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As a small business owner, setting up and managing your business finances is a crucial task that requires attention to detail and a solid understanding of accounting principles. A SME business accountant can help you navigate this process.
According to the article, a SME business accountant can help you set up a cash flow forecast, which is essential for making informed business decisions. This involves tracking your income and expenses to ensure you have enough funds to cover your business needs.
A well-structured accounting system is key to managing your business finances effectively. This includes setting up a chart of accounts, which categorizes your income and expenses for easy tracking and analysis.
As a business owner, it's essential to stay on top of your finances, and regular financial reviews can help you identify areas for improvement. A SME business accountant can guide you through this process and provide valuable insights to help you make informed decisions.
Expand your knowledge: SME Finance
Setting Up a Business Accountant
Appointing an accountant to support your small business is a key aspect in gearing your business up for success or failure.
Operating as a small business is hard enough as it is, without having to worry about tax deadlines and how much money you should be putting aside each month for the Revenue.
By choosing QAccounting to support you and your business, you are entrusting something you hold dear with an expert online UK accountancy provider, with a proven track record in helping small businesses flourish.
Thousands of small businesses have chosen QAccounting to support them, and we are proud to have established a very happy client base of successful companies across the country.
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Open a Bank Account
Opening a bank account is a crucial step in setting up your business, and it's essential to get it right. To open a business bank account, you'll need to provide the bank with some necessary documents, including your Employer Identification Number (EIN) or Social Security number if you're a sole proprietor.
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You'll also need to provide business formation documents, such as your articles of incorporation or partnership agreement. And if you have multiple owners, you'll need to provide ownership agreements that outline each owner's roles and responsibilities.
A business license may also be required, depending on your state's regulations. Some banks may also require a minimum opening deposit, which can vary depending on the type of account and the bank.
To make the process easier, compare the fees, features, and benefits associated with different business bank accounts. This will help you find the one that best aligns with your needs.
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Set Up Chart of Accounts
Setting up a chart of accounts is a crucial step in establishing a solid accounting system for your business. A chart of accounts is a list of all accounts available for recording transactions in your accounting software program or general ledger.
To create a chart of accounts, organize your accounts into specific categories, then break them down into relevant subaccounts. For example, you might have a category for business asset accounts, which includes subaccounts for checking, savings, and money market accounts.
Assign a range of numbers to each category, which will be used to track individual accounts. You can see an example of this in the following table:
Common categories include asset, liability, equity, revenue, and expense accounts. By organizing your accounts in this way, you'll be able to easily track and categorize your business transactions.
Dedicated Accountant
Having a dedicated accountant is a game-changer for small business owners. They will get to know you and your business well, so you'll hardly ever have to deal with multiple accountants throughout your time with them.
This means you won't need to keep re-explaining yourself every time you give them a call, saving you time and reducing stress. Our dedicated accountants will take care of your accounting needs, allowing you to focus on what you do best - running your business.
Here are some key benefits of having a dedicated accountant:
- They will be aware of your business's size and complexity, ensuring they're best suited to meet your needs.
- They will remind you of approaching deadlines, taking the pressure off you to keep track of tax and financial obligations.
- They will provide additional services, making it easy to have all your professional matters dealt with in one place.
As a dedicated accountant, they will also have professional qualifications or be registered with an accounting governing body, ensuring you're in good hands.
Financial Management
Financial management is a crucial aspect of running a small business, and having a good accountant can make all the difference. They can help you create and manage financial statements, such as income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements.
These financial statements provide valuable insights into your business's financial health and can be used to determine your net profit or net loss. An income statement, also known as a profit and loss (P&L) statement, shows a business's expenses, income, losses, and gains over a set period.
To ensure accuracy in financial records, it's essential to keep business and personal accounts separate, use an accounting software program to track cash flow, and regularly update financial statements. This will help you stay on top of your finances and make informed decisions about your business.
Here are the three essential financial statements that all small businesses should consider creating:
- Income Statement: An income statement shows a business's expenses, income, losses, and gains over a set period.
