The Questions You Should Ask an Outsourced Bookkeeper

Finding the right bookkeeper can be a challenge. Make sure you ask the tough questions to ensure you get the best service.

1. What Do You Charge?

A bookkeeping service provider should be able to give you a general estimate on cost early in the conversation after providing some information. It might be a range as well, but resist the temptation to think you are going to be on the lowest end of the spectrum. A good bookkeeper is an investment.

2. What Information Do You Need From Me to Give Me a Quote?

A bookkeeping service that has been around for a while and has good processes in place should be able to tell you what information they will need to give you a quote or proposal. Be wary of services that just want to get started without doing some sort of assessment upfront.

3. What Are Your Response Times?

A high-quality service provider will be able to answer your questions about service levels and response times.

4. When Can I Expect To See My Monthly Reports?

This is a tough question to answer for a bookkeeping service because they rely on you to provide information to complete these reports. Be wary of service providers that give you a concrete date here, as they may just be trying to sell you something.

5. Who Will I Be Working With?

You should have a direct point of contact, but this shouldn’t be limited to one person. If you are dealing with one person only, what happens when that person goes on vacation or leaves the service provider? Also, who will be reviewing the information?

6. How Are You Developing Your Skills and Keeping Up-To-Date?

Your bookkeeping service provider should not be so overwhelmed with their business that they can’t take the time to stay up-to-date, develop, and learn new skills. They should be a hub of information and be at the forefront of new technologies and policy changes that will affect your business.

7. What Non-Financial Information Do You Provide?

Hey, we’re bookkeepers and accountants and could talk numbers all day, but numbers without context don’t say much. You should take the time to understand what your numbers might be telling you, but you might need some help with that.

8. What Other Services Do You Provide?

It’s important to understand what other solutions your service provider offers. If they don’t offer accounting services, it’s also worthwhile getting some references from accounting firms that have worked with them in the past to make sure that your accountant is going to receive the information they need.

Final Words

Finding the right bookkeeping service provider in Canada is extremely important. Considering the above factors will ensure that your partner relationship accomplishes the expected business goals. At the end of the day, the service provider is a partner who can support you on a long-term basis and can be a part of your successful business venture.

Filing Taxes with its highly trained professional bookkeepers provides you with quality bookkeeping services that give you the true value of your time and money. Feel free to reach out to Filing Taxes at 416-479-8532. Schedule an NTR engagement appointment with us and take the first step towards proper management of your finances.

Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is intended to provide general information. The information does not consider your personal situation and is not intended to be used without consultation from accounting and financial professionals. Salman Rundhawa and Filing Taxes will not be held liable for any problems that arise from the usage of the information provided on this page.