Bookkeepers Newcastle-under-Lyme Staffordshire (ST5): If you operate an online store, are a sole trader or own a small business in Newcastle-under-Lyme, you're responsible for maintaining accurate, "true and fair" accounting and financial records for a minimum of six years as stated by the 2006 Companies Act. You might face a fine of thousands of pounds, and perhaps Company Director disqualification, if you're unable to produce this information. There is a significant investment of time involved with maintaining these financial records on your own behalf, and it can pay you to employ a professional bookkeeper or accountant, since according to Accounting Today over 40% of small businesses spend over eighty hours per year doing their accounts.
The time has come to contact a bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme for help and advice, if you are overcome with a sense of terror merely thinking about producing balance sheets, preparing profit, loss and fiscal reports, filling out ledgers or tracking assets and liabilities.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
The first question that most small business owners ask is "Precisely what is the distinction between an accountant and a bookkeeper?" While in past times many accountants considered the task of bookkeeping to be beneath their skill-sets, experience and qualifications, a lot of accountancy firms in the Newcastle-under-Lyme area will now undertake bookkeeping, because of improvements in software over the past ten years or so. It is quite common for many accounting companies to have a set rate for bookkeeping services as per a dedicated bookkeeper's fee. This means the cost of bookkeeping is much more manageable than it was previously, and is great news for business owners in Newcastle-under-Lyme because it gives a broader range of competition within the marketplace.
The amount of training and qualification required is the main difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant. An accountant will, at the minimum, hold an accounting degree, and should have also had further training in business and financial management, and taxes. While having a pretty good understanding of these fiscal skills, a bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme might not necessarily have the qualifications or levels of training and experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF A BOOKKEEPER
To explain in the simplest of forms possible, bookkeeping involves the logging of daily financial transactions of any business or enterprise in Newcastle-under-Lyme. This will likely include, but is in no way limited to;
- Documenting invoices received and making certain payment is completed promptly.
- Billing of customers for work completed or goods.
- Documenting of all financial incomings; electronic, card and cash payments included.
- Making sure that accounting and double-entry bookkeeping practices are followed at all times.
- VAT recording and submissions.
- Monthly reporting and reconciliations.
- Highlighting and rectifying any discrepancies in the financial accounts.
- Payroll services.
Based on service level you require, a professional bookkeeper may just be needed to double check your accounts periodically, if you're willing to carry out the bulk of your own bookkeeping work. To make sure that any mistakes or problems can be identified and corrected swiftly, at the bare minimum, this ought to be done each month. If you're able to stay on top of your everyday trading and financial transactions, this trade-off can sometimes be the most cost-effective option.
Whatever your current situation is, if you are thinking of hiring a bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme, there is a fair chance that you may be getting stressed about the financial recording aspects of your small business. A professional bookkeeping company will be able to help you to link the most suitable software application with your business accounts to enable the seamless processing of financial data, and will offer advice on things such as invoicing, creating expense reports and stocktaking.
The ability to reconcile cash flow with accounts payable, is an extremely important element of good bookkeeping. Which means that your bookkeeper will prioritise the payment of bills to a time when your accounts are in good shape, rather than paying a bill straight away, or waiting on a final notice, which most small businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme are guilty of. In addition to keeping your enterprise or business financially secure, this also maintains your reputation with suppliers and companies who provide your business with services. Unfortunately, this is just one of those balancing acts that can be tough to accomplish when you are inevitably focussed on the smooth running of your daily business operation.
For your small business, or if you are a sole trader, using a certified bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme, presents you with the chance to have a critical eye cast over your financies. It is entirely possible that an unprejudiced evaluation like this will highlight business patterns and trends that have been missed previously. A situation where a keen eyed bookkeeper flags up an area of the business where profits are plummeting, or identifies an opportunity which may be worthwhile, is not at all an unusual occurrence. For powering growth in any business in Newcastle-under-Lyme, it is vital that these key performance indicators (KPI's) are spotted as early as possible.
If you send out invoices as part of your business operations, having to pursue a late payment can be really uncomfortable. If that visit to your customer or phone call is carried out by someone outside your business bubble, it is possible for most of that awkwardness to be taken away. To help with resolving the situation, if you've got problems with a consistent late payer, there are options that can be made use of by a bookkeeper, so that legal proceedings can be avoided.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
As a sole trader the requirements for bookkeeping, as set out in law, are really straightforward. It is stipulated that sole traders should monitor expenditure and income from month to month and save all invoices and receipts. It's still advisable to hire the expertise of a competent bookkeeper, even if this might sound simple. So that you will be able to claim back all legitimate business expenses from HMRC, a specialised sole trader bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme will be able to advise you on what needs to be done. This could include promotional advertising, consumables, items such as laptops, stationery and bills and rent if you work from home. Speak to your bookkeeper for more comprehensive advice and learn how they might help your small business to grow.
