Outsourcing? Is it a benefit?

Are you spending a lot of your time on your day-to-day backend operations of running your business? I came across this article on Yahoo Small Business and it is a great list of 7 benefits to outsource your Bookkeeping.

Top 7 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping Operations

BY HUSSAIN SULTAN | SMALL BUSINESS


Top 7 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping Operations image ID 1009160 300x198

Top 7 Benefits of Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping OperationsThe rise of the online community has changed the way in which we do business forever.  It has brought us closer to people that can help with our day to day operations as well as backend business needs, enabling our businesses to run smoother and turn more profit.  One of the key places that this has really made a difference for business owners is in bookkeeping.

Bookkeeping is much like going to the dentist—no one really wants to take the time out to do it but neglecting the issue can lead to serious repercussions.   For the most part, this is why business owners just want to hire someone to do it and not have to think about it themselves until March or April.

Top Seven Advantages youGet from Outsourcing your Bookkeeping

But now, because of that great availability factor that the online world provides, it’s becoming more and more practical for companies to take this one step further.  Instead of having in house bookkeeping services or doing it yourself, many businesses are finding the multitude of advantages outsourcing bookkeeping operations has. Here are the top seven benefits you can enjoy as well:

1. More time.  Outsourcing your business’s bookkeeping operations frees up valuable time that can be put into bettering the company.  Backend office functions can be a heavy distraction from the day-to-day running of things and having your bookkeeping in-house can lead to a conflict of interests.  All of these time-wasters and distractions need to go—out of sight, out of mind.

2. Saving money.  The bottom line is that by outsourcing your bookkeeping operations, you save money on paying full-time or part-time wages and benefits to an employee.  Further, you also save on lost productivity costs that come along with hiring employees onto the payroll.  By outsourcing your bookkeeping, you only pay for what you need—nothing more, nothing less.

3. Expertise on your side.Outsourcing gives you a great way to have full-time knowledge on your team without having to pay for it around the clock.  By putting your books into the hands of a highly skilled staff who understand the best practices and how to properly staff for certain tasks, your job becomes a whole lot easier—and effective.

4. Focused work staff.  By eliminating the distractions of the office from their jobs, places that take bookkeeping jobs are able to provide clients with more focused work.  It’s hard for a bookkeeper to do their jobs around the hustle and bustle of a business—removing them from the site by outsourcing not only helps you focus on your business, it helps them focus on your business as well.

5. Team staff versus individual.  When you outsource your bookkeeping, you’re placing your financial records in the hands of a staff that thrives on teamwork.  Unfortunately, one bookkeeper is often not enough to find every subtle nuance that can benefit your company.  But when you outsource, you have a team of workers and managers checking and double checking each other’s work, helping to ensure that you receive the best services possible.  This also helps keep a separation of duties i.e. HR and purchasing are as individually accountable as credit services and customer care.  When you have your sections running smoothly, they form together to produce a better and more cohesive unit.

6. Access to top systems.  Outsourcing your bookkeeping operations gives you more access to the top tools in the industry.  Most businesses can’t afford to pay for the extremely expensive bookkeeping programs nor can they afford to spend the time keeping up with changing laws and regulations.  By outsourcing, you’re essentially purchasing those tools and that knowledge by proxy, but it’s even better—you don’t have to actually do any of the work!  Plus, these top systems create nightly backups and keep organized records and books for years, ensuring that if the IRS ever does come knocking for an audit, you’ll be more than prepared for them.

7. Scalability options.  Finally, outsourcing your bookkeeping allows you to expand or cutback in the blink of an eye.  Whether you’re looking to grow your business or cut down on spending, having a reliable team at your behest, providing you with different plans and options will help you achieve your goals.  Outsourcing provides flexibility that in-house bookkeepers just can’t provide.

Image courtesy of Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net. Article from: Yahoo Small Business