Bookkeepers Hassocks West Sussex (BN6) Area: You are responsible for maintaining "true and fair", accurate accounting and financial records for a minimum of six years, if you operate a small business, are a sole trader or run an online store in Hassocks, as stated by the Companies Act (2006). If you are unable to produce such information, you might be disqualified as a Company Director and face a hefty fine. There's a substantial time investment involved with maintaining such financial recordings yourself, and it can be more cost-effective to employ a professional bookkeeping service or accountant, particularly when you consider the fact that according to the magazine Accounting Today over 40% of small business owners spend 80 plus hours each year doing their bookkeeping activities.
If the thought of writing out ledgers, creating profit, loss and fiscal reports, compiling balance sheets or tracking assets and liabilities brings you feelings of dread, then it's high time to contact a bookkeeper in Hassocks for advice and guidance.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
The very first question many folks ask is "Precisely what is the difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper?" At one time it was often considered to be beneath the skill set, experience and qualifications of an accountant to do bookkeeping, but due to improvements in software over the past ten years, many bookkeeping duties will now be carried out by accounting firms in the Hassocks area. Many accounting firms now charge a set fee for bookkeeping services, to keep them commensurate with what a dedicated bookkeeper in Hassocks would usually charge. This is fantastic news for business owners because it offers a broader range of competition within the marketplace and can make the cost of your bookkeeping cheaper than previously imagined.
When you are thinking about the differences between a bookkeeper and an accountant, the main one is the amount of qualification and training that's required for each discipline. An accountant will, at a minimum, hold a degree in accounting, and will have also had further training in financial and business management, and taxes. Whilst bookkeepers in Hassocks will definitely have an understanding of these procedures, they might not have the qualifications or levels of training and experience in this field.
A BOOKKEEPER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
In the simplest of terms, the bookkeeping process involves the recording of day by day transactions of any business enterprise in Hassocks. This is likely to include, but is by no means limited to;
- Payroll services.
- Billing of customers for goods or work completed.
- Recording of all financial incomings; electronic, cash and card payments included.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Highlighting and rectifying any discrepancies in financial accounts.
- Monthly reconciliation and reporting.
- Ensuring accounting and double-entry bookkeeping practices are followed at all times.
- Logging invoices received and ensuring payment is completed promptly.
If you're willing to carry out most of bookkeeping work yourself; a bookkeeper might only be needed to double check your figures every once in a while. To enable any problems or mistakes to be uncovered and amended quickly, this ought to be done monthly as a bare minimum. This compromise can sometimes be the most economical if it is possible to stay up-to-date with your day to day trading and financial transactions.
Whatever the situation is with your small business, if you're seriously looking to hire a bookkeeper in Hassocks, it's fairly likely that you might be struggling with the process of financial records and tax returns. To facilitate the seamless pull-through of transactional data, a decent bookkeeping company will help you link the latest software to your accounts, and will give advice and guidance on such things as generating expense reports, stocktaking and invoicing.
An especially important element of a good bookkeeper is being able to reconcile cash flow with accounts payable. This means that rather than paying an outstanding bill straight away, or waiting for a final notice, which a lot of small businesses in Hassocks are guilty of at some time or other, your bookkeeper will schedule the payment of bills to a time when your finances are buoyant and in good order. Along with keeping your business or enterprise financially secure, this also keeps you in good stead with your suppliers and service providers. This is one of those juggling acts that can be tricky to perform when you're mainly focussed on the smooth running of your daily business operations.
For your small business, or if you are a sole trader, employing a professional bookkeeper in Hassocks, gives you the opportunity to have an impartial eye cast over your business affairs. Business trends and patterns that might have otherwise gone unnoticed might be pinpointed by this type of unbiased evaluation. It's not at all uncommon for an astute bookkeeper to flag an area where profits are dropping off, or spot a brand new opportunity which could be lucrative. It's important for the growth of any business enterprise in Hassocks, to spot these key performance indicators.
