Bookkeepers Golborne Greater Manchester (WA3): As stated by the Companies Act (2006), if you operate an online store, are a sole trader or own a small business in Golborne, you're responsible for maintaining accurate, "true and fair" financial and accounting records for a minimum of 6 years. You might be disqualified as a Company Director and face a fine of thousands of pounds, if you are unable to produce this information. You could perform these financial recordings on your own behalf, although when you consider that according to the magazine Accounting Today over 40% of small business owners spend over eighty hours each year doing their bookkeeping, it can pay you to use a professional bookkeeping company or accountant.
The time has come to contact a bookkeeper in Golborne for guidance and advice, if just the thought of producing balance sheets, filling out ledgers, tracking assets and liabilities or preparing profit, loss and fiscal reports fills you with panic.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
The very first question many people ask is "What exactly is the distinction between an accountant and a bookkeeper?" The truth is that whilst at one time the process of bookkeeping, was regarded as beneath the skill set, qualifications and experience of an accountant, due to software developments over the past decade, most accountancy companies in Golborne will now consider taking on bookkeeping. To keep their bookkeeping services in line with an independent bookkeeper's fee, it is now quite common for accounting firms to charge a flat rate for these services. Business owners in Golborne are now cashing in on this, since it provides a greater variety of competition within the industry and can mean that the cost of bookkeeping is way more manageable than it would previously have been.
It is basically the standard of qualification and training that is needed for each discipline, that demonstrates the big difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper in Golborne. At least a degree in accounting with additional training in the field of taxes and other financial and business management, will typically be held by an accountant. A bookkeeper in Golborne will undoubtedly have an understanding of these fiscal skills, but might not necessarily hold the qualifications or levels of experience and training.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOOKKEEPER
To explain in the simplest of forms possible, bookkeeping involves the logging of day to day fiscal transactions of any business enterprise in Golborne. This can include, but isn't limited to;
- Making sure that accounting and double-entry bookkeeping practices are followed at all times.
- Logging invoices received and making sure that payment is completed on time.
- Highlighting and rectifying any discrepancies in the financial accounts.
- The billing of clients for work completed or goods.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Documenting of all financial incomings; including electronic, cash and card payments.
- Monthly reconciliation and reports.
- Payroll services.
Contingent upon the level of service you require, a bookkeeper might just be needed to double check your records every so often, if you are in a position to do the majority of your own bookkeeping work. As a bare minimum this should be on a monthly basis, to facilitate the rapid identification and correction of any mistakes or problems. Providing that you are confident of staying on top of your monetary transactions without compromising your day by day trading activities, this option can be an extremely cost-effective trade-off.
If you are presently thinking of hiring a bookkeeping company in Golborne, whatever your circumstances, it is a good bet that you could be stressed with your tax and financial procedures. A good bookkeeping service will be able to provide guidance and advice on everything from stocktaking, preparing expense reports and invoicing, to linking your business accounts with the most suitable software application to enable the seamless processing of data.
An especially crucial aspect of a good bookkeeper is the ability to reconcile accounts payable with cash flow. Which means that instead of paying an outstanding bill right away, or waiting on a final notice, which a lot of small businesses in Golborne are guilty of, your bookkeeper will schedule the payment of bills to a time when your accounts are buoyant. Together with keeping your business on a secure financial footing, this also stands you in good stead with service providers and suppliers. Unfortunately, this is just one of those juggling acts that can be hard to perform when you are firmly focussed on the streamlined running of your daily business operation.
For your small business, or if you are a sole trader, employing a professional bookkeeper in Golborne, gives you an opportunity to have an unrelated eye cast over your business. It's entirely possible that a nonpartisan assessment such as this will highlight business patterns and trends that have been missed previously. A scenario where a smart bookkeeper flags up an area of the business where profits are falling, or identifies an opportunity that may be worthwhile, is by no means an uncommon occurrence. For enabling growth in any small business in Golborne, it is important that such KPI's (key performance indicators) are spotted early on.
It can sometimes be quite humiliating to chase up late payments if your company sends out invoices. If that visit to your customer or phone call is made by an independent person from outside your normal business bubble, it's possible for most of that apprehension to be removed. There are legal strategies a bookkeeper can employ, if you are troubled with a repeating late or non-payer, and they can help to resolve the issue before the situation ends up in a claims court proceeding.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
The legal bookkeeping requirements for sole traders, are pretty straightforward and simple. This involves saving all receipts and invoices concerning the business, and tracking income and expenditure on a monthly basis. Now, this doesn't seem too hard does it? Yet, it is still recommended that you hire the services of a bookkeeper to make sure that it is all done properly. Advising you on what genuine business expenses you can claim back, a professional sole trader bookkeeper in Golborne will deal with HMRC on your behalf. This may include bills and rent if working from home, items such as computers, printer ink, advertising and stationery goods. Chat to your local bookkeeper for more in-depth advice and see how they might help your small business to grow.
