Bookkeepers Laindon Essex (SS15): You are entirely responsible for maintaining accurate, "true and fair" accounting and financial records for at least six years, if you own a small business, run an online store or are a sole trader in Laindon, in compliance with the Companies Act. Failing to produce these detailed records may leave you facing Company Director disqualification, together with a fine of thousands of pounds. Accounting Today magazine reports that over 40% of small businesses spend over eighty hours per year doing their accounts, so while you can complete these financial records on your own behalf, it can be more economical to use a professional accountant or bookkeeper to do them instead.
The time has come to get in touch with a bookkeeper in Laindon for assistance, if you are filled with terror just thinking about writing out ledgers, tracking liabilities and assets, creating profit, loss and fiscal reports or producing balance sheets.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
Exactly what is the distinction between a bookkeeper and an accountant is the first question that many small business owners in Laindon ask. In the past it was frequently deemed to be beneath the experience, skill set and qualifications of an accountant to do the work of a bookkeper, however because of improvements in software over the past decade or so, many bookkeeping tasks will now be carried out by accounting firms in Laindon. It's currently quite common for many accounting companies to charge a set rate for bookkeeping services in keeping with a typical bookkeeper's fee. This makes the cost of bookkeeping cheaper than it was previously, and is excellent news for small business owners in Laindon as it gives a greater variety of competition within the marketplace.
When you are considering the differences between a bookkeeper and an accountant in Laindon, the most notable one is the amount of qualification and training that's needed for each discipline. Normally holding an accounting degree, a professional accountant should also have had further training in tax essentials and have qualifications in financial and business management. While bookkeepers in Laindon will invariably have a decent understanding of such disciplines, they may not necessarily have the qualifications or levels of experience and training in this field.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOOKKEEPER IN LAINDON
The recording of daily financial transactions of any business in Laindon, describes the act of bookkeeping in the simplest of terms. This could include, but is not limited to;
- Payroll services.
- Ensuring accounting and double-entry bookkeeping practices are followed.
- Recording of all financial incomings; card, cash and electronic payments included.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Highlighting and rectifying any discrepancies in the financial accounts.
- Billing of customers for goods or work completed.
- Monthly reconciliations and reporting.
- Recording the receipt of invoices and making sure payment is completed punctually.
In accordance with service level you are looking for, e.g. you are prepared to undertake the larger part of bookkeeping work; a professional bookkeeper might only be needed to double check your accounts on a set schedule. This ought to be monthly as a bare minimum, as this will allow any problems or mistakes to be found and amended swiftly. This may be an extremely cost-effective trade-off, providing it's possible to stay on top of your financial transactions without impacting on your day by day business operations.
Whatever your current situation is, if you are looking at hiring a bookkeeper in Laindon, it is a good bet that you may be stressed with the financial recording aspects of your small business. A good bookkeeping service will be able to provide advice on everything from creating expense reports, stocktaking and invoicing, to linking the most suitable software application with your accounts to enable the seamless processing of data.
The reconciliation of cash flow with accounts payable is one of the most crucial elements of a good bookkeeping service. This means that rather than paying an outstanding bill right away, or waiting on a final notice, which a lot of small businesses in Laindon are guilty of doing, your bookkeeper will organise bill payments to times when your accounts are buoyant and in good order. This doesn't just keep you in the good books of suppliers and the businesses who supply you with services, but also makes certain that your enterprise or business is financially secure. When, as an individual, you are completely focussed on running your business, this can be a balancing act that is challenging to accomplish.
Using a qualified bookkeeper in Laindon, if you're a sole trader, or for your small business also gives them the opportunity to cast an unrelated eye over your business. Business patterns and trends that might have gone unnoticed might be pinpointed by this type of dispassionate appraisal. It's not unheard of for a bookkeeper to recognise an opportunity or flag up an area which is falling in profits. It's crucial for powering growth in any business in Laindon, to spot these KPI's (key performance indicators).
Having to chase up late payments can be a fairly uncomfortable scenario for you, if you send out invoices in your business operations. By having an individual outside your business situation make that phone call or visit to your customers, some of that awkwardness can be eliminated. A professional bookkeeper can use legal procedures to deal with a consistent late or non-payer, and without the need for court proceedings, help to clear up the situation.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
The legal bookkeeping requirements if you're a sole trader, are relatively straightforward and simple. Sole traders are required to track income and expenditure on a month by month basis and keep all receipts and invoices. Now, this does not seem too difficult does it? Yet, it's still recommended that you hire the expertise of a bookkeeping company to make sure that it's all done properly. When working through your income tax returns, a specialist sole trader bookkeeper in Laindon can advise you on what your valid business expenses are, and make certain these are claimed back from HMRC. This may include promotional advertising, printer ink, items such as computers, rent and bills if working from home and stationery goods. To see how they can help your business grow, chat to a trusted bookkeeper for more comprehensive advice.