Chasing up a late payment can be a fairly humiliating situation for you, if you send out invoices in your business operations. By having someone outside your business bubble make that telephone call or visit to your customers, some of that apprehension can be eliminated. To help resolve the matter, if you have problems with a persistent late or non-payer, there are legal methods that can be used by a professional bookkeeper, so court proceedings can be avoided.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
The bookkeeping requirements for a sole trader, as laid out by law, are quite uncomplicated and easy to understand. This involves saving all invoices and receipts in relation to the business, and keeping a record of expenditure and income on a month by month basis. While this may sound simple it is still recommended that you retain the services of a competent bookkeeper. Advising you on what bonafide business expenses you're able to claim back, a professional sole trader bookkeeper in Hassocks will look after your dealings with HMRC. This may include items such as computers, advertising expenses, consumables, stationery goods and bills and rent if you work from home. For more comprehensive advice, speak to a trusted bookkeeper, and see how they might help your small business to flourish and grow going forward.
ONLINE TRADERS IN HASSOCKS
There are certain niche areas in bookkeeping where the expertise of a specialist could be required. If exchange rate transfers, international and cross-border taxes, online payments and multi-currency processing are involved, for example if you operate an online store, you'll want to hire a bookkeeper in Hassocks who understands these operations. If that same store sells goods that you hold or produce, then managing your stock on a 24/7 basis is a massive concern, as I'm sure you will appreciate the internet never sleeps, therefore nor should your bookkeeping software or services.
In combination with bookkeeping service, it's also possible to establish a virtual office. This can be valuable in enabling an online only business or sole trader to have a postal address and telephone service to provide a physical link with their client base. Not all bookkeepers in Hassocks will be able to supply this option, but it's worth talking about if it's something that could benefit you.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
It's not mandatory for a qualified Hassocks bookkeeper to have a degree, and a good number of the bookkeeping qualifications are held at Certificate and Diploma level. Although there are a variety of online bookkeeping courses available, qualifications can still be gained via further education colleges and universities, if that is the preferred route.
There are two main training and certification organisations representing bookkeepers:
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB): Offering accreditation to certified bookkeepers, in addition to reference material and training to keep their associated members informed about the latest trends and innovations, the ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is the largest bookkeeping organisation on the planet.
The AAT or Association of Accounting Technicians: The AAT or Association of Accounting Technicians provides advanced qualifications and a training schedule entitling fully certified bookkeepers to use the letters AATQB. They are then allowed to become licensed AAT bookkeepers, which assures their clients a minimum standard of service which is backed up by the association. To safeguard the integrity and values of AAT membership, if a bookkeeper who's affiliated with the AAT has a complaint against them or is found to have broken the code of conduct they will be subject to tribunal and disciplinary procedures.
By viewing the register of AAT or ICB members on their respective websites, you can confirm the accreditations of any bookkeeper in Hassocks. It is wise to implement this check, before you use the services of any local bookkeeper in Hassocks.
Bookkeeping services are available in Hassocks and also in nearby places like: Wivelsfield Green, Pyecombe, Steyning, Burgess Hill, Albourne, Plumpton, Poynings, Sayers Common, Keymer, Clayton, Hurstpierpoint, Plumpton Green, Stanmer, Ditchling, together with these postcode areas: BN6 8BB, BN6 9NL, BN6 8ND, BN6 8HG, BN6 8LH, BN6 8LF, BN6 8PJ, BN6 8YG, BN6 8EA, BN6 8EX. Locally based Hassocks bookkeeper services will likely have the phone code 01273 and the postcode BN6. Checking this will guarantee that you're accessing local bookkeepers. Hassocks sole traders and business owners will be able to utilise these and various other bookkeeping related services.
