 hours per year on administrative tasks like bookkeeping?

How much does outsourced accounting cost?

These functions are essential parts of a business, and it’s vital business owners have this expertise to manage a company properly. Fortunately, there are solutions that companies can turn to, like using in-house bookkeeping or outsourcing their bookkeeping functions. According to GrowthForce, outsourcing your bookkeeping will come with a price tag that spans anywhere from $500 to $2,500 per month. The main factors that will impact the cost are the number and complexity of services needed. That means cost will most likely scale with the size of business and financial accounts, so small businesses will pay less than enterprises for these services. Plus, full-time bookkeepers are experts in the field that can generate more thorough reports and documents that take some pressure off your back once tax season hits.

Weekly, Monthly or Quarterly Flat Fees

FreshBooks is an invoicing and accounting software for small businesses. Business owners who wish to automate their financial tasks can use some of the latest tools on the market. This doesn’t include the benefits that can cost up to 20% of their salary. We’ve created a table providing ranges to give you an idea of what to expect based on revenue (ecommerce) or employees (professional services).

Hiring offshore bookkeepers

Sales, production, and employee retention are all extremely important. And while it may not be the most glamorous topic, bookkeeping also plays a part. The geographical location of your bookkeeper plays a massive role in how expensive the service will be. They are a part of your team and there to help you grow or see-through trying times. 1% of revenue gets you in the right ballpark range as your business approaches $1M in revenue.

Let’s explore some of the factors that go into the costs of bookkeeping. Our bookkeeping team is extremely outdoors oriented, and we like working with people that enjoy nature. We spend our free time skiing, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and rock climbing, just to name a few activities. If you have a passion (does not necessarily need to be outdoors sports) outside of the office, we will most likely work well together. There are several reasons why we work this way, but the major reason is that we hate billing clients just to pick up the phone or respond to an email. When you work with us, we are your bookkeepers and we get the job done.

You can get in touch with professional bookkeepers for virtual bookkeeping through an online account. The virtual bookkeeper downloads your expenses through your online banking records and merchant processor, so there’s no need to send any receipt envelopes. Having a virtual bookkeeper means that someone else does the books on your behalf online. A strong bookkeeping system is of vital importance for any company or organization. There are a few decisions to make when outsourcing bookkeeping—most notably, local vs. virtual and freelancer vs. firm. All options have pros and cons that depend on what you’re looking for from your accounting service.

Bookkeepers do a lot of tedious work, but they can do it a lot more efficiently because they’re professionals. You’ll know the work is accurate, and your numbers will be in balance when your bookkeeper takes care of it. If your freelancer is highly educated and has more certifications, you should expect them to charge more than someone with fewer credentials. Nick Charveron is a licensed tax practitioner, Co-Founder & Partner of Community Tax, LLC. His Enrolled Agent designation is the highest tax credential offered by the U.S Department of Treasury, providing unrestricted practice rights before the IRS.

Which Bookkeeping option is best?

Monthly bookkeeping fees can vary, so make sure to get an accurate estimate from the team or individual before signing on. Both have different rates and services, so doing your research to find the right solution for your business is essential! Let’s jump into the differences between basic bookkeeping and full service bookkeeping— and how to choose the best option for you based on your needs and budget.

Outsourced, virtual bookkeeping can cost as little as $150 per month and as much as $900 (or more) per month. Some companies charge by the number of accounts you need them to manage, while other companies charge based on your company’s monthly expenses. Typically, the lower your expenses (and the fewer your accounting needs), the less you’ll be charged. Bookkeeper360 offers 6 fun brand workshop exercises a pay-as-you-go plan that costs $125 per hour of on-demand bookkeeping support. It’s an ideal plan for businesses that need minimal monthly support, though if you want more than two hours of help a month, you’ll save more money simply going with a service like inDinero or Bench.co. You can calculate the time spent on bookkeeping tasks and translate that into dollars.

How much do bookkeepers charge monthly that work part-time or full-time? The average salary of a full-time bookkeeper in the United States is $44,609, or about $3,717 per month plus benefits. As this is one of the most costly options, it is perhaps best saved for businesses that truly need to have a need for a financial professional on their team.