| Most small to medium businesses do not need a full | | | | is not working. |
| time bookkeeper. Most part time bookkeepers that | | | | For Offsite bookkeeping, the bookkeeping firm does |
| these businesses hire generally do not stick around for | | | | the work in their office. This kind of service is also |
| long. These businesses get their work done by a | | | | called virtual bookkeeping service (no it is not a |
| bookkeeping firm. | | | | computer working for you, a real person works on |
| Generally a bookkeeping firm provides two kinds of | | | | your files). Basically, it is like as if your bookkeeper's |
| services, Onsite bookkeeping services and Offsite | | | | office is away from your business location. You will |
| bookkeeping services. This article will explain in detail | | | | have to send your documents like invoices, bills, bank |
| what each of these services are, and what their pros | | | | statements, etc to the bookkeeping firm. |
| and cons are like. | | | | The main advantage of offsite bookkeeping is cost of |
| For onsite bookkeeping, a bookkeeper physically goes | | | | service. It is surprisingly cheaper (as cheap as $50 per |
| to work in the business place. It is somewhat similar to | | | | month) than onsite bookkeeping service. If you cannot |
| the bookkeeper that you hire with some differences. | | | | afford to get a bookkeeper, you should at least get |
| The bookkeeping firm sends a bookkeeper to the | | | | offsite bookkeeping service. With these prices, it is |
| client's office. | | | | almost ridiculous not to do bookkeeping or try to do |
| Onsite bookkeeping service has several advantages. | | | | bookkeeping yourself. |
| The biggest advantage obviously is the money you | | | | Some firms send their express courier service to |
| save by hiring someone only for the days you need. | | | | pickup your documents. If you are a computer savvy, |
| When you have this kind of service, you do not have | | | | you can scan your documents and email or upload to |
| to stick with the same bookkeeper if you think he/she | | | | their website. You can also fax your documents. While |
| is not working well for you. Just call the firm and you | | | | sending large number of invoices, bills and statements |
| can have a different person working for you. When | | | | by email or fax certainly look more time consuming, |
| you find the perfect bookkeeper, you can ask the firm | | | | these methods are good when you only need to send |
| to send the same person to work. You never get to | | | | one or two documents, like a missing invoice, or the |
| do that if you hire a bookkeeper. | | | | bank statement etc. |
| Another benefit is that you do not have to worry | | | | Always confirm what services are included when |
| about employee benefits. You pay directly to the | | | | buying offsite bookkeeping service. Some firm do not |
| bookkeeping firm, so there is no paycheck involved. | | | | provide payroll service or tax remittance service when |
| Accounting and Taxation rules are complex and | | | | you buy the regular offsite bookkeeping service. Some |
| chances are most bookkeepers do not know these | | | | provides you with monthly reports while other firms |
| rules completely. When you get an onsite service, | | | | might just give your annual reports. |
| there are other bookkeepers that your bookkeeper | | | | Another important thing to remember is to make sure |
| can ask questions to. Most of these firms are ready | | | | you know what software your bookkeeping firm uses. |
| on their toes to help them. | | | | Although we all like bookkeepers with several years or |
| There are some disadvantages in onsite bookkeeping | | | | even decades of experiences, they might be using |
| too. Onsite bookkeeping service differs from one | | | | software that is outdated or almost outdated. At the |
| bookkeeping firm to another. Some firms have | | | | time of writing this article, QuickBooks and Simply |
| minimum service purchase requirement. For example, | | | | Accounting are two most popular software that most |
| this might mean that you must get at least certain | | | | bookkeepers are using. |
| number of days per week to be able to get onsite | | | | Finally, Stay away from home based business |
| service. | | | | bookkeepers unless you are absolutely sure about the |
| Since your onsite bookkeeper is not working full-time | | | | quality of their service. They might stop their service |
| for you, you will still need to do some work like | | | | anytime in the future and you might be left with your |
| collecting invoices and bills during when your he or she | | | | business data that is completely unusable. |