Your Bookkeeper’s Holiday Wishlist

This holiday season, don’t forget to ask yourself: “What should I get for my bookkeeper?” This is actually a trick question - your bookkeeper doesn’t need a stereotypical gift, but instead would prefer something money can’t buy. 

Honest and regular communication. 

This should go without saying but keep the communication open with your bookkeeper! You should have scheduled meetings to discuss your finances each month, but if something comes up in the meantime, it’s important to respond in a timely fashion and with as much detail as possible. Part of being a good partner, in any personal or professional relationship, is communication. 

Detailed receipts. 

Provide your bookkeeper with all your receipts! This is their dream - to have all the necessary information right at their fingertips. The more documentation you provide your bookkeeper, the more thorough your books will be. Ambiguity in your books is detrimental - forward all necessary documentation to your bookkeeper as you receive them to ensure all transactional data is being logged accurately. 

Access to everything. 

Yes, we mean everything! However, if your bookkeeper uses QuickBooks, then all necessary information would have been entered and synced in the beginning. It can be scary to hand over all the information for your business - bank accounts, credit cards, payroll information, assets and liabilities - but it’s essential for your bookkeeper so they can do their job properly and completely. This is one big reason why it’s so important to work with a reputable bookkeeper that you trust. 

Self-discipline. 

All bookkeepers wish for their clients to be more disciplined with their finances. You can discuss your finances and goals with your bookkeeper all you want, but if you aren’t disciplined and motivated to reach those goals, they won’t happen. That means you need to be strict with your spending, hit or exceed sales quotas, strategize for customer-retention, and other tasks necessary to take your business to the next level.

Referrals. 

The ultimate gift for your bookkeeper is a referral for additional clients! If you’re happy with your bookkeeper, spread the word. The ultimate gift for a small business is simply more business.