Bookkeepers Worthing West Sussex (BN11): Regardless of whether you own a small business, operate an online store or are a sole trader in Worthing, you are responsible for maintaining accurate, "true and fair" accounting and financial records for a minimum of 6 yrs to comply with the Companies Act. If you are unable to produce these records, you may be disqualified as a Company Director and face a hefty fine. According to the magazine Accounting Today over forty percent of small business owners spend at least eighty hours each year on their bookkeeping, therefore while you can carry out these financial records on your own behalf, it's often more cost-effective to employ a professional bookkeeper or accountant to do them for you.
It's time to contact a bookkeeper in Worthing for help and advice, if the thought of compiling balance sheets, tracking assets and liabilities, writing out ledgers or creating profit, loss and financial statements fills you with a sense of terror.
BOOKKEEPER OR ACCOUNTANT?
"Exactly what is the distinction between a bookkeeper and an accountant?" Is a question that is asked by many business owners in Worthing. While in the past a lot of accountants considered the bookkeeping process to be beneath their qualifications, skill-sets and experience, many accountancy firms in the Worthing area will now undertake most bookkeeping duties, because of software improvements over the past decade or so. It's fairly common for many accountancy companies to charge a set fee for bookkeeping services consistent with a typical bookkeeper's fee. This makes the cost of bookkeeping more affordable than it previously was, and is excellent news for small business owners in Worthing as it provides a wider range of competition within the marketplace.
It is essentially the standard of qualification and training that's required for each of these disciplines, that illustrates the main difference between an accountant and a bookkeeper in Worthing. At least an accounting degree with further training in taxation and other fiscal and business management, will normally be held by an accountant. Whilst not necessarily holding the same financial qualifications, or having this level of experience and training, a bookkeeper in Worthing will still have a decent understanding of all these procedures.
A BOOKKEEPER'S RESPONSIBILITIES
The process of bookkeeping put simply, is to record the day by day transactions (financial) of any enterprise or business in Worthing. This will include;
- Highlighting any discrepancies in financial accounts and rectifying them.
- VAT submissions and recording.
- Ensuring double-entry bookkeeping and accounting practices are implemented.
- Monthly reporting and reconciliations.
- Documenting of all financial incomings; including cash, card and electronic payments.
- Documenting the receipt of invoices and making sure that payment is completed punctually.
- Payroll services.
- The billing of clients for goods or work completed.
In accordance with the level of service you require, e.g. you're happy to undertake the majority of bookkeeping work; a bookkeeper might just be necessary for double-checking your records every once in a while. To allow for any mistakes or problems to be detected and rectified quickly, this should really be from month to month as a bare minimum. This could be an extremely cost-effective trade-off, as long as you are confident of staying on top of your monetary transactions without affecting your everyday business operations.
It's a good bet that if you are considering hiring a bookkeeper in Worthing, you are currently fretting over the financial recording aspects of your small business. To enable the seamless organisation of transactional data, a decent bookkeeping company will help you to link the latest software application to your business accounts, and will give advice on stuff like stocktaking, preparing expense reports and invoicing.
An especially important element of a good bookkeeper is the ability to reconcile cash flow with accounts payable. Which means that your bookkeeper will optimise the payment of bills to a time when your accounts are buoyant and in good shape, rather than paying an outstanding bill immediately, or waiting for an overdue notice, which most small businesses are guilty of doing. As well as keeping your business financially sound, this also maintains your reputation with your suppliers and service providers. When, as an individual, you're mainly focussed on the operation of your day to day business activities, this can be a juggling act that's hard to accomplish.
Using an experienced bookkeeper in Worthing, if you are a sole trader, or for your small business also gives them the chance to cast a fresh eye over your business. This dispassionate evaluation can allow them to discover business trends and patterns that you might have overlooked. A scenario where a keen eyed bookkeeper flags an area which is dropping in profits, or identifies a new opportunity which could be lucrative, is by no means an uncommon occurrence. Such key performance indicators are crucial in driving growth for any business in Worthing.
Having to pursue a late payment can be a fairly uncomfortable situation for you, if you send out invoices as part of your business operations. If that phone call or visit to your clients is carried out by a person from outside your business bubble, it's possible for some of that apprehension to be eliminated. There are legal methods a bookkeeper can make use of, if you've got problems with a repeating late payer, and these can help to resolve the situation before the issue ends up in a claims court proceeding.
