Going into business for yourself can be a lucrative and rewarding venture. However, as anyone who has run a small business knows, it can also be costly. Running a small business comes with a wide array of expenses, not the least of which come from managing the finances. While you may believe that you can save by handling the money yourself, what this will really end up doing is taking up a large amount of your time that could be better spent handling other aspects of your business operations. The more time you spend trying to handle your company’s finances, the less time you can spend on other things; your time is valuable, and you’re trying to cut costs!
Once you are close to having your business up and running, it’s time to consider hiring a small business accountant. Many business owners balk at this idea, due to the fact that hiring an accountant seems like a costly step that they can avoid. However, if you take a step back and look at the grand scheme of things, you’ll find that securing the services of a small business accountant can actually save you quite a bit.
Here are a few ways you’ll save your business money by hiring an accountant:
When Starting The Business
A small business accountant can start saving you money right from the very beginning. One thing you’ll need to consider is your business structure. Will your business be best served by filing for sole proprietorship? Or are you looking for a partnership, or even to start a corporation? Choosing the right business structure for your particular line of work can be critical to saving money in the long run, and a qualified accountant can help you with this.
Once your business gets going, you will of course need to start a business bank account. As with choosing a business structure, you’ll have several options to choose from and your company’s financial future could be at stake. A credible, experienced accountant can give you a lot of help in this area.
Once Your Business Is Up and Running
After your small business accountant has helped you get your business up and running, it’s time to start thinking about managing the day to day finances. Choosing the right finance software can save you a lot of headaches when it comes to keeping track of your income and expenses; this is another thing your accountant can help you with. They can also help train you how to file taxes properly; for example, if your business makes use of independent contractors (as opposed to full on employees), they will need to be classified as such with the IRS. Having a qualified small business accountant can make tax season much less of a nightmare, and help you save money on unnecessary tax expenditures!
As Your Business Grows
Eventually, when all of your hard work pays off and your business begins to grow, you will still find yourself saving money with the help of a small business accountant. If your goal is to reach a certain amount of growth for the year, you will need to budget for that and your accountant will be there to help you create that budget. As your business grows, your costs will go up as you find yourself needing to hire more employees and buy or lease more equipment. Once again, a qualified accountant can be invaluable during this process, helping you to avoid spending any money that you don’t need to.
Hiring an Accountant
With all of the benefits that come along with hiring a small business accountant, now is a great time to start looking for one! Choosing the right accountant, however, can be the true challenge. You will want to vet any potential candidates carefully, making sure they have plenty of experience and all of the proper certifications for your area. Don’t forget to ask for references; you will want to speak to other small business owners who have successfully made use of your potential accountant’s services. Good luck with your future business endeavors!