SBC Bookkeeping Services

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You hire a bookkeeper. How many hours should you request that he or she work?

Well that depends on your needs. A good bookkeeper will be honest with you based upon workload. In today's high-tech, rapid-paced world the need for full-time staff is growing smaller. Most independent small business owners often need a reliable bookkeeper to help with the paperwork. It is highly recommended to use support staff (or consultants) so you can focus on business growth.

Accounting, office work, filing, answering phones really doesn't sound difficult - however faced with sales calls/meetings, employee performance/turnover, vendor purchasing, and actual billable work completed - office functions sit on the back burner until they are unbearable and overwhelming.

So how much time should you expect someone to work on your bookkeeping ? I have worked on an as needed basis for over five years in Dover, Lewes, Rehoboth, Milton, Millsboro (Sussex County, Delaware) and I have found the most successful small businesses have their bookkeeper or personal assistant physically in the office on a weekly basis.

During the course of normal business, you will be blown away by how much a good accounting source can help you. Accounting is a central hub of information that touches on many areas. Our services range from basic and managerial accounting to searching bid boards for jobs, notary services, managing insurance quotes and renewals, managing inventory, managing point-of-sale retail software, managing reservations for small hotels and bed&breakfasts. All in 1-2 visits per week (less than 10 hours per week).

Very few businesses benefit from a monthly appointment. If you have a relative that handles the office, a monthly appointment may suffice. If your gross sales are less than $200,000/year than a monthly appointment may be sufficient. However, to grow your company successfully and avoid burnout you will need to increasingly rely on the assistance of other people along the way.

You should always ask for references and research for a good bookkeeper. A good one will not blow up when asked to handle a great workload. A weak one will fall apart at the seams. An excellent one will be highly efficient and honest with you at all times.

Be careful when a potential worker comes to you requesting to be paid as a 1099.

New worker's compensation laws in the state of Delaware include 1099 contractors into your payroll calculations if you cannot prove the contractor a stand-alone business with his/her own worker's compensation insurance.

New rules for the state of Delaware gross receipts tax limit who can be considered a 1099 contractor for deductions off taxable gross receipts.

The IRS will soon require all business payments to others be reported on 1099's as early as 2011! Plus the IRS has its own definition of what qualifies your worker as an employee or 1099 Sub.

More information at www.irs.gov