Small Business Accounting – Are You Managing Accounting Tasks Before They Get Out of Control?

Chances are if you have been in business for a while that you have some sort of routine to track your finances. But one of the top challenges that small business owners report is not carving out time to regularly update their accounting. With so many other competing priorities there always seems to be a response to reschedule this task. But is there really time to do accounting later? This article includes tips for dealing with accounting tasks before they get out of control.

Pay attention to the signs.

There are many signals in business that tell you when the time is right to get more support. When it comes to task of accounting you will notice the signs when your systems are inefficient, non-existent and do not provide the information you need when you need it. Review your accounting regimen to ensure that the proper procedures are in place.

Find the missing pieces

When there are gaps in the accounting cycle business owners tend to have unanswered questions in day-to-day management. Accounting provides you with information to help you choose the best direction for your business. Look for the missing pieces in your process that blocks you from having information that is accurate, timely, and reliable.

Use a checklist

You can avoid missing opportunities to improve performance with checklists. Knowing what key accounting information you need allows you to accelerate business growth. For example, if your company allows customers to make purchases on account establish a regular routine that includes accounts receivables reporting and collections follow-up. The accounting procedures should enable you to smoothly manage the data needs and critical reporting requirements for your business. It starts with maintaining an organized process for handling source documents and flows through to the end with financial analysis.

Set-Up Your Accounting Information System

There are companies that have operated for years, and aside from the annual income tax return, do not have any financial reports to review. As a result, the owner has no real idea of how the company is doing. It is important that you have a way to manage and compile data into information that you can use. A good place to start if you do not have any systems in place is by organizing your files and then setting up the accounting system. There are several options for accounting systems including manual, spreadsheet, and accounting software. If you are unsure where to begin speak with a bookkeeper or accountant who can walk you through the process. In the end the best accounting method is the one that makes the process easy for you.