ONLINE TRADERS
There are niches in bookkeeping where a specialist may be necessary. For example, if you run a store online, you will need to employ a bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme who understands online payments, international and cross-border taxes, multi-currency processing and exchange rate transfers. Because the internet never sleeps, if the same outlet sells goods that you hold or produce then monitoring stock on a 24/7 basis is an important priority which will need to be dealt with.
Together with bookkeeping services, it's also possible to establish a virtual office. This allows an online only business or sole trader to provide a physical connection to their customers, via a postal address and telephone service. Although this option might not be offered by all bookkeeping businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme, it's definitely worth a discussion if this service is something which is required.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
A certified bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme need not have a degree and a lot of qualifications in this field are at Diploma and Certificate level. Although there are a array of online courses available, bookkeeping qualifications can still be obtained through further education universities and colleges, if that's the preferred route.
To provide training and certification for bookkeepers, there are basically two main organisations of interest:
The ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers: Providing certification for bookkeepers, together with training and reference material to keep their associated members informed about the latest trends and innovations, the Institute of Certified Bookkeepers (ICB) is the largest bookkeeping organisation in the world.
The Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT: Providing a training schedule with advanced qualifications, the Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT, allows a fully trained bookkeeper to use the letters AATQB. This then allows them to become a approved AAT bookkeeper and promises a high level of service which is backed by the association. AAT bookkeepers can can be liable to tribunal and disciplinary procedures if a complaint is filed against them or they are found to have contravened the code of practice. This helps to safeguard the trustworthiness of AAT membership.
The qualifications of any professional Newcastle-under-Lyme bookkeeper can be checked on the register of AAT or ICB members on their websites. Carrying out such checks is usually a good idea before actually getting involved with any bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
VAT Returns by a Bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme
Getting your VAT returns done by a bookkeeper in Newcastle-under-Lyme can be a great option for small business owners who want to ensure their tax compliance while freeing up their own time to focus on other important aspects of their business. With the assistance of a bookkeeper, your VAT return can be expertly taken care of, encompassing every element, from calculating the amount of VAT you owe or are entitled to, submitting your return to HMRC, and ensuring that all your transaction records are up-to-date. On top of that, a local bookkeeper can offer valuable advice on ways to reduce your VAT liability and ensure that you are claiming all of the allowable VAT that you are entitled to. By enlisting the aid of a bookkeeper, you can relax with the knowledge that your VAT returns are being managed with efficiency and precision, enabling you to dedicate more time to expanding your business in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
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Bookkeepers Near Newcastle-under-Lyme
Also find: Cross Heath bookkeepers, Broad Meadow bookkeepers, Knutton bookkeepers, Westlands bookkeepers, Dimsdale bookkeepers, Porthill bookkeepers, Cobridge bookkeepers, Wolstanton bookkeepers, Middleport bookkeepers, Chesterton bookkeepers, May Bank bookkeepers and more. Companies offering bookkeeping services serve the majority of these villages and towns. With this level of accessibility, finding the required financial support to manage accounts effectively becomes easy for both businesses and individuals. Clicking here allows area residents to receive bookkeeping estimates.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Bookkeeper Tasks
Most Newcastle-under-Lyme bookkeepers will be ready to provide you with the following services: profit & loss reports, bookkeeping services for retail outlets, PAYE & wages, bookkeeping services for societies Newcastle-under-Lyme, bookkeeping for home-based businesses in Newcastle-under-Lyme, payment services Newcastle-under-Lyme, Kashflow bookkeeping services Newcastle-under-Lyme, letting agent bookkeeping, bookkeeping for tradesmen in Newcastle-under-Lyme, bookkeeping services for restaurants, Quickbook bookkeeping services, credit control, Self-Assessment tax returns Newcastle-under-Lyme, maintaining fixed asset registers, mobile bookkeeping services Newcastle-under-Lyme, bookkeeping and accounting services Newcastle-under-Lyme, accounting and bookkeeping, landlord bookkeeping, management accounts, business bookkeeping, tax preparation, bank reconciliation, bookkeeping for shops, assistance with registering for self-employment in Newcastle-under-Lyme, bookkeeping for pubs Newcastle-under-Lyme, Sage bookkeeping services, professional bookkeeping services, independent bookkeeping services, cash flow analysis, bookkeeping services for startups, and more. These are just a handful of the duties that are carried out by local bookkeepers. Newcastle-under-Lyme professionals will keep you informed about their entire range of bookkeeping services. If there are some other Newcastle-under-Lyme bookkeeper requirements that you want but don't see here, you can list them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We will get back to you with specifics just as soon as we are able.
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