SOLE TRADER'S BOOKKEEPING REQUIREMENTS
The bookkeeping requirements for a sole trader, as laid out by law, are reasonably straightforward and easily understood. This involves saving all invoices and receipts concerning the business, and keeping a record of expenditure and income on a month by month basis. Now, this doesn't seem too difficult does it? But, it's still good practice to retain the expert services of a bookkeeping company to make certain that it's all done right. So that you'll be able to claim back valid business expenses from HMRC, a dedicated sole trader bookkeeper in Worthing can give you advice on what you must do. This might include stationery goods, bills and rent if working from home, consumables, items such as laptops and advertising expenses. Chat to your bookkeeper for more in-depth advice and discover how they may be able to help your small business to grow and prosper.
BOOKKEEPING FOR ONLINE TRADERS
There are certain niches in bookkeeping where the expertise of a specialist might be essential. You will need a bookkeeper in Worthing who understands cross-border and international taxes, exchange rate transfers, multi-currency processing and online payment procedures, if you run a store online for example. If the same store sells goods that you produce or hold, then regulating your stock on a 24 hours a day basis is a huge priority, as I'm sure you'll be aware the internet never sleeps, therefore nor should your bookkeeping software or services.
In conjunction with bookkeeping service, it is also possible to establish a remote virtual office. This enables a sole trader or online only business to have a postal address and telephone service to provide a physical link with their clients. If this sort of service is needed, it's definitely worth discussing, although this option won't be supplied by all bookkeeping businesses in Worthing.
PROFESSIONAL QUALIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS
It is not mandatory for a certified bookkeeper in Worthing to hold a degree, and a good number of the bookkeeping sector qualifications are held at Diploma or Certificate level. Although there is an ever-growing number of online courses available, bookkeeping qualifications can still be obtained via further education universities and colleges, if that's the chosen route.
Representing bookkeepers, there are 2 primary certification and training organisations:
The ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers: Keeping their members up-to-speed with the latest trends and innovations, the ICB or Institute of Certified Bookkeepers is the largest organisation anywhere in the world, providing certification for qualified bookkeepers, along with reference material and training.
The Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT: Able to use the letters AATQB after their name, a fully trained member of the Association of Accounting Technicians or AAT will have been provided with advanced qualifications and a training schedule in bookkeeping practice. They are then permitted to become licensed AAT bookkeepers, which promises their clients a level of service which is backed by the organisation. If an AAT bookkeeper has a complaint against them or is found to have broken the code of conduct they can be liable to disciplinary and tribunal procedures to safeguard the values and integrity of the AAT.
The accreditations of any Worthing bookkeeper can be checked on the register of AAT or ICB members on their respective websites. Performing such checks is always advisable before actually getting involved with any local bookkeeper in Worthing.
What Are the Main Advantages of Using a Bookkeeper in Worthing Rather Than an Accountant?
The following are a few reasons why you might decide to use a bookkeeper in Worthing, as opposed to an accountant:
- Cost-Effectiveness: Bookkeeping services are normally more cost-efficient when compared with accounting services, making them a good choice for startups, sole traders and small businesses looking to save on expenditure.
- Specialisation: Bookkeepers have got a more focused expertise in day-to-day financial transaction management and record-keeping, leading to greater efficiency and effectiveness in such tasks.
- Availability: Bookkeepers are generally more accessible and on hand to provide support and answer questions in comparison to an accountant, who may sometimes be hard to reach.
- Customisable Services: Bookkeepers often provide customised services that are tailored to a business's specific needs, whereby accountants whose approach may be more general.
- Time Savings: By choosing to outsource their bookkeeping tasks, small business owners can save time and focus on other areas of their business, for example marketing and sales.
That being said, you need to note that while bookkeepers can provide valuable support, they may not have the same level of expertise or qualifications as an accountant in certain aspects such as tax preparation or financial planning. In such cases, it may be necessary to consult an accountant for more specialist services.
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 a business. To do this, it is necessary to follow the cash flow in and out of the business for a set time frame, usually quarterly or monthly. The bookkeeper can support the businessperson in understanding their current financial standing, identifying any cash flow problems, and preparing for the future by doing so.
