Where to find a bookkeeper
The ways to find a bookkeeper are at the top, followed by suggested ways to verify at the bottom.
Referrals
The best place to find a bookkeeper is to get a recommendation from someone you know. Ask around, especially folks with jobs where they meet quite a few people during normal business day.
Take a look at your contacts in your phone, anyone there have a business or is likely to have an idea of someone you could call? Consider asking around at your bank, church or something like school functions and neighborhood get togethers.
A recommendation from someone you know is best, even if the bookkeeper mentioned is not local to you.
Online search
I’d call online search a distant second to referral, but if you don’t have a referral, online search is the place to go. To be clear: online search is not a bad option, just a less sure one. Start by searching “bookkeeping” or “bookkeepers near me” and see what pops up.
Word to the wise, the first results will be firms that pay to hit the top of the search. Nothing wrong with that, just so you know.
If you want a bookkeeper closer to you, after you search “bookkeeper near me” be sure to scroll down to the Google My Business results. These will be the folks closest to you and, as a bonus, it’s easy to find reviews of the business right there, too.
In case you didn’t know, reviews on the website of the business you are researching are going to all be positive. This is normal since the business controls what reviews get put on their site and, of course, they will put up the positive ones.
If you want to view all the reviews, both the good and the not so good, be sure you are reading the reviews on the search. These are the reviews available before you head on over to the specific website.
Accounting software directory
Chances are the accounting software you are using or plan to use has a list of certified experts, all of which you can contact through some sort of link on their profile.
Which software directory should you check first? I’d check the one that makes the most sense to you or that your friends or colleagues recommend to you for a business like yours.
I’m sure you have heard all about which accounting software is the best, just check out some videos if you have somehow missed out on these type of arguments and for some weird reason want more disagreement in your life.
Or…you could just lightly research the accounting software options that you have heard of and pick one.
My take:
From what I have seen, accounting software preference is a Chevy vs Ford type of thing: die hard supporters on either side, both of which think any other options are for knuckle heads.
Really, if any of the well known accounting software options were horrific, they would be out of business in a heartbeat. No accounting system is perfect, you have to pick your poison here and go with the one that seems to do the things you need to support your business.
If you decide to switch accounting software, most make the switch from a competitor to their platform fairly easy. No need to worry too much about which one you start out with as long as you can move your data off of it, should you choose to do so.
In case you are wondering, I use Quickbooks Online. Why? It’s the one I learned on, so I’m the most efficient and capable using this particular system.
Additionally, my support network is also mostly on Quickbooks, as well, so I can get great help, fast, anytime I need it. Nothing wrong with other accounting software options, I have simply chosen to work with the one I know.
Ask your CPA/Accountant
Don’t overlook your Accountant or CPA as a source for a bookkeeping referral. Or maybe your accountant would do the bookkeeping too? Nothing wrong with that, if it works for you.
Ways to verify a bookkeeper
Once you get a name or two, how do you verify that this bookkeeper is really someone who knows his/her stuff? Here are some options.
Verify business online
Check out Google My Business, if you haven’t already, and see that this person has a business set up and an online presence, probably a website.
Nothing there? Try something like Facebook instead. Some bookkeepers get so much business off of social platforms they don’t worry about putting up a website or filling out a map location. That’s fine, as long as you find something along these lines, you’ll still be able to spy around and see what’s what.
Verify certifications
If you want to verify a bookkeeper’s certifications, go to the website of the software that they are certified with and look for something like “accounting software name directory”. In Quickbooks Online, this certification is called Pro Advisor, as an example of the type of thing to look for.
Anyone certified with the software will have the option to put up a profile. If the bookkeeper or accountant you are looking for has a profile up, they are currently certified with that accounting software.
Ask fellow businesses
Again, ask what your fellow business owners think of a specific bookkeeper. Word gets around, someone will know something.
Directly ask the prospective bookkeeper some questions
Another option is to call one of the bookkeepers you are considering and see what they have to say about some of the things you are needing done with your books. Do they have any good suggestions for you? Are they asking intelligent questions about you, your business and what you want/need?
Pull up your Balance Sheet or Income Statement and ask about something you are confused about or just want some help with. How does it go? The bookkeeper should be able to explain the basics of these reports to you.
To be clear: s/he probably can’t fix your problem over the phone, but should be able to give you a solid start on where to look to get it sorted out.
Do you like talking to this person? Do they make sense to you and say things in a way that helps you to figure out what is going on? Or are you still confused when you get off the call? That’s something to consider, as well.
Does a bookkeeper have to be certified?
Nope, bookkeepers in the U.S.A. do not have to be certified to handle your books. There’s both good news and not so good news here.
The good news part is that it keeps the options open for folks who are great at bookkeeping and don’t really want to deal with certifications but will still do a wonderful job with your books.
On the other hand, it does make it your job to vet the people you allow into your books. Certifications are somewhat of a short cut to finding qualified, knowledgeable help, but doesn’t guarantee anything since there’s more to bookkeeping than just being able to work the accounting software.
If you want something closer to a guarantee, go with a referral from someone you trust.