| These days' small business owners have a choice of | | | | good the software, most small business owners wear |
| many quality accounting software programs with | | | | many hats and are super time pressured. Bookkeeping |
| numerous undeniable benefits. Accounting software | | | | is a silent need, and doesn't scream loudly when |
| allows a business owner to become more efficient. | | | | ignored. Result? Bookkeeping gets put off; worry builds; |
| They are set up so you don't have to know double | | | | and the end of the year is a game of financial Russian |
| entry bookkeeping; and they can produce valuable | | | | roulette. |
| reports to track your profit and expenses. | | | | What is the solution? |
| While accounting software has many benefits, they still | | | | Rather than you becoming a part-time accountant or |
| don't fulfill the needs of the majority of small business | | | | getting lost in the accounting maze, find an accountant |
| owners. I have worked with many small business | | | | who specializes in small business. Many of these |
| owners who have spent the entire year tracking their | | | | accountants can do your bookkeeping or know |
| books with their accounting software only to find at | | | | someone they trust. They are trained, full-time |
| the end of the year that is was all wrong. Or worse | | | | professionals and can help you keep pulse of your |
| yet, they had been paying a part-time bookkeeper to | | | | businesses' financial health while you spend time |
| do it for them only to learn that the term "bookkeeper" | | | | building revenue rather than wrestling with accounting |
| is loosely defined. Tears have been shed, and rightly | | | | software. |
| so. | | | | Even better some accountants are now offering |
| What's the Problem? | | | | access to online bookkeeping software through a |
| The software itself is not particularly the problem. | | | | secure portal such as you use if you do online banking. |
| There are two real challenges with accounting | | | | This is the best of both worlds. Now you can choose |
| software programs. The first challenge is the training | | | | your accountant on quality of service rather than |
| required to learn the software, and secondly is the | | | | locality. With online accounting you have access to the |
| time needed to actually use the software. | | | | software and a skilled accountant right at your |
| It takes a considerable amount of time to become | | | | fingertips. Your records are hosted on a highly secure |
| proficient with the software, and there are many little | | | | web-server and both you and your accountant have |
| decisions along the way that can steer you down the | | | | instant access. Result? No more financial Russian |
| wrong road without a clear understanding of basic | | | | roulette. You and your accountant have a clear, |
| accounting principles. Not only do you have to be | | | | concise and current picture of your business' finances. |
| trained on the software, but than you must learn the | | | | It is a well known fact that how well your books are |
| basics of small business bookkeeping. Ah! A class at | | | | kept can determine how successful your business will |
| the nearest adult education center! After two days | | | | be. Take control of the bookkeeping nemesis and take |
| and hundreds of dollars later, are most people more | | | | control of your business' future by hiring an accountant |
| able to jump in and handle their business's books on | | | | that is consistently accessible, fully knowledgeable, and |
| the software? Actually no, most are not. The classes | | | | up to date on your business' finances. |
| do show all the wonderful things the software can do, | | | | In conclusion, while accounting software is very |
| whether it applies to your business or not. But in the | | | | powerful, it can be likened to a jet. It can get you |
| end, most folks end up overwhelmed by all the options | | | | places very fast and efficiently but without a trained |
| and walk away not knowing where to start. | | | | pilot with a navigational system, the jet can be |
| The second challenge is the amount of time | | | | ineffective and even worse can be dangerous and |
| accounting and bookkeeping takes. No matter how | | | | you can end up somewhere you didn't plan to go. |