Introducing a Sydney bookkeeper - with a difference.

[ray_223]

Originally Posted by TimFairweather

Nice one Ray!
Ray you have a difference - what's yours?

Hi Tim,

I was curious since the title indicated that your service provided something "different". I'm thinking now that you were waiting for someone to ask the question that I did!

So you are providing extra services on top of bookkeeping (financial analysis).

Hmmm, I'll have to think what "my" difference is. I know of a few ... but what is the most important ... and how does that help me build a great business?? I may post a new thread asking others about their own differences?

[TimFairweather]

Originally Posted by ray_223

I'm thinking now that you were waiting for someone to ask the question that I did!

Hindsight can give you the perception of cleverness. Although I'll admit it has started a great new thread!

[vinmind]

Hi Tim,

I am from India and a Human resources Consultant based in India too and has just join in, wd like to know about book keeping, kindly share.

Best of luck for yur business.

[TimFairweather]

Originally Posted by vinmind

Hi Tim,

I am from India and a Human resources Consultant based in India too and has just join in, wd like to know about book keeping, kindly share.

Best of luck for yur business.

Hi Vinmind - and thank you for your reply. I think in this environment we could all use a bit of luck!

Bookkeeping IS seeing your business on paper.

Why is it important?

Because, bookkeeping, or keeping your books - accounting, balancing your books - whatever you want to call it – supports your decision-making in your business.

How does it do that?

By keeping you, the manager and /or owner of your business, in front of those numbers regularly enough to make good decisions.

I wrote a FAQ for people like yourself in case you needed a more in depth understanding of bookkeeping, head to: http://www.barefigures.com.au/faqs.aspx

[TimFairweather]

Hi Vinmind,

is there something in particular you need to know about bookkeeping to help your business?

Tim Fairweather

[Caffe43]

Hi Tim

I just had a look at your website and all your info looks great!! I had decided that i didnt need a bookkeeper that i was fine to do it on my own. Now im thinking whether a bookkeeper could produce more meaningful outcomes for me? I know basically the position of my business (unfortunately in the red) but maybe holes could be better identified by a bookkeeper.

Too bad im in the boondocks of Sydneys South West i would have used you guys!


Julie

[TimFairweather]

Originally Posted by Caffe43

Hi Tim

I just had a look at your website and all your info looks great!! I had decided that i didnt need a bookkeeper that i was fine to do it on my own. Now im thinking whether a bookkeeper could produce more meaningful outcomes for me? I know basically the position of my business (unfortunately in the red) but maybe holes could be better identified by a bookkeeper.

Too bad im in the boondocks of Sydneys South West i would have used you guys!


Julie

Hi Julie,

thanks for the feedback - if your near the city sometime send me an email and I'd be happy to have a coffee with you. Meaningful is a good word! It's quite useful for a bookkeeper to prepare your numbers because it clears your headspace.

It removes you from the numbers. There's one key bonus for you the business owner:

1 - You can look impartially at how the business is performing. I get a bookkeeper to prepare my figures, for my bookkeeping business. The reason is so I can judge my performance, without excuses.

It's easy to say: 'Oh, James said he'd pay that invoice next week, I needed to lease a server for the office, I took a few extra taxis..etc. Because you prepared the numbers, you have an excuse as to why they were / were not what you thought they should be.

I find that holds me more accountable.

Looking back - it was probably the hardest yet most beneficial thing I have done. It changed how I now talk to clients about getting someone to help!

[Burgo]

I can appreciate what Tim is saying through this post.

I was lucky I spent 4 years with a Chartered Accountant where I learned heeps and a few other things long before I ventured out in my own business, so I was able to do all my own bookwork to profit & loss and balance sheet.
However had I been sencible I would have obtained the services of a good book keeper and concentrated more on running my business and not in running my business. Needless to say I got there but it took that little bit longer.

Just immagine what you can do now a days with having the services of a good book keeper and a good virtual assistant. The amount of TIME these guys would give you to work ON your business has to be worth more to you than what it would cost for their services.

Think about it for a while, you are not actually employing one or two people to perform this work you are outsourcing this work to professionals.

WOW

[Virtual.Assistant]

Originally Posted by TimFairweather

Thanks Kylie - it's amazing how many clients tell me how the person that set up their accounting software had no accounting background... personally before i choose a dentist, I look for a degree on the wall, at least!

The bookkeeping industry has a hard time persuading clients that they are an investment. Do you have the same challenges in your industries? Do you have trouble convincing your clients that VA is an investment in their own time?

I also find it had to keep clients happy when you estimate how long it will take to go back and undo 12 months of wrong accounts, half-entries and mistakes.

Hi Tim, and welcome!

I am a Virtual Assistant myself. I have most certainly come across the same hurdles you're describing when not meeting with clients in person.

When I am face to face with them, I have actually sold my services to each and every one of them without even a single "I'll get back to you."

Literally, on the spot.

However, being that my business is designed to service clients remotely, I feel I should be able to attract clients in the same manner also.

I find that the notion of a remote consultant is sometimes hard for business owners to grasp and talking them through the process in person paints a very positive picture.

Whereas other forms of advertising are so faceless that grabbing attention is near impossible.

Solutions?

[Numberz]

Originally Posted by tildavirtual

Bookkeeping as an industry is still gaining momentum. As you know up until recently we've only been seen as paraprofessionals and not a profession in our own right. We've just recently had our own qualification ratified through the Australian Qualification Framework and the new legislation changes will do more to cement Bookkeeping in Australia as an industry of it's own. Once the legislation comes in we should see less of the 'cowboys' and it should become easier to convince small business owners that a fantastic bookkeeper isn't just a good investment, it's a great investment.

I think a good book-keeper is invaluable to a business and really keeps the accountants bill down - because the accountant doesn't have to play catch up and can do their job properly. It also allows the business owner to get with doing what they do best.

Tim, I'm in Glebe so our paths may cross sometime. Best of luck with the business.

Bruce