ONLINE TRADERS
There are niches in bookkeeping where a specialist might be required. You will need a bookkeeper in Laindon who understands online payments, exchange rate transfers, multi-currency processing and cross-border and international taxes, if you manage a store online for instance. Overseeing inventory on a 24 hours a day basis is also a vital priority, if that same store sells goods that you produce or hold, after all the internet does not sleep, therefore neither should your bookkeeping software or services.
In combination with your bookkeeping services, a virtual office can also be provided. This allows a sole trader or online only business to offer a physical link with their customers, via a postal address and telephone service. It is definitely worth talking about this possibility if it's something that could be of benefit, although not all bookkeeping companies in Laindon will provide this option.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
Many qualifications for the field of bookkeeping are at Certificate and Diploma level, and a professional Laindon bookkeeper does not need to hold a degree. Bookkeeping qualifications can be obtained through further education colleges and universities but there's also an ever-increasing choice of courses offered online.
There are basically 2 main organisations that provide training and certification for bookkeepers:
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB): The largest organisation of its kind in the world is the the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB), and it offers accreditation to certified bookkeepers, along with reference material and training to keep their members up-to-date with the latest trends.
The AAT (Association of Accounting Technicians): Able to use the letters AATQB after their name, a fully trained member of the AAT or Association of Accounting Technicians will have completed advanced qualifications and training in bookkeeping. They're then permitted to become certified AAT bookkeepers, which guarantees their customers a high standard of service which is backed by the organisation. To safeguard the integrity of the AAT, if a bookkeeper who is associated with the AAT has a complaint against them or is found to have breached the code of conduct they will be liable to disciplinary and tribunal procedures.
The accreditations of any Laindon bookkeeper can be checked on the register of ICB or ATT members on their websites. It is strongly advised to implement this check, before getting involved with any local bookkeeper in Laindon.
Bookkeeping services are available in Laindon and also in: Bulphan, Little Burstead, Great Burstead, Galmington, Fobbing, Crays Hill, Gardiners Way, South Fields, Herongate, Dunton, North Benfleet, Nevendon, and in these postcodes SS15 5PT, SS15 6QL, SS15 6PR, SS15 6EZ, SS15 6PF, SS15 6QS, SS15 6PH, SS15 6NT, SS15 5UQ, and SS15 5GH. Locally based Laindon bookkeeping services will probably have the dialling code 01268 and the postcode SS15. Checking this should ensure you're accessing local bookkeepers. Laindon sole traders and business owners will be able to utilise these and lots of other bookkeeping related services.
Using a Bookkeeper for Tax Returns
If you are self-employed or have a small business in the United Kingdom, you may have to file a self-assessment tax return. The process can make this task daunting, especially if you aren't familiar with it. Your records can be kept organised and your tax return can be prepared on time and accurately with the help of a good bookkeeper.
Using a bookkeeper to complete your tax returns has numerous benefits. Experience and expertise will ensure that they complete your return correctly. This should help you to avoid penalties from HMRC, as well as interest charges. Secondly, the use of a bookkeeper can save you a lot of time, hassle and stress. They will take care of all of the paperwork and calculations, so you can focus your attention on running your business. Third, a bookkeeper in Laindon can provide you with essential advice on tax planning. This enables you to minimise your tax bill and maximise your earnings. (83543 - Tax Returns Laindon)
Bookkeepers Near Laindon
Also find: Dunton bookkeepers, Bulphan bookkeepers, Galmington bookkeepers, South Fields bookkeepers, North Benfleet bookkeepers, Little Burstead bookkeepers, Crays Hill bookkeepers, Gardiners Way bookkeepers, Fobbing bookkeepers, Nevendon bookkeepers, Herongate bookkeepers, Great Burstead bookkeepers and more. Bookkeeping services are provided to almost all of these places by companies. This level of accessibility makes it straightforward for individuals and businesses to secure the financial help necessary for managing their accounts effectively. By clicking here, residents in the area can obtain estimates for bookkeeping.
Laindon Bookkeeping Tasks
Most Laindon bookkeepers will be able to provide you with the following services: bookkeeping services for clubs, bookkeeping services in Laindon, bookkeeping services for freelancers, cash books, bookkeeping for limited companies, accountancy packages, corporation tax returns, credit control in Laindon, tax preparation, bookkeeping for home-based businesses, double-entry bookkeeping, bookkeeping estimates, assistance with registering for self-employment, mobile bookkeeping services, bank reconciliation, bookkeeping services for charities, bookkeeping for self-employed, invoice processing in Laindon, charity bookkeeping, bookkeeping services for small businesses, Quickbook bookkeeping services, financial statement preparation, cash flow analysis, landlord bookkeeping, professional bookkeeping services, general bookkeeping services, bookkeeping services for pubs in Laindon, bookkeeping for shops, Sage bookkeeping, tax returns in Laindon, and more. Listed are just a selection of the activities that are carried out by local bookkeepers. Laindon companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their whole range of services. If there happen to be additional Laindon bookkeeper requirements that you need but can't see here, you can list them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We will be in touch with specifics as soon as we can.
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