Hiring a Freelance Bookkeeper vs. Firm

freelance bookkeeper

For many small and medium sized businesses, the decision to outsource bookkeeping can be difficult, as hiring a freelance bookkeeper or a bookkeeping firm cuts into their revenues as an additional cost. On the other hand, having a qualified professional step in and take over bookkeeping gives the management team an opportunity to focus more on how to take their business to the next level. Having spoken with business owners on a daily basis, we understand that the process of choosing a bookkeeping solution can be a difficult and timely process. With so many options available, how do you make a decision on who to work with? How do you decide between a freelancer and a bookkeeping firm? The answer is very dependent on the needs of your business.

Freelance Bookkeepers

Cost

The majority of freelance bookkeepers offer a lower hourly or fixed rate for their services, as they have a lower overhead to run their business when compared to a firm. Freelancers often work from home or at the business’ office to reduce these costs even more, which can help to reduce the monthly bookkeeping fees.

Work Environment

Many freelancers are open to travel and are willing to work from your office. This can be beneficial as they are able to have a better feel of the day-to-day activities and are easily accessible for any questions or last minute tasks. Keep in mind that there may be additional costs when having a bookkeeper work from your office, as you need to provide an office space, along with a computer and other furniture.

Schedules & Deadlines

A well-managed freelancer can schedule their time for each of their clients to ensure deadlines are met and the books are kept up-to-date. With that said, even bookkeepers take vacations or are subject to sickness, which means that the books can go on hold periodically.

It is important to recognize this when choosing a bookkeeping solution, as some businesses need up-to-date information on a weekly/bi-weekly/monthly schedule, whereas others can work within their bookkeeper’s schedule.

Range of Experience

The owner of the business is legally responsible for the accuracy of their books, which means choosing a bookkeeper that has the knowledge and expertise to generate accurate reports is crucial.

With that said, there is a wide range of freelance bookkeepers who offer their services, some of which are very qualified while many are in the beginning stages of their career. When interviewing freelance bookkeepers, it is important to qualify their experience and knowledge, specifically regarding your business and industry.

Bookkeeping Firm

Cost

When choosing a bookkeeping firm, you will notice that the costs can be higher when compared to a freelance bookkeeper. This is for a number of reasons, including a higher overhead for the firm, a guarantee of their services, and access to a larger team that can offer a variety of services where an individual may not be able to.

Work Environment

With the recent increase in cloud-based applications and tools, many bookkeeping firms can work remotely from their office with their clients. Accounting apps such as QuickBooks Online and Xero allow for anytime / anywhere access to your financial information, while document management systems such as LedgerDocs help businesses to easily photograph or scan their documents directly to their bookkeeper.

Schedules & Deadlines

Most bookkeeping firms customize a solution specifically for their clients when they come onboard. For example, each of their bookkeepers would have expertise in a specific industry or field, and would be assigned to the business that is the best fit for their skills. Similarly, many bookkeepers are more comfortable using a variety of apps, whereas some bookkeepers prefer to work more old-fashioned. Having a bookkeeper work with your business who understands your needs and has the experience and knowledge to meet them makes a big difference.

Range of Experience

Many bookkeeping firms have an open concept layout that also helps with off-handed questions that may arise. LedgersOnline, for example, has a range of knowledgeable and experienced accountants and bookkeepers working within the office which allows for any client questions to be answered quickly and correctly. Clients can even call the LedgersOnline Help Line to ask those puzzling financial questions.

Choosing the Right Solution

Choosing a bookkeeper, whether it is a freelancer or a firm, is a long-term relationship and it is important to understand your requirements before you make a decision. When researching your options, keep in mind the future needs of your business, as well as the current requirements, and ensure that the bookkeeper is able to meet your expectations.

Contact us or learn more about our affordable bookkeeping services and see how we can help you with your books regardless of your location with clients across North America.

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