Bookkeepers Westerham Kent (TN16): You're entirely responsible for keeping accurate, "true and fair" accounting and financial records for a minimum of 6 years, if you run an online store, are a sole trader or own a small business in Westerham, according to the Companies Act (2006). Failing to produce these records could leave you faced with thousands of pounds in fines and potential disqualification as a Company Director. It can be more economical to use a professional bookkeeper or accountant to conduct this for you, given that according to Accounting Today over forty percent of small businesses spend over 80 hours each year on their accounts, which is a large investment of time, and could be more effectively spent on actually running your business.
It's high time to get in touch with a bookkeeper in Westerham for guidance, if the idea of tracking liabilities and assets, producing balance sheets, writing out ledgers or creating profit, loss and fiscal reports fills you with a sense of terror.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
What is the distinction between a bookkeeper and an accountant is the first question that most small business owners in Westerham ask. To be honest, because of substantial improvements in software over the past 10 yrs many accountancy companies in the Westerham area will consider taking on bookkeeping, which was at one time considered beneath their qualifications, experience and skill-sets. To keep their bookkeeping services commensurate with a typical bookkeeper's fee, it's now common practice for accounting firms to charge a set fee for such services. This makes the cost of bookkeeping cheaper than it previously was, and is good news for small business owners in Westerham because it gives a wider variety of competition within the marketplace.
When looking at the biggest difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant, it is the amount of qualification and training that's required for each discipline. An accountant will, at the very least, hold a degree in accounting, and will have also had specialist training in fiscal and business management, and taxes. A bookkeeper in Westerham will invariably have a decent understanding of these skills, but might not necessarily have the same levels of experience and training, or hold these qualifications.
A BOOKKEEPER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
To explain in the simplest of forms, the bookkeeping process involves the recording of daily transactions of any enterprise or business in Westerham. This is likely to include, but is in no way limited to;
- Monthly reconciliations and reporting.
- Payroll services.
- Logging invoices received and making certain that payment is completed punctually.
- Billing of customers for goods or work completed.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Highlighting any discrepancies in the financial accounts and rectifying them.
- Recording of all financial incomings; card, electronic and cash payments included.
- Ensuring double-entry bookkeeping and accounting practices are observed.
If you are prepared to carry out the majority of bookkeeping work yourself; a bookkeeper might just be needed to double check your accounts on a fixed schedule. At the bare minimum this needs to be on a monthly basis, to enable the quick identification and rectifying of any mistakes or problems. This compromise can sometimes be the most cost effective if you are confident of staying up-to-date with your day by day financial transactions and trading.
Whatever your current situation is, if you're thinking of hiring a bookkeeper it's a good bet that you may be stressed with the financial recording aspects of your small business in Westerham. A decent bookkeeping service will help you with everything from invoicing, stocktaking and creating expense reports, to linking the latest computer software with your accounts to seamlessly process all of your financial data.
The ability to reconcile accounts payable with cash flow, is an especially important aspect of effective bookkeeping. Which means that rather than waiting for a final notice, which many small businesses in Westerham are guilty of at some time or other, or paying an outstanding bill right away, your bookkeeper will arrange bill payments to a time when your finances are in the best possible position. This isn't simply to make sure that your enterprise or business is on a secure financial footing all the time, but also to keep you in good stead with those people who provide your services or materials. When, as an individual, you are purely focussed on the operation of your everyday business activities, this is a juggling act that can be challenging to perform.
For your small business enterprise, or if you are a sole trader, using an experienced bookkeeper in Westerham, gives you the opportunity to have an unrelated eye cast over your financial situation. It is quite possible that an impartial assessment such as this will showcase business patterns and trends that have previously been missed. A situation where an intelligent bookkeeper flags an area where profits are dropping off, or identifies a new opportunity which could be lucrative, is not at all an unheard of occurrence. It is vital for the long-term growth of any enterprise in Westerham, to spot these key performance indicators (KPI's).
Having to pursue a late payment can be a fairly embarrassing scenario for you, if you give out invoices as part of your business operations. By having an individual outside your business bubble make that phone call or visit to your customers, some of that apprehension can be eliminated. A bookkeeper can make use of legal solutions to deal with a persistent late or non-payer, and without having to resort to court proceedings, help to clear up the matter.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
As a sole trader the requirements for bookkeeping, as set out in law, start off comparatively straightforward. Essentially, sole traders should save all invoices and receipts, and keep records of expenditure and income from month to month. While this may sound simple enough it is still a wise move to hire the expertise of a competent bookkeeper. When working through your tax returns, a specialist sole trader bookkeeper in Westerham can advise you on what your genuine business expenses are, and make certain these are claimed back from HMRC. This may include consumables, advertising, bills and rent if you work from home, stationery goods and items such as computers. If you'd like to get more detailed advice, and see how your small business can grow and develop going forward, chat to your bookkeeper.
BOOKKEEPING FOR ONLINE TRADERS IN WESTERHAM
There are certain niche areas in bookkeeping where a specialist may be essential. By way of example, if you run an online store, you will want to employ a bookkeeper in Westerham who understands multi-currency processing, exchange rate transfers, online payment procedures and cross-border and international taxes. Monitoring your stock on a 24 hours a day basis is also an important concern, if that same outlet distributes goods that you produce or hold, after all the internet doesn't sleep, so nor should your bookkeeping software or services.
