Is There Logic in Hiring Virtual Assistants to Do the Bookkeeping

Copyright (c) 2010 Nick Clipton

Hiring an in-office bookkeeper can be very expensive, especially if the business is new, or it is small, or it is undergoing some cost cutting activities as an effort to save capital.

Hiring a virtual assistant (VA) to do the company's bookkeeping is not strange, actually everyone does it in one form or another. In the past, bookkeepers simply schedule their weeks and days and work with different clients in their local area. Today, with the flexibility that the internet offers, bookkeepers can do the same services even from a distance - some are even offshore.

Go online and look for virtual business supports for companies needing administrative and bookkeeping services to small and home-based businesses as well as corporations and individuals. There are specialized bookkeepers and accounting services offered by professionally trained and certified bookkeepers.

First thing to do is to look for that perfect match by interviewing VAs online or going over their personal websites if they have them, they usually do. Once you have narrowed down you choices, meet via phone or in person and avail of the free first consultation. Go over the list of things that you and your business needs done. The potential VA bookkeeper will talk with you about their skills, software knowledge and other criteria which you may want to deal with.

Once you find that bookkeeper, talk about the costs, the number of hours needed to finish the job, and most of all, find out how you can communicate with them. Make sure that you can communicate with them via telephone, fax, messenger services, and internet instant messenger applications. You can have the expectation from virtual assistant that he will render you the best service from all.

Finding the right VA to do you bookkeeping may exceed your expectations with their speed, thoroughness, accuracy and professionalism. Hire someone who has a good reputation or has been recommended to you because of their professionalism. Do not get lured into a trap where the cost is super low or bids to your job posts are considerably lower than that of the others.

There are new VA bookkeepers who are just as professional and accurate in their work but are just new to the business. Some companies take a risk and find out that these 'newbies' are just as good if not better, and by word of mouth, they can also improve their client base.