Regularly publishing high-quality content on a blog helps bookkeeper build credibility and trust with potential clients.
When people see that a bookkeeper is knowledgeable and helpful, they are more likely to trust them with their financial matters.
Many small business owners overlook the importance of understanding their business’s financial situation and the necessary tax compliance and payment processes. That’s where bookkeepers can step in and educate their clients with blogs on how to maintain organized and automated financial records throughout the year. And guess what? A blog is a great tool for achieving that! As your copywriter, I will capture the firm’s unique voice and style in the blog so that you, the bookkeeper can effectively communicate with clients, provide valuable insights and guidance and attract new clients.
My work on the blog will help the bookkeeper charge premium fees. I will work with them to identify their unique value proposition. This involves understanding what sets the bookkeeper apart from competitors and why clients should be willing to pay more for their services. I would also craft persuasive website copy that highlights the bookkeeper’s expertise and experience to attract high-value clients. I will make sure to write clear calls-to-action to encourage visitors to inquire about premium services.
1. Basic Bookkeeping Principles:
The first blog would start with the fundamentals of bookkeeping, such as debits and credits, double-entry accounting, and the accounting equation. Now every accounting transaction must be either a credit or debit.Quite simply, either you are crediting money or debiting money to the overall balance.
There are two methods accountants use to show credits and debits for financial transactions. They can use the single-entry, or one-column method, or the more widely used double-entry, or two-column, method to show debits and credits. When using double-entry accounting, debits must always equal credits.
This is yet another extremely important accounting equation to remember. Because debits must always equal credits, it is common practice to use double- entry accounting to prevent errors.
2. Financial Statements Demystified:
A bookkeper’s blog should explain how to create and interpret financial statements like the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. The balance sheet looks at the big picture of the business at a specific point in time, considering data beyond revenue and expenses. More specifically, a balance sheet outlines total assets, total liabilities, and total shareholder equity on the day the bookkeeper creates the report.
An income statement, sometimes called a profit and loss statement, or P&L, tells the client what they spent versus what they earned in a particular time period. The report usually has two headings: Revenue and Expenses. Ideally revenue should exceed expenses at the bottom of the page. This yields a net profit. The client can create an income statement over any period of time. Many businesses do them monthly, quarterly, and/or annually.
By comparing income statements from different time periods, the bookkeeper can begin to understand important trends. When do costs rise? During which months does the client have the most sales? The bookkeeper will have plenty to analyse. This kind of reporting helps the bookkeeper identify the client’s liquidity, spot positive or negative trends, and incentivise investors to consider the business.
As the business grows, it’s difficult, if not impossible, to keep up with these reports without a dedicated bookkeeper. The types of financial statements required to run a thriving business might be done quarterly — but they rely on an accurate accounting of daily transactions and weekly invoices. The bookkeeper’s blog should explain how the bookkeeper does that.
3. Accounting Software Reviews and Tutorials:
The bookkeeper’s blog can review popular accounting software like QuickBooks, MYOB, Xero, or FreshBooks, and provide tutorials on how to use them effectively. Given that most clients are running a small business, maintaining tight control of finances is absolutely critical.
The need a clear picture of the company’s financial health, and the ability to track every cent.Finding the best small business accounting tool can be tough because there are so many options. While most bookkeepers will recommend Xero as software as it has the perfect balance of features and benefits. But Xero doesn’t suit every business.
While Xero is generally preferred by smaller businesses due to its ease of use and low starting costs, MYOB is particularly beneficial for larger businesses with its unlimited payroll and ability to manage large workforces without extra charges.
The bookkeeper allows their clients to choose the tool that best fits their needs and workflow. The bookkeeper’s blog should help them do that.
4. BAS Tips for Small Businesses:
The bookkeeper needs to ensure small businesses understand what is required in their BAS, including GST (Goods and Services Tax), PAYG (Pay As You Go) withholding, PAYG instalments, other relevant taxes and super. Their blog should emphasize the importance of maintaining accurate financial records throughout the year.
This includes keeping track of sales, expenses, invoices, and receipts and encourage small businesses to reconcile their financial records regularly. This involves comparing their records with bank statements to ensure accuracy and identify any discrepancies. They would use accounting software to streamline the BAS preparation process.
When a business doesn’t or can’t manage its bookkeeping on its own, it uses a bookkeeper who ensures that the business’s books are balanced throughout every quarter and at the end of the year. The blog shows how they offer bookkeeping services like tracking and recording transactions, reconciling accounts, and preparing financial reporting.
It will show how they also prepare and send business invoices and manage payroll processing.. The work put in by the bookkeeper will ensure that the accountant will have less work to do at year-end.
They would also advise small businesses to set aside funds throughout the year to cover their tax obligations. This can help prevent cash flow issues when it comes time to pay the BAS. Needless to say, they would stress the importance of submitting the BAS on time to avoid penalties and interest charges. Remind them of the due dates for lodgment and payment and encourage small businesses to seek advice from a qualified accountant or tax advisor if they are unsure about any aspect of their BAS or tax obligations.
The bookkeeper would review the BAS before submission to ensure accuracy and completeness. Mistakes can lead to unnecessary delays and potential compliance issues. They would also advise small businesses to stay informed about changes to tax laws and regulations that may affect their BAS requirements.
This can include attending workshops, reading relevant publications, or consulting with a tax professional and encourage clients to plan ahead for upcoming BAS periods. By forecasting income and expenses, they can better manage their finances and avoid any surprises. the blog will show businesses how to do that.
5. Budgeting and forecasting:
The blog can examine the bookkeeper discussing strategies with clients for creating budgets, forecasting cash flow, and managing finances to achieve business goals. Budgeting is an indispensable part of running a successful business.It helps the business owner understand where they are financially, set goals, and track progress. But, it can take time to manage their business budget effectively. That’s where a bookkeeper comes in. The blog will show a bookkeeper can help them create a budget for their business and ensure they stay on track with their financial goals. A bookkeeper is responsible for recording all financial transactions in the accounting system. This includes income, expenses, payments, purchases, and other transactions.
By accurately recording all trades, a bookkeeper can help the business get a further understanding of their financial position and create an accurate budget.. The bookkeeper will also analyse trends in income, expenses, cash flow, and more and use the data to forecast future financial performance allowing the business owner to make better-informed decisions about future budgets.
6. Cash Management Strategies:
The blog should show how bookkepers will provide tips for optimizing cash flow, managing working capital, and improving liquidity The blog will tell client how they monitor the cash flow on a daily basis, which means tracking all the receivables and payments without any errors.
It ensures that all the transactions are accurately categorised under the correct sections in the books.They verify whether the amount coming in matches with the figure in the accounts or not and all the payments are authorised and recorded. They utilise a record-keeping system and cloud-based accounting software which reduce manual labour and increase efficiency. With regular monitoring, the bookkeeper keeps a tab on every dollar coming in and going out of the business.
Copywriters who understand service businesses can help get the word out about anyone’s bookkeeping business. They can create marketing materials such as blogs that attract prospects and convert them into leads and sales.
Ready to transform your bookkeeping business into a thought leadership powerhouse?
Look no further! As a seasoned copywriter well-versed in small business and bookkeeping, I specialize in crafting top-notch blogs that elevate your expertise and position you as a leader in your industry.
Reach out to me, Leon Gettler, and let’s amplify your voice: email me at leon@leongettler.com or give me a call at 0411 745 193. Let’s make your mark in the world of bookkeeping!
