Want to help your bookkeeper streamline their processes as much as possible to ensure the best possible results, and reduce your overall spend? We’ve done a little research around the water cooler and have got the inside scoop on the top 3 things your bookkeeper wishes all clients would do.
Bring Your Communication A-Game
While bookkeepers have a wide range of impressive skills, mind reading is (unfortunately!) not one of them. Keeping the lines of communication between yourself and your bookkeeper open is key to providing them with what they need to do an outstanding job.
Be clear about your expectations, priority tasks and deadlines, and if they’re entering your weekly expenses, for example, give them as much detail as possible (is that charge to New World staff entertainment or light refreshments?). If your bookkeeper asks a question, try to get back to them as soon as you’re able, which will allow them to use their time most efficiently. Great communication between you and your bookkeeper will ultimately mean savings on costs. Win-win!
Keep Business and Personal Expenses Separate
Most small business owners are guilty of not following this rule when first starting out, but your bookkeeper would LOVE you to do your best to keep business and personal expenses separate.
Using your business credit card for the odd personal purchase or vice versa can make your business finances a lot messier than they need to be, and sorting through your statements to determine which transactions are personal and which are legitimate business expenses isn’t the best use of anyone’s time. Most banks will happily work with you to help you keep your personal and business accounts independent of one another. Alternatively, you can take a monthly wage or drawings to ensure you have enough to pay personal expenses as they arise.
Offer a Direct Line to Your Accountant
While this comes down to personal preference, bookkeepers (and accountants!) love it when clients give us the green light to communicate directly with one another when questions arise.
A great bookkeeper will work with your accountant to provide insight into the past, present and future of your business – and will often be able to resolve an accountant’s question in a quick phone call if they have permission to speak directly. If they don’t, you may need to play piggy-in-the-middle, on occasion, should your bookkeeper have a question for your accountant, or in cases when your accountant may need to confirm a detail with your bookkeeper.
Remember that professional and ethical bookkeepers and accountants will never disclose information about your business and finances to a third party (e.g.., one another) without your permission.
Want to learn more about how you can save time and money? Contact your friendly NZ Bookkeeping Team today for a free 30min, no obligation chat about how Team Bookkeeping Ltd can help you.