A good bookkeeper does a lot more than pay the bills. She’s managing your lifeblood: Cash. In business the trick is to have enough cash to survive until your customers pay you. That's where your bookkeeper comes in.

1. She fully utilizes savings plans, health benefits, payroll, and the newest tax incentives for business owners
2. She negotiates with vendors to secure optimum payment terms
3. She doesn’t let you overdraw your checking account, pay your credit cards late, or pay unnecessary finance charges or bank fees
4. She doesn’t let you sell to customers whose balances are too high
5. She doesn’t let your customers pay late

How much does a good bookkeeper cost? You can start out with a bookkeeper who works only a few hours each week, or once or twice a month, and expect to pay between $40 and $65 per hour for her time. You should see an improvement in your cash flow in less than 3 months and as your bottom line grows, so will your business. Eventually, you’ll hire her or someone like her full-time.
Where do you find a good bookkeeper? A good bookkeeper stays up to date on the accounting software system she specializes in, so you can find her online by searching for your accounting software system and your location (e.g. “quickbooks seattle). And it’s always great to get a referral from someone you know, so ask your business-owning friends who they use, ask your CPA who she recommends, and ask your trade association for bookkeepers who specialize in your industry.
How do make space for a bookkeeper if you work from home, or you don’t have an extra desk for her? A good bookkeeper has her own business structure that allows her to flex with you as your business grows. She has systems already in place that allow her to communicate clearly with her customer regardless of where her service takes place. You two might have a regularly-scheduled meeting to hand her the bills, etc. and go over reports and strategies. Or you might put it all on your scanner and have your meeting by phone. Regardless of where she does the bookkeeping, a good bookkeeper will give you a report of your cash position every time she does her magic.