Business

Virtual Bookkeeping: What Is It? A Comprehensive Overview

Smooth financial management is one of the most crucial pillars of solid business operations, and effective bookkeeping helps you get a clear idea about how your business’s savings are doing. Tracking and maintaining accounting records become more challenging as companies continue to grow; this is where the need for a trustworthy solution steps in. Virtual bookkeeping has arrived and is likely the solution. For most organizations, the solution to this is virtual bookkeeping—a convenient and economical alternative to DIY accounting and in-house bookkeepers. Through virtual bookkeeping services, businesses can gain expert help and better control of their finances while saving them the trouble of hiring full-time employees. We will discuss the benefits, merits, and intricacies of hiring a remote bookkeeper to help business owners make more informed decisions surrounding their finances.

Virtual Bookkeeping Services: What Are They?

The process of virtual bookkeeping involves the online categorization, reconciliation, and documentation of financial transactions through cloud-based software. Online bookkeeping and remote bookkeeping are also terms used to describe virtual bookkeeping.

Essentially, virtual bookkeepers conduct all of the day-to-day financial transaction recording for a company from a distance rather than in person.

Virtual bookkeepers document the daily inflow and outflow of funds within an organization. That is the most critical aspect of their responsibilities, and they are accountable for tasks such as: 

  • The management of payroll
  • Collecting payments
  • Acknowledging and documenting receipts
  • Reimbursing expenses associated with employment
  • Verifying the precision of financial records
  • Updating financial documents
  • Generating financial statements

What does a virtual bookkeeper do?

A virtual bookkeeper is an independent contractor who provides bookkeeping services to businesses online, usually through the cloud. These are the people in charge of keeping financial records accurate, timely, and compliant with accounting standards. They also provide business owners with financial reports. The responsibilities are:

The following are examples of basic bookkeeping duties: A virtual bookkeeper manages extremely fundamental bookkeeping responsibilities, for example, entering financial transactions, recording expenses, and holding onto sorted-out money-related reports.

Financial Reporting: He prepares financial reports such as a balance sheet and income statement for businesses that will enable business owners to make better decisions.

Communication: He is in communication with the business owners for proper and latest accounting records and addresses queries if any.

Why does a business need to contract a virtual bookkeeper service? 

Lower costs: A remote bookkeeper does not need office space, equipment, or other experience associated with it instead of a physical presence in an office, which makes them a more affordable option for small business owners over traditional bookkeepers.

Flexible: The remote bookkeeper, as mentioned above, can work on a schedule and allows companies to extract information when we need it without the need for us to worry about staffing or scheduling.

Availability: Virtual services are easily scalable for businesses with growing activities, leaving the core running and focusing on day-to-day operations.

Specialty: Due to the fact that digital accounting and bookkeeping professionals provide various advantages available for business people who do not have a fund as well developed expertise, most offering hybrid solutions to manage client finances.

Bookkeeping software: Virtual bookkeepers are familiar with a variety of computerized bookkeeping programs and can make recommendations to the business as well as set up the books and input all activity behind the scenes.

Data entry is another chore that will give busy small business owners and employees more time to focus on growing their enterprise. Many online bookkeepers will also offer this service, so you do not have to hire a full-time in-house bookkeeper.

Efficient communication: with the help of digital tools for messaging and electronic document storage, you can have efficient conversations while reducing room for errors.

Improved data security: The cloud-based software hosts more advanced security than any local server, thereby making your data much less susceptible to a breach.

How will you be communicating with your virtual bookkeeper?

As a client, you are not coming face-to-face with your bookkeeper either in person, but they can clearly communicate at every single step of online bookkeeping.

Virtual bookkeepers aren’t automated systems. All of them are certified public bookkeepers who are capable of performing their duties with integrity. The primary method of contact used by most online bookkeeping services with their clients is typically one or a combination of the following:

  • Emails,
  • Telephone conversations,
  • Document collaboration applications (e.g., Dropbox, Google Drive),
  • Online video conferencing services include Google Hangouts, Zoom, and Skype.
  • Messaging via the internet (e.g., Google Chat, Slack).

What are the advantages of virtual bookkeeping?

Many companies have begun offering their services online since the pandemic has altered the way we live and work. Consequently, individuals have become more accustomed to conducting business virtually rather than in person. Although the distinctions between on-site and remote work are negligible to nonexistent, the advantages are substantial. Let us examine them:

It is more cost-effective due to the absence of the necessity to employ a full-time bookkeeper. You are only paying for the specific duties that you wish your online bookkeeper to complete, which empowers you to continue operating independently.

You have the option of hiring the most professional bookkeepers in the industry rather than settling for a local bookkeeper. When seeking an individual to manage your accounts, distance is no longer a factor to be taken into account.

The risk of fraud is mitigated by employing an impartial virtual accountant who is not invested in your business. Consequently, you will prevent the conflict of interests and guarantee that your books are in trustworthy hands.

You will have additional time to concentrate on expanding your business, and there is no requirement to train a member of your team to manage monthly expenses or to perform the task independently.

If you employ a virtual bookkeeping service to manage your monthly bookkeeping requirements, your records will remain current at all times.

The hiring process is more flexible in terms of the services provided and the individuals you wish to employ, as well as time management.

Which businesses should transition to virtual bookkeeping?

Virtual bookkeeping services are applicable to all businesses, regardless of their size or type. However, minor businesses are particularly advantageous.

The time and funds that are saved by this modification can be allocated to future expansion. Furthermore, the implementation of all tasks digitally is not only cost-effective but also environmentally beneficial. While paper-based bookkeeping remains prevalent, it is more susceptible to errors that are difficult to detect and detrimental to a business.

Any business proprietor or entrepreneur who desires to streamline operations and enhance their convenience should not hesitate to transition to a digital and paperless environment. It is simpler to become acquainted with certain online tools than it is to maintain your literature.

Is Virtual Bookkeeping the Appropriate Option for Your Business?

There is no justification for delaying the decision to transition to digital operations and modify your business practices. Nevertheless, a significant number of individuals still prefer to adhere to the traditional methods of conducting business, such as the use of pen and paper. However, if you wish to remain competitive, you should not hesitate to modernize your business operations. In the event that you continue to harbor reservations, Velan, the most dependable provider of remote bookkeeping services, is available to assist you in identifying the most suitable solution for your business and initiating a new chapter in your book.

Author Bio:

Velan Bookkeeping, with 18 years of experience as a trusted outsourced bookkeeping services provider, offers a range of solutions including cloud accounting, accounts receivable/accounts payable (AR/AP), payroll, real estate bookkeeping, as well as EA and CFO services. We serve clients across various industry verticals, ranging from small businesses and CPA firms to Fortune 500 companies throughout the USA.

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