In conjunction with bookkeeping services, a remote virtual office can also be provided. This enables a sole trader or online only business to have a postal address and telephone service to provide a physical connection to their buyers. Not all Westerham bookkeepers will be willing to provide this service, but it's worth talking about the possibilities if it's needed.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
It isn't necessary for a qualified Westerham bookkeeper to hold a university degree, and many of the bookkeeping sector qualifications are held at Diploma or Certificate level. If the preferred route to qualification is via further education universities and colleges, this option is still available, although there there's an ever-growing number of online bookkeeping courses.
Bookkeepers are represented by 2 principal training and certification organisations:
The AAT or Association of Accounting Technicians: Able to use the letters AATQB after their name, a certified member of the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT) will have undergone a training schedule and advanced qualifications in bookkeeping. They can then become licensed AAT bookkeepers, backed up by this respected association, which promises a high standard of service for their customers. To protect the values and integrity of the AAT membership, an AAT bookkeeper can be subject to tribunal and disciplinary procedures if a complaint is filed against them or they are found to have violated the code of conduct.
The Institute of Certified Bookkeepers or ICB: Keeping their associated members up-to-speed with the latest trends and innovations, the ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is the largest organisation on the planet, providing accreditation to certified bookkeepers, together with training and reference material.
The accreditations of any professional bookkeeper can be checked on the register of AAT or ICB members on their respective websites. Prior to hiring any bookkeeping service in Westerham, it is definitely a good idea to complete such checks.
Cash Flow Analysis
To comprehend its financial health, any business must employ cash flow analysis. A vital task for bookkeepers is to conduct cash flow analysis on behalf of businesses. To do this, it is necessary to track the inflow and outflow of cash for the business over a specific time frame, normally monthly or quarterly. Helping the business owner to comprehend their present financial status, identify cash flow issues, and plan for the future is among the bookkeeper's duties.
In the analysis, the bookkeeper categorizes and reconciles all cash transactions, such as sales, expenses and investments, to offer a clear picture of the company's financial health. Anticipating cash flow for upcoming months or years is also part of the process, as it helps businesses to avoid financial challenges in the future by making well-informed decisions.
What's more, a comprehensive cash flow analysis can be advantageous for businesses seeking to secure financing by providing lenders with a clear view of the company's financial status and capacity to repay loans. Managing finances effectively is impossible without an accurate and thorough cash flow analysis, which is a necessary tool for any business.
Using a Bookkeeper for Tax Returns
A self-assessment tax return may be required for self-employed people or those with small businesses in the UK. If you are not acquainted with the process, this task can be especially challenging. A bookkeeper can help you to prepare your tax return on time and accurately, as well as keeping your records in order.
Using a bookkeeper for your tax returns has numerous benefits. Expertise and experience will ensure that they complete your return correctly. This should help you avoid interest charges from HMRC, as well as penalties. Secondly, a lot of hassle and time can be saved by a bookkeeper. You can leave the calculations and paperwork to them so you can concentrate on the running of your business. Thirdly, a bookkeeper in Westerham can provide you with invaluable advice on tax planning. This can help to maximise your earnings and minimise your tax bill. (70193)
Westerham Bookkeeper Tasks
Most Westerham bookkeepers will be able to offer you the following services: bookkeeping for retail outlets, maintaining fixed asset registers Westerham, small business tax returns, cheap bookkeeping services, double-entry bookkeeping in Westerham, Xero bookkeeping Westerham, accountancy packages, bank reconciliation, franchise bookkeeping, bookkeeping and accounting services Westerham, Quickbook bookkeeping, financial statement preparation, partnership returns, bookkeeping for payroll, bookkeeping and accounting, management reports, off-site bookkeeping, bookkeeping for limited companies, professional bookkeeping services, charity bookkeeping Westerham, invoice processing, bookkeeping services for freelancers, cash flow analysis, bookkeeping services for sole traders, payment services, bookkeeping for restaurants, bookkeeping for tradesmen in Westerham, bookkeeping for shops, general bookkeeping services, independent bookkeeping services, and more. Listed are just a few of the duties that are performed by local bookkeepers. Westerham companies will be delighted to keep you abreast of their whole range of services. If there happen to be other Westerham bookkeeper requirements that you need but can't see here, you should mention them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We'll get back to you with information as soon as we can.
Bookkeepers Near Westerham
Also find: Hawleys Corner bookkeepers, Tatsfield bookkeepers, Crockham Hill bookkeepers, Limpsfield bookkeepers, Sundridge bookkeepers, Brasted Chart bookkeepers, Brasted bookkeepers, Titsey bookkeepers, Force Green bookkeepers, Dunton Green bookkeepers, Woldingham bookkeepers, Chipstead bookkeepers and more. Near to almost all of these villages and towns, there are companies offering bookkeeping services. Such accessibility guarantees that both individuals and businesses can effortlessly locate the financial assistance necessary to effectively manage their accounts. Residents and businesses in these places can get quotations for bookkeeping by going here.
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