By reconciling and categorizing all cash transactions, such as investments, sales and expenses, in the analysis, the bookkeeper creates a clear picture of the company's financial health. Part of the analysis also involves predicting the business's cash flow for the forthcoming months or years, allowing the business to make informed decisions and avoid potential cash flow problems.
Also, a bookkeeper may offer suggestions to better the business's cash flow, such as changing payment methods or evaluating pricing tactics. For companies that want to manage their finances effectively, a thorough and accurate cash flow analysis is essential.
Outsourced Bookkeeping Worthing
All businesses in Worthing should understand the significance of bookkeeping. It helps business people monitor their outgoings and incomings, the total value of their assets and liabilities, the money left in the bank, and so forth. With the business owner having to handle the concerns and issues of operating a business, the task of performing the bookkeeping is often outsourced to a bookkeeping company or freelance bookkeepers in Worthing.
If a company in Worthing employs a bookkeeper in order to join their ranks, the company will have to pay out a substantial sum of money in training the individual for the purpose of carrying out the bookkeeping work. Moreover, there's no guarantee that the individual will stay after the training is finished. In those circumstances, the company stands to lose a substantial amount of money. As well as that, businesses will have to seek out solutions to provide benefits and incentives to keep the trained employee in place. These are just a handful of the reasons why businesses often enlist the services of professional bookkeepers and bookkeeping companies in Worthing.
The business owner in Worthing can look for the following options with the bookkeeping company that offers outsourcing services. Find out and check how much savings can be enjoyed by outsourcing the bookkeeping work. Because the expenses relating to hiring and training the in-house staff is a great concern, it would be wise on the part of business owner in Worthing to look for an outsourcing company that can offer savings. Try to get first hand information regarding the systems and methods employed by the company involved in bookkeeping services. It is extremely important to get top quality accounting services and greater security for your financial data. By quality, one means precise, reliable, and real-time bookkeeping data delivered within the agreed time. In a nutshell, the company that offers bookkeeping services in Worthing should have a well protected system that can be relied on and trusted.
These professional bookkeeping companies in Worthing should be able to customise their bookkeeping services with that of the client company's current bookkeeping system. They should be able to ask for assistance from these bookkeepers as and when they need the required back-up and support.
Worthing Bookkeeper Tasks
Most Worthing bookkeepers will be willing to provide you with the following services: bank reconciliation Worthing, bookkeeping for the self-employed, cash flow analysis in Worthing, maintaining fixed asset registers, bookkeeping rates in Worthing, landlord bookkeeping, partnership tax returns, payroll bookkeeping, bookkeeping for home-based businesses, double-entry bookkeeping, management accounts, bookkeeping for charities, bookkeeping services for sole traders, assistance with registering for self-employment in Worthing, financial statement preparation, bookkeeping services for small business, bookkeeping services for organisations, bookkeeping for limited companies, bookkeeping for startups Worthing, Xero bookkeeping services, accounting and bookkeeping services, company cash books, mobile bookkeeping services in Worthing, profit & loss reports, corporation tax returns, bookkeeping for retail outlets, bookkeeping for societies, bookkeeping for clubs in Worthing, VAT returns, accountancy packages in Worthing, and more. Listed are just a small portion of the duties that are handled by local bookkeepers. Worthing companies will let you know their entire range of services. If there are different Worthing bookkeeper requirements that you need but cannot see here, you can easily mention them on the QUOTE FORM provided. We will be in touch with specifics just as soon as we are able.
Bookkeepers Near Worthing
Also find: Botolphs bookkeepers, Bramber bookkeepers, Burpham bookkeepers, Sullington bookkeepers, Poling Corner bookkeepers, Warningcamp bookkeepers, Upper Beeding bookkeepers, Offham bookkeepers, North End bookkeepers, Coombes bookkeepers, Wepham bookkeepers, Goring by Sea bookkeepers, Findon bookkeepers, Broadwater bookkeepers, Wiston bookkeepers and more. Most of these locations has access to companies providing bookkeeping services. Such accessibility guarantees that both businesses and individuals can effortlessly locate the financial assistance necessary to successfully manage their accounts. Clicking here allows area residents to receive bookkeeping price quotes.
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