When creating a startup, you need to make sure you have the right business fundamentals in place. That means the right people making the product, the right resources, the right consumers, and, in some cases, the right location. Without all that, you’ve got trouble. But one thing you need to absolutely make sure you have? A startup accountant.
That’s not to say you’re going to hire someone new out of the gate of accounting school, though they’ll obviously come cheaper. But you need to have some form of startup accountant to keep the taxes paid. Because, without that, even if you make all the potential money in the world, you’re going to get in trouble. And nobody wants that.
So what steps should you take when it comes to finding the right startup accountant? Well, there are a few things to keep in mind, actually. Let’s run through them!
Does Your Business Actually Need Its Own Startup Accountant?
The first thing you need to understand is whether or not you need a startup accountant on staff or not. Usually, businesses like to hire accounting firms or specialists to take care of their needs, depending on how much money they generate. We know big companies like Apple and Microsoft certainly have their own firms. But where does that leave smaller startups?
Really, it depends on what your business does. For example, if you deal with a lot of money and need a system to keep track of it, or have a lot of financial documents that you need to manage, an accountant is good to have. For good measure, if you have a lot of loans, dividends, payments, and anything else pertaining to money, then, yes, bring in your own startup accountant. They’ll help relieve the burden so you can focus on other aspects of the business.
Now, if you do already have an established system and you understand it and can print and maintain documents easily, that’s different. That’s when you can hire an accounting firm to help you out when you need to turn in the information or get tax documents out to your employees. It helps to know someone with good experience, though, if you’re a lower-end startup, you may consider going with a private startup accountant to assist you.
Whatever the case, you need accounting services. Take a close look at what kind of money and services your startup generates, then decide accordingly.
Don’t Just Go with a By-the-Basics Startup Accountant
Usually, accountants just get the job done with their numbers and move on. Depending on the nature of your business, however, you may want a startup accountant that not only understands your business but grows with it.
That’s where you’ll need to do your research. There are a number of resources available where you can find nearby accountants. But just because you pick one that has a five-star rating doesn’t mean they’re right for you. Again, this comes down to the nature of your business and who exactly you need for it.
If you generate a lot of numbers, you want to have an accountant on staff that can keep track of everything for you. That’s where you’ll want to do your homework. Interview a lot of people and see where their experience lies. Sure, some may require a higher salary, but depending on their expertise and skills, that could be totally worth it. This is especially true when you’re trying to generate some good kickbacks to go towards more supplies for your business.
Be critical when it comes to picking your accountant, and don’t automatically go with the first name you draw right out of the gate. Otherwise, you may get someone that doesn’t understand everything your business generates, and they could create more trouble than they’re actually worth!
Stay in Communication
Finally, communication is key between you and your startup accountant. If something new comes up in the numbers, notify them immediately. If they need to talk to you about resource or employee costs, don’t put them off. Schedule the time and make sure you converse with them properly. The key here is that you have smooth-flowing communication. Without that, you could have lost money – and the next thing you know, your startup is in trouble.
So yeah, make sure you’ve got someone with the skills and know-how in your field of business. Do your homework and look for the right person for the job. And, finally, don’t be afraid to talk to your accountant. They’re people too, and not just number-crunchers. Keeping these fundamentals in mind, you can find the right startup accountant for the job, be it temporary or permanent. Whatever the case, your tax woes could very well be behind you as you move on to the next important thing in your business. Good luck!
The post Here’s How to Find the Right Startup Accountant appeared first on KillerStartups.
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