An outsourced bookkeeper can help you protect your data.   Any business that has lost their accounting computer data has a higher chance of business failure.   By using Dashboard Accounting to outsource your bookkeeping, you can be confident your data is backed up and secure. 

There are many different backup methods available.  When choosing the right option, consider these questions:

• Will the data be available when you have a hard disk failure
• Will the data be available in a disaster, such as a flood
• How long will it take to have your data restored
• Is your data secure
• How often is your data backed up

You may need a combination of backups to solve your needs and protect your data.   

Outsourcing bookkeeping to a company is a huge value.   We take away the complexity of determining if your data is safe and secure.   A professional bookkeeping company like Dashboard Accounting does nothing but maintain great people and systems in the United States that do bookkeeping for companies in Cleveland, Akron or anywhere.  There is a good chance Dashboard Accounting can lower your costs, improve your bookkeeping and eliminate the bookkeeper churn headache.

You might wonder how popular outsourced bookkeeping services are.

Among business owners that value their time and efficiency, outsourced bookkeeping is very popular.  Having a team to back you up is something that will help any business succeed.

One way you can tell it is popular is by the number of referrals an outsourced bookkeeper gets.  You only give referrals after you start to trust someone and really depend on them.  Once an outsourced bookkeeping firm starts getting a steady steam of referrals you can be sure they are doing something right.

It is easy to refer out a good outsourced bookkeeping firm because people always have trouble keeping their books up to date, working with Quickbooks and paying taxes and payroll.  These are all things your book keeper can take off your hands so you can get more done.

If you are considering hiring an outsourced bookkeeping company, be sure to ask them for referrals and make sure to call them.

If you are working with an outsourced bookkeeper, you are going to have to find ways to collaborate on Quickbooks with your virtual bookkeeper.  The traditional way was always to send files back and forth.  Of course, this is not easy, could pose a security risk and requires people to know how to restore the backups to see the new view of the financials.

Today that is really not necessary.

Today a professional bookeeping service can collaborate with you on your quickbooks in several different ways.  Dashboard Accounting, for example, has a secure server that hosts Quickbooks and provides remote access for book keeper and for client.  That way everyone is seeing the latest version of the bookkeeping live.

Other ways to do it is to remote into an office machine if you want to keep your books on site.

Also, Quickbooks online is an option for some small businesses that want to have a collaborative environment.  This option costs a little more per month, but is easier to take with you later if you chance bookkeepers.

That fact is, there are many options for virtual bookkeeping and today you should not be emailing files back and forth to update your accounting.

Ever feel like a fire fighter?

As a small business owner, you may feel like you’re running non-stop – putting out one fire after another – without the time to really focus on the details of your business.

It’s easy to get behind and let the smaller tasks, like reconciling your bank statements. You know, the ones piling up on your desk. Trouble is that some of those smaller tasks on your accounting to-do list can turn into a real disaster if you don’t stay on top of things.

With Dashboard Accounting, there’s no reason to get behind.

When you need bookkeeping help – even part-time bookkeeping can make a huge difference for the health of your business.

Look at your bank reconciliations, for instance. If you’ve got a pile of envelopes from the bank filled with bank statements that deserve your attention, outsourced bookkeeping is a solution to consider to get it done – to protect your business.

Reconciling your business checking account each and every month allows your outsourced bookkeeper to keep your bank account, accounting, and taxes up-to-date.

Having Dashboard Accounting reconcile your account each month is one more level of protection against theft, loss and costly accounting errors.

Each month, we’ll help you:

• Identify lost checks, lost deposits and unauthorized wire transactions.
   
• Detect and prevent excess (and unnecessary) bank charges, ensuring all transactions are posted correctly by your bank.
   
• Detect and prevent embezzlement of funds from within your company.
   
• Keep you up to date on how your business is doing (You can’t really know where you are financially unless all accounts are reconciled, then properly accounted for on your financial statement.)
   
• Allow you to manage your cash better.
   
• Protect yourself from any unauthorized, fraudulent or forged checks presented to your bank and paid by that bank. (You can relieve your business of any responsibility for the shortfall of funds on your part, and transfer that risk to the bank. With the increase in crime, this reason to reconcile alone should be enough!)
   
• Ease your stress, knowing your bank accounts are reconciled, balanced and that all accounts, checks and disbursed funds are properly accounted for.

 Something as simple as checking over your bank statement against your activity can help protect you from risk and make your business stronger. No need to handle it yourself when you can outsource the hassle to the professionals at Dashboard Accounting. We’re here to help!

There are a lot of accounting and bookkeeping software solutions on the market.  An  accounting software consultant might try to get your company to consider another accounting software option, and if you have some special requirements that might make sense.  However, in most cases Quick Book Accounting Software just makes more sense for one very important reason.  It is the best known and most widely used accounting package for small businesses.

