3 05, 2018

4 Realtor Frustrations and Solutions

2019-11-21T18:10:35+00:00

Focus on Realtors: 4 Bookkeeping Frustrations and Solutions for Realtors

Log home in the mountains Telluride, ColoradoI am acutely aware of the realtor frustrations in resort towns. Not only am I married to one, but I’ve also worked professionally with some of the top Realtors in my ski town as well as the state. Realtors are my clients and friends. I’ve attended more Real Estate conventions than Accounting conventions. I have a good pulse on running a Real Estate business in today’s world and here is what I see: you are facing challenges from everywhere.

Frustration 1 – You do not have enough time

Let’s be honest – Realtors are not so great at their bookkeeping. It isn’t because you can’t, it is because it is a huge time suck! When you finally have a couple of hours off the last thing that you want to do is accounting. You don’t really want to outsource your bookkeeping either. You feel that paying for bookkeeping is just another expense, like paying someone to clean the house. Who wants another expense? This mindset is costing you money.

Solution 1

Hire a QuickBooks Online Certified Pro-Advisor. You may spend a little more upfront but your ROI is mountains over just getting expense reports for tax returns. A QBO ProAdvisor will automate your bookkeeping. No more scrambling for statements, spreadsheets or guesstimates for the tax man – QBO integrates with your bank eliminating any possible missed deductions. Now you aren’t just paying someone to track expenses, now you have real time information to make better business decisions. 

Beyond that, Advisory “Firms of the Future”  will go the next step to review and analyze your numbers with you. Having historical data on the seasonal behavior of your business allows Advisors to help you plan your cash flow and strategize tax planning.

Partner with someone that can help you grow and keep your money.

Frustration 2 – You need to know where to spend your advertising dollars

EVERYone wants your advertising dollars. They are feeding sharks out there. You are spending so much money in so many directions, it’s scary.

Solution 2

The right accounting partner can provide you with details of where your advertising dollars are going – as they are going! If an angle isn’t working, catch it quickly and reset. Compare what you’ve spent this year vs last with the resulting impact on revenues. QBO ProAdvisors can create workflows that help identify where your customers are finding you.

Remember that hiring someone niche in your industry brings an entire knowledge base of what they have seen work -and what hasn’t. It is invaluable to have an Advisor with experience.

Frustration 3 – You don’t feel like you have control

Your phone rings constantly; you are the glue. You have to stay on top of everyone and everything to get the deal closed. Then you have to make dinner and get the kids to soccer. You do not want someone else paying your bills, they will spend too much of your money or pay for something that should not be paid. They pile up in the mailbox. You pay them late. At some point you’ve got to file all that (but really, you just throw them all into a box).

Solution 3

You can have full control over bill payments without spending hours every weekend. Hire someone who eliminates paper bills. We create Accounts Payable workflows for businesses operating around the World. Trust me, they aren’t processing paper bills! They pay on time and have happy vendors and retain full control while on-the-go. Bills are queued up and delivered to business owners for electronic approval…on their smartphones.

Approve or deny bills in 5 minutes – in between showings, waiting for a client, while blogging.

Frustration 4 – You can’t keep up with technology, but you see the competition doing so

Smart phone taking a photo of mountainsZillow, Redfin, and about a hundred other business are launching industry disruptive technology services. You can’t even keep up your Facebook page. Its overwhelming. You do not even know who to call.

Solution 4

You need access to a strategic network of professionals. This is why you hear Firm of the Future Accountants now calling themselves “Advisors”. They are out there building Teams of in-house and referral partner talent. Virtual Admins are all the rage now due to their low cost and technology capabilities. Your Advisor can tap into vast resources to help.

This is the kind of value that is far beyond the traditional bookkeeper. This is the kind of value that lets you keep more of your money. This is the kind of ROI that is mountains over just getting expense reports to the tax man.

If you are ready to make life easier and hire a professional, contact Singletrack Bookkeeping today at 970.291.1201. We do all the behind-the-scenes work to make your real estate business run smooth. Hiring us means that you will always have the most up to date accounting records.

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4 Realtor Frustrations and Solutions2019-11-21T18:10:35+00:00
9 04, 2018

Why a Small Business Should Outsource Accounting

2019-11-21T18:11:27+00:00

As a small business, you are always under time and cost pressures. You have to worry about creating a good product or service line while reducing costs. When it comes to controlling every part of a small business, you may find it difficult or not doable. One area you may feel like you need help with is the accounting. An option you should consider for accounting is outsourcing. Many small businesses benefit greatly from outsourcing accounting. We outline the benefits, timing of when to hire an accountant, pros and cons, and pricing.