BOOKKEEPING FOR ONLINE TRADERS IN GOLBORNE
Specialist bookkeepers are often needed for certain niches in bookkeeping. If multi-currency processing, international and cross-border taxes, online payments and exchange rate transfers are involved, for instance if you run a store online, you will need a bookkeeper in Golborne who understands these operations. If you hold or produce the merchandise that you distribute on that shop, then it's going to be a major priority for your bookkeeping services and software to regulate your inventory on a 24 hours a day basis, since the internet doesn't sleep.
In combination with bookkeeping services, a remote virtual office can also be supplied. Providing a physical link with their customers, this allows an online only business or sole trader to have a phone service and postal address. It's worth discussing this possibility if it's required, although not all bookkeepers in Golborne will supply this solution.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
It's not necessary for a certified Golborne bookkeeper to have a university degree, and a good number of the bookkeeping qualifications are held at Certificate or Diploma level. If the preferred route to qualification is through further education colleges and universities, this possibility is still available, although there there's an ever-increasing variety of bookkeeping courses available online.
Representing bookkeepers, there are 2 main certification and training organisations:
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB): Providing certification for qualified bookkeepers, together with reference material and training to ensure their members are current with the latest trends and developments, the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is the largest bookkeeping organisation in the world.
The Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT): Entitled to use the letters AATQB after their name, a certified member of the AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians) will have been provided with a training schedule and advanced qualifications in bookkeeping practice. They then become authorised AAT bookkeepers, approved by this respected association, which promises a high level of service for their customers. If a bookkeeper who is associated with the AAT is found to have broken the code of conduct or has a complaint against them, they can be liable to disciplinary and tribunal procedures to protect the integrity and values of the aat.
The accreditations of any bookkeeper in Golborne can be checked on the register of AAT or ICB members on their respective websites. It is wise to carry out this check, before using the services of any bookkeeper in Golborne.
What Are the Main Advantages of Using a Bookkeeper in Golborne Over an Accountant?
There are a number of benefits to using a bookkeeper as opposed to an accountant, including:
- Accessibility: Bookkeepers are normally more available to provide support and answer questions on a regular basis than an accountant, who might only be available at certain times.
- Customisable Services: Bookkeepers often provide customised services that are tailored to a business's specific needs, whereas accountants might have a more general approach.
- Time Savings: By outsourcing their bookkeeping tasks, small business owners can save time and focus on other areas of their business, for instance sales and marketing.
- Expertise: Bookkeepers often have a more specialised focus on day-to-day financial record-keeping and transaction management, which can make them more effective and efficient in such tasks.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Bookkeeping services are typically more cost-efficient in comparison to accounting services, which makes them a shrewd choice for sole traders, start-ups and small businesses looking to save money.
It is important to note that while bookkeepers offer valuable support, they might not have the same level of qualifications or expertise as an accountant in aspects such tax preparation or financial planning. In these cases, seeking the services of an accountant might be necessary.
Tax Returns
If you are self-employed or have a small business in the UK, you may be required to file a self-assessment tax return. This task can be especially daunting if you are not acquainted with the process. A decent bookkeeper can help you with keeping your records organised and preparing your tax return on time and accurately.
There are several benefits to employing a bookkeeper for your tax returns. Expertise and experience will make certain that they complete your return correctly. This will help you to avoid penalties from HMRC, as well as interest charges. Second, a lot of time and effort can be saved by a bookkeeper. They'll look after the paperwork and calculations, so you can concentrate on the business side of things. Third, Golborne bookkeepers can provide you with essential advice on tax planning and other financial issues. This can help to maximise your profits and minimise your tax liability. (70193)
Bookkeepers Near Golborne
Also find: Hermitage Green bookkeepers, Lowton St Marys bookkeepers, Lane Head bookkeepers, Golborne Dale bookkeepers, Twiss Green bookkeepers, Croft bookkeepers, Lowton bookkeepers, Edge Green bookkeepers, Winwick bookkeepers, Kenyon bookkeepers and more. Pretty much all of these locations are serviced by local bookkeepers. Ensuring such easy access allows both businesses and individuals to readily obtain the financial support they need for effective account management. By clicking here, residents and businesses in the area can obtain price quotes for bookkeeping.
Golborne Bookkeeper Tasks
Most Golborne bookkeepers will be able to provide you with the following accounting and bookkeeping services: bookkeeping estimates, bookkeeping for home-based businesses, bank reconciliation Golborne, general bookkeeping services, company cash books, bookkeeping for tradesmen Golborne, charity bookkeeping Golborne, corporation tax returns, bookkeeping for freelancers, off-site bookkeeping Golborne, bookkeeping for sole traders, credit control in Golborne, mobile bookkeeping services, bookkeeping services for clubs Golborne, small business tax returns, tax return preparation, bookkeeping for payroll, accounting and bookkeeping in Golborne, personal tax returns, bookkeeping for organisations, business bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, bookkeeping services Golborne, assistance with registering for self-employment in Golborne, bookkeeping services for limited companies, invoice processing, franchise bookkeeping, cheap bookkeeping services, profit & loss reports Golborne, bookkeeping and accounting services, and more. These are just a selection of the duties that are accomplished by local bookkeepers. Golborne providers will be happy to inform you of their entire range of services. If there are different Golborne bookkeeper requirements that you want but cannot see here, you can mention them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We'll be in touch with information just as soon as we are able.
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