Sales and Purchase Ledger Management
A bookkeeper overseeing sales and purchase ledgers plays a key role in keeping finances under control. Sales invoices are recorded correctly, payments are applied to the right accounts, and overdue balances are flagged early. Supplier invoices are logged as they arrive, verified, and tracked until payment is complete. Often, this work relies on integration with accounting or invoicing software to streamline processes. This reduces admin time and improves accuracy. Keeping both ledgers current helps businesses understand their cash position clearly. Without this regular oversight, small errors can quietly build up and cause problems later. (Tags: Sales and Purchase Ledger Management Hassocks)
Year-End Tax Return Preparation
Year-end tax return preparation is much easier when a bookkeeper has kept things organised. They'll review the accounts, confirm figures against bank statements, and correct small mistakes that may have built up. Expenses are checked for accuracy and consistency across the year. One important step is reviewing allowable expenses and removing any costs that aren't permitted. This ensures the figures are compliant from the outset. Once everything is reviewed, the bookkeeper prepares clean reports ready for submission or accountant review. This careful preparation helps businesses avoid unnecessary stress and ensures the tax return is based on solid, reliable information. (Tags: Year-End Tax Return Preparation Hassocks)
Bookkeeping Questions

The other weekend I was researching the sorts of questions folks ask regarding bookkeeping in Hassocks. Some of our web visitors have emailed insightful questions that might be relevant to this post. The ones I picked out are, Do bookkeepers do income statements? What qualifactions are needed to become a bookkeeper? What are the benefits of a bookkeeper? When should I outsource bookkeeping? Are accountants bookkeepers? Should a bookkeeper have insurance? How much do bookkeeping services cost? Why do Hassocks businesses need a bookkeeper? Who would a bookkeeper work with? Most of these questions hopefully have been answered on this page, and if some remain unanswered a bookkeeping "Q&A" feature will be included as soon as possible. Thanks to Caleb Richards, Carson Newman, Jakob Hewitt and Lila Davison from Hassocks, for sending in these questions. It was also good to receive contributions from Leilani Norton in Clayton, Jeremy Weaver in Pyecombe and Eden Bedford in Poynings.
Bookkeeping Tasks

Most Hassocks bookkeepers will be prepared to provide you with the following accounting and bookkeeping services: month-end & year-end bookkeeping, personal tax returns, VAT record-keeping & VAT return preparation, off-site bookkeeping, liaising with accountants & tax advisers, small business tax returns, management accounts, producing basic profit & loss reports, charity bookkeeping Hassocks, bookkeeping for societies, accounting and bookkeeping services, franchise bookkeeping, bookkeeping services, landlord bookkeeping, invoice processing, cash flow monitoring & reporting, bookkeeping services for clubs, bookkeeping services for restaurants, management reports, double-entry bookkeeping, preparing balance sheet information for accountants, professional bookkeeping services, bookkeeping services for pubs, tax returns in Hassocks, CIS record-keeping & submissions (for construction businesses), Sage bookkeeping, and more. Listed are just a selection of the duties that are performed by local bookkeepers. Hassocks providers will be delighted to keep you abreast of their entire range of services. If there happen to be some other Hassocks bookkeeper requirements that you want but cannot see here, you can easily list them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We will be in touch with specifics just as soon as we are able.
Bookkeepers in Nearby Areas
Also find: Plumpton bookkeepers, Steyning bookkeepers, Plumpton Green bookkeepers, Hurstpierpoint bookkeepers, Burgess Hill bookkeepers, Wivelsfield Green bookkeepers, Clayton bookkeepers, Ditchling bookkeepers, Pyecombe bookkeepers, Albourne bookkeepers, Keymer bookkeepers, Stanmer bookkeepers, Poynings bookkeepers, Sayers Common bookkeeper and more. Most of these villages and towns are catered for by local bookeepers. Hassocks residents can get pricing for bookkeeping services by going here.
Bookkeeping Services Hassocks
- Bookkeeping Services
- VAT Returns
- Double-Entry Bookkeeping
- Invoice Processing
- Bookkeeping Quotes
- Payroll Services
- Sole Trader Bookkeeping
- Cheap Bookkeeping
- Credit Control
- Self-Assessment Bookkeeping
- Cash Flow Solutions
- Tax Returns
- Wages PAYE and CIS
- Tax Preparation
Bookkeeper Hassocks
Bookkeeping Services Near Hassocks
Bookkeeping HassocksIf you want local Hassocks information look here
Bookkeepers in BN6 area, 01273.
Independent Bookkeepers - Bookkeeping Hassocks - Sole Trader Bookkeepers Hassocks - Bookkeepers Near Me - Sage Bookkeeping - Bookkeeping Services - Double-Entry Bookkeeping - Bookkeeping Quotes - Tax Returns