- Balance Sheet: A balance sheet records a business's assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity.
- Cash Flow Statement: A cash flow statement provides a snapshot of how cash moves in and out of the business.
Choose an Accounting Method
Choosing an accounting method is a crucial step in financial management. You have two options: cash and accrual.
The cash method reports income in the year it's received and deducts expenses in the year they're paid. This method is straightforward and easy to understand.
The accrual method, on the other hand, reports income in the year it's earned, regardless of when it's received. This method takes into account the timing of when income is earned and expenses are incurred.
If you select one accounting method and then decide you want to change it, you'll need to complete IRS Form 3115 to formally make the change.
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Financial Statements
Financial statements are a crucial part of financial management for small businesses. They provide valuable insights into a business's income and expenses, and are necessary for lenders if you plan to apply for small business financing.
To create accurate financial statements, you'll need to generate three key statements: the income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement. The income statement shows a business's expenses, income, losses, and gains over a set period, and is also known as a profit and loss (P&L) statement.
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The balance sheet records a business's assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity, giving you a snapshot of what your business owns and what it owes. A cash flow statement provides a snapshot of how cash moves in and out of the business, helping you understand if your business is equipped to pay its bills.
If you're already using accounting software, you may be able to generate these statements automatically using the expense and income information you've entered. This can save you time and effort, and ensure your financial statements are accurate and up-to-date.
Here are the three financial statements you should consider creating:
- Income Statement: An income statement shows a business’s expenses, income, losses, and gains over a set period.
- Balance Sheet: A balance sheet records a business’s assets, liabilities, and shareholder equity.
- Cash Flow Statement: A cash flow statement provides a snapshot of how cash moves in and out of the business.
Personalised
We offer personalised quotes for your small business, ensuring you don't pay for services you don't need and get value for your money!
Our dedicated accountants will get to know you and your business very well, so you can trust that you're getting a tailored solution that meets your specific needs.
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You can get a quick quote from us today and see how you could benefit from our systems, our expertise, and in-house staff.
By choosing QAccounting, you're entrusting your business with an expert online UK accountancy provider, with a proven track record in helping small businesses flourish.
Thousands of small businesses have chosen QAccounting to support them, and we're proud to have established a very happy client base of successful companies across the country.
Accounting Software and Tools
Accounting software and tools can save your business time and potentially money by ensuring more accurate accounting. This can eliminate the need to retain a full-time accountant, which can add to your business expenses.
There are numerous software options for small businesses, with QuickBooks and FreshBooks being two of the most popular. You can compare different programs to evaluate the range of features and benefits that are included, and the overall cost of using it.
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Using accounting software can allow you to save time when managing the books for your business. You can sync financial accounts to easily import transaction history, track expenses, double-check transactions for accuracy, and generate important financial statements.
Some accounting software can help you create cost predictions, run forecasts to determine the potential return on business investments, manage inventory, manage payroll, send and receive invoices, track accounts payable and receivables.
Here are some of the key features you can expect from accounting software:
- Create cost predictions
- Run forecasts to determine the potential return on business investments
- Manage inventory
- Manage payroll
- Send and receive invoices
- Track accounts payable and receivables
Award-winning accounting software, such as Xero, can provide state-of-the-art accountancy software to make managing your business even easier.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is SME accounting?
SME accounting involves understanding and managing financial data to make informed decisions, ensure compliance, and maintain financial health. It's a crucial aspect of running a successful small or medium-sized enterprise.
How much does an accountant cost for a small business?
For small businesses, accountant costs typically range from $150 to $400 per hour, depending on the services needed. Outsourcing accounting services can help manage these costs, but it's essential to understand the specifics of your business needs.
Sources
- https://www.investopedia.com/accounting-for-small-businesses-8419573
- https://williamsacct.com/atlanta-small-business-accounting-services/
- https://www.qaccounting.com/customers/small-business-accounting/
- https://www.sableinternational.com/small-business-accounting-services
- https://www.hawsons.co.uk/sectors/small-business-accountants/
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