By Jocelyn Ian
Running a small business is often about resource and budget constraints, and most companies and startups don’t have the budget to hire an in-house team of accountants and tax consultants. Expectedly, you have to check for accounting firms near you, and it is necessary to select one that has some expertise and experience of working with small businesses. If you are looking for QC Accountants Gold Coast, we recommend that you check some of the aspects listed below.
Should we hire an accounting service?
You can have a hands-on management style, but aspects like tax planning and accounting require skills and a clear understanding of norms, rules and laws. Bookkeeping may seem like an easy task, but accounting can be a vast subject, and financial data must be used in the right way for saving on taxes. Now, every accounting service is unique in its own way, so the pool of services that they offer can vary, but in essence, the role of an accountant for small business is to ensure transparency. They will ensure that all tax benefits are derived, all accounting and bookkeeping work is done as per norms, and there are no lapses. Using financial data, they can also offer advice on how you can secure funding. In short, you must consider hiring an accounting service.
Things you can expect
All accounting companies offer similar services for small businesses. For instance, they will always ensure that bookkeeping is done on a regular basis and all the paperwork is filed as required. All the statements will be prepared by their team on time and submitted to ATO as per norms. Aspects like employee details, superannuation will be kept in check too, and your accounting company will offer assistance on using new software for bookkeeping, besides providing reports that the critical for business decisions, such as cashflow reports. The tax obligations as per ASIC, ATO, Workcover & Payroll norms will be taken care of, and the firm will file returns as per norms.
Aspects to check
When you look for small business accountants, there are a few aspects you have to consider.
- First and foremost, check if the accounting service is accessible. They should offer phone consultation as required and must be around to help in taking decisions that may impact your business in terms of taxes, finances and other aspects.
- Secondly, you need to keep a tab on their work process. A reliable accounting firm will explain all aspects to clients and offer assistance whenever required. Check if they use any software and if they can train your staff for it.
- The pricing is the third aspect to think about. Many firms have special plans for small business, for which you will be paying a fixed price per month for certain set of services. If you are comparing options, do consider the experience of the concerned firm and check for inclusions in the package.
The first phone consultation with an accounting firm is usually free, so talk to a couple of known services and check what they can offer for your small business.