This is very important to your bottom line, because if you hire an outsourced bookkeeper or small business bookkeeping services you are going to want people that can get a fast start.  Most Accountants and Bookkeepers will happily learn new accounting software if they need to, but they are often going to have to take more time to get up to speed and they are probably not going to be as proficient on the software.

So if you are looking to get the best value, you are going to want to start with an accounting software solution that almost every accountant and bookkeeper knows already.  In fact, you should be able to find an affordable Quick Book Pro that can help you with your accounting, bookkeeping and even provide training to you if you are doing some of the work in house.

Small Businesses are just not going to benefit from getting locked into a less well known accounting software package, and the cost of chancing over in the future can be considerable.  So if you are just getting started, get Quickbooks for your small business and hire a Quick Books pro to help you set it up the right way to begin with.

You may not realize it, but when your small business hires an accounting firm to handle your audit work to prepare your taxes and statements, those CPAs are not required to help you with anything more than their contract. Their goal is to quickly review your books to see that everything “ties out,” and that the numbers add up. Sure, they may come across areas that you can improve — like money spent on redundant services — but it’s not their job to bring it to your attention.

Did you get that last part? It’s not their job to give you advice to help you make money. That, instead, is the job of a Chief Financial Officer or CFO.

But as a growing businesses during times like these, how you can even begin to afford a CFO – especially as you’re already worried about laying off the folks you already have on staff!?

Dashboard Accounting offers a better solution. Sure, you can use Dashboard Accounting as your outsourced bookkeeper… and your small business accountant… and now you can use them as a virtual CFO and/or virtual controller.

As a small business owner, you may have already reached that point… you need professional financial advice, but can’t afford a full-time CFO or controller.

Good for you!

If you’re fortunate enough to be in this position, you’ll be happy to know that our Part-Time CFO service gives you a professional financial manager who works with you to help guide your business to success.

The cost of hiring a full-time CFO can range from $60,000 to over $100,000 per year, plus bonuses and benefits. Our Part-Time CFO services provide you with experienced support at a small fraction of that cost.

Here’s why Part-Time CFO services make sense. You’ll get:

• More time to work “on” your business – Focus on growing your business with new services, new customers and other core business issues.
• Fewer surprises and better control – You’ll have a better understanding of the financial side of your business, with expert fiscal advisory services.
• An experienced advocate - You’ll have a wise sounding board to help you with those tough business decisions and help you clarify your business plans.
• A good night’s sleep – You can relax, knowing that a professional is overseeing, protecting and constantly improving the financial side of your business.
• Protection from within – Our part-time CFO services will help to establish strong financial controls in your business to reduce employee theft, systemize your operations, improve efficiency and increase profits.

 Go to Dashboard Accounting, www.DashboardAccounting.com, to find out more.

An outsourcing book keeping service is a very efficient option for many small and medium sized businesses.  But many business owners bulk at working with an outsourced bookkeeper due to some myths that they probably still believe.
Myth:  Big businesses can only afford to outsource.

Fact: Outsourcing of accounting functions used to be the prerogative of big business. Now with better sharing options, virtualized books, web based accounting packages and more, small businesses can work daily with their outsourced bookkeeper to keep information up to date and keep control of their information.

Myth:  Accounting Outsourcing is not reliable.
Just as with hiring an on site employee, you have to be careful about interviewing and setting standards to ensure you get someone that you want to work with.  The best virtual bookkeeping firms are going to become a part of your team and do a great job.

Myth: Complex IT integration is essential.
Every year the tools get better.  It is now possible to set up a virtual bookkeeping software in minutes.  You will be surprised at how easy it is now, whether you use Quickbooks Accounting Software or another option.

Myth:  Outsourced Accounting leads to job cuts

At Dashboard Accounting, all employees are employees in the US and working under the close supervision of a virtual CPA.  Even with the higher wages vs overseas, it is still a big cost savings to businesses because they get a team that is optimized to meet the needs of the business and do the job at a fraction of the cost of a full time book keeper.

Outsourcing is the contracting of a company’s small business bookkeeping services because this function of business is not directly related to the generation of income (such as utilizing payroll software).  Small business owners benefit by freeing up time to grow and run their business.

Most small to medium-sized businesses utilize outsourced bookkeeping for several primary reasons:

1. You save time and money.
2. You can take advantage of tax savings.
3. You don’t have the hassles of hiring, training, and supervising a full time bookkeeping accountant.  Dashboard Accounting functions as your part time bookkeeping service.

See for yourself the benefits of an outsource CPA to perform as your book keeping service.  Contact Dashboard Accounting today to learn how we can perform your virtual bookkeeping and assist with your quick book accounting software.