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Michael Howard

Can Your Business Survive Without an Accountant?


Technology has made certain financial tasks easier, but it's important to understand that running your business without an accountant has its limitations. In this blog, we'll explain why having an accountant is crucial for your success and survival.

Self-Education

Investing time in self-education helps you assess your business's finances and make data-driven decisions. Online platforms offer various accounting materials like tutorials, videos, e-books, and forums. These resources help you understand important financial indicators, such as profit margin, return on investment (ROI), and break-even analysis.

Self-education lets you apply what you learn to real-world situations.  As an owner, you know your financial situation well, so you can easily connect accounting concepts to your own business. This allows you to take a more active role in managing your finances, analyze statements effectively, and find areas for improvement.

Automation and Technology

Cloud-based Accounting Software has transformed financial management for entrepreneurs. Software solutions, like QuickBooks, Xero, or FreshBooks, offer various features that simplify bookkeeping and invoicing.

 

You can easily track income and expenses, create invoices, reconcile bank statements, and generate financial reports, all from a centralized and secure online platform. The cloud-based nature of these tools also enables real-time collaboration with accountants or financial advisors.

Let's say you're an entrepreneur who runs an e-commerce business. You can connect your online store with cloud-based accounting software. When a customer makes a purchase, the software automatically creates an invoice, updates your inventory, and records the transaction in your books. This seamless integration saves time and reduces the risk of manual errors.

Are Accountants Still Needed?

When considering the idea of not having an accountant, it's important to recognize the special skills they have that technology cannot replace.

Expertise and Strategic Insight

Accountants bring a level of expertise and strategic insight that can help your business in different ways. They have specialized knowledge in critical areas such as tax planning, financial forecasting, and strategic growth initiatives.

A. Financial Systems Implementation:

Accountants help with setting up and improving financial systems, like accounting software or enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems. They can customize the systems to meet specific business needs, provide training to staff, and ensure accurate data management and reporting.

B. Ethical Considerations:

Accountants follow professional codes of ethics created by organizations like the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) or the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants (IESBA).

These rules cover ethical considerations, such as maintaining confidentiality, objectivity, and professional behavior. Accountants can help businesses establish guidelines and policies to ensure integrity in financial reporting and decision-making.

C. Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) Analysis:

Accountants can analyze the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) for businesses that sell products. They break down the costs of goods or services, find inefficiencies, and suggest strategies for cost reduction. Accountants can also help set the right prices to make sure the business makes a profit and stays competitive.

Investor/Creditor Relationships

Accountants ensure that your financial statements, forecasts, and reports are accurate and easy to understand. This is particularly useful if you depend on external funding sources, like investors or lenders, because it helps build trust.

A. Financial Negotiations/Discussions:

Accountants can effectively communicate your business's financial performance during financial negotiations or discussions. They can also provide insights into financial ratios, key performance indicators (KPIs), and industry benchmarks. This helps you make informed decisions and get better funding deals.

Hidden Costs

Not hiring an accountant may seem like a good way to save money, but it's important to think about the extra costs that could come up if you handle your finances on your own.

The risk of missing important deadlines, not keeping up with rules and regulations, or making expensive errors can outweigh the money you think you're saving. Having an accountant as a trusted advisor can protect you from these risks and give you more time to focus on important things.

Succession Planning and Exit Strategies

An accountant can assist you with planning for the future, whether it's transferring ownership, selling the business, or preparing for retirement. They can provide advice on tax implications, valuation, and more. This ensures a smooth transition and allows you to get the most value out of your business.

Succession Planning

Succession planning is about preparing for when the current owner or a key person leaves a company. This usually happens when they retire or quit. An accountant can assist in the following ways:

Business Valuation:

Accountants can evaluate a business thoroughly and determine a reasonable price for potential buyers. This price serves as a starting point for negotiations.

Financial Forecasting:

Accountants can assess whether a business's cash flow will be enough to support the outgoing owner's retirement income and any loans they have.

Exit Strategies

Exit strategies are plans or ways to sell or close a business.  An accountant can provide valuable guidance during this process.

Due Diligence Support:

Accountants assist in preparing financial statements and necessary documents for due diligence in the sale process. This guarantees that the financial records are accurate, complete, and clear for potential buyers.

Tax Planning and Optimization:

Accountants can examine how taxes are affected by a sale and suggest ways to lower the amount of taxes owed. They may use tax deferral techniques, consider available deductions, or identify potential tax credits.

What’s Your Next Move?

Now that you realize how crucial it is to have an accountant for your business, it's important to think about what you can do next to make the most of their knowledge and achieve financial success. Here are some suggestions:

Evaluate Your Financial Needs

Identify areas where an accountant's expertise can be helpful, like tax planning, financial forecasting, or cost analysis. This will help you find the right accountant or accounting firm for your business.

Find a Trustworthy Accountant

(a.) Get recommendations from colleagues, industry groups, or professional networks.

(b.) Interview accountants to assess their knowledge, experience, and communication skills.

(c.) Choose an accountant who understands your industry, has a strong track record, and is a good fit for your business.

Continuously Evaluate the Relationship

Regularly assess the accountant-client relationship to ensure they meet your expectations, provide valuable advice, and assist you in achieving your financial goals.

Experience the difference with Peach BPO’s expert accounting support. Contact us today and discover why we're the team your business needs.

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