5 Benefits of Outsourcing Accounting

Financial Savings

The true value of outsourcing accounting is the reduction in costs. When you outsource your accounting, you are only paying for the accounting services you use. Meaning, you only pay for the help when you need it. Outsource accounting eliminates the typical employee expenses like benefits, insurance, payroll taxes, and paid leave. When you choose to outsource your accounting, you are reducing your overall operating cost.

Access to the Latest Technology

Accounting firms always want to make sure they are at the forefront of their industry. A part of being at the forefront is to have the latest technology. When you have access to the latest accounting technology, it ensures your bookkeeping is always up to date. Therefore, you know your cost better and can stay ahead of the competition.

The Best Expertise

When you hire an accounting firm, you can rest easy knowing you have access to the experts. Having an accounting firm on your side ensures you have the best financial reports that meet regulatory and compliance standards. An accounting firm specializes in the work they do, so they are perfect for getting all your accounting projects done. Hire a third-party accounting firm and rest assured that they will complete all your accounting quickly and correctly.

Daily Monitoring

An outsourced accounting firm allows you to keep track of your accounting records and data on a daily basis. Most accounting firms will assign a team that is dedicated to your company, allowing you to access your accounting records whenever you need them. Having daily reporting allows you to make better business decisions and stay ahead of the competition. Hiring an accounting firm helps your business to grow by having accurate and daily reports.

Better Time Use

When you outsource your accounting, you get time back that you used to spend doing administrative tasks. The time you used to spend on accounting can now be used to better your small business. Sometimes when you have to do tedious tasks such as accounting, it is distracting to you. Hiring an accounting firm, allows you to focus on the core of your business. Don’t waste time worrying if your accounting is correct, outsource it instead.

Female mountain biker biking on singletrack in the mountains

When should you start outsourcing accounting?

Hiring an accountant will save you money, time, and headaches. However; there are several key times when you want to have an accountant to help you with the process.

Writing your business plan.

Accountants have software with financial projections. This will help you write a business plan that is more professional and realistic which will give you more chance to succeed, especially if you are looking for financing.

Forming your business.

Forming your business requires a lot of decisions including what entity structure makes the most sense, help with getting all the business licenses set up, employee paperwork, and bookkeeping software to name a few. You should be careful when deciding what form of entity you choose whether it’s an s-corp, c-corp, LLC, sole proprietorship, etc… and that is where an expert comes in.

When setting up compliance and taxes.

Will you be charging sales tax, running payroll, or issuing 1099s? Even if your business does not require you to do either of those things, there are other reporting requirements businesses need to be compliant with.

In case you’re audited.

It’s better to hire an accountant before an audit happens but if it does happen it can be expensive, time consuming, and frustrating. If you already have an accountant in place, the process will be much more streamlined since they have already done upfront work to make sure your books are in order.

Outsourcing accounting pros and cons

Pros

More cost effective.

Outsourced accounting costs are often less expensive than hiring someone in house.
Time. Wouldn’t you rather be spending time doing the things you love rather than crunching numbers or managing the accountant on your in house team?

Accuracy.

Accounting firms take care of all the details so you don’t have to worry come tax time whether or not you or your solo in house accountant added up your expenses properly.

Fraud.

Outsourced accounting firms have a team of people working for you. This reduces the chance of fraud that can happen with one person at the helm.

Cons

Control. Giving up the control of your accounting to a firm can be hard and can feel uncomfortable. When choosing the best outsourced accounting services, make sure to choose an accounting service that has a smooth onboarding process, defines roles within the team, has policies and procedures in place, and has excellent communication.

Outsourced Accounting Pricing

Outsourcing accounting is generally less expensive than hiring someone in house. By outsourcing, you do not have any overhead costs such as salary, paid time off, health insurance, worker’s comp, retirement, and sick days. You also reap the benefits of having a team of people with different areas of accounting expertise. Singletrack Accounting plans start at $49 per month and the price is based on your company’s revenue.

The cost of hiring an accountant not only saves you money in taxes, but it also gives you back more time in the day to focus on your business. Let’s say doing your taxes takes 15 hours and you charge $100/hour. That costs you $1500 to do it yourself and the margin of error is greater.

Singletrack Bookkeeping owners pointing at a sign on the Yampa River Core Trail

Hire An Accounting Firm

Many small businesses benefit from outsourcing the accounting. You not only save money, but you have access to expert advice, daily reporting, and a piece of mind.

If you are ready to make life easier and hire an accounting firm, then contact Singletrack Bookkeeping today at 970.291.1201. We do all the behind-the-scene work to make your company run smooth. Hiring us means that you will always have the most up to date accounting records.

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Why a Small Business Should Outsource Accounting2019-11-21T18:11:27+00:00
22 02, 2018

3 Tips For Building Your Small Business Dream

2019-11-21T18:12:12+00:00

No matter the size of your business or the goals that you have in mind, it is not easy to build a dream. When I look back at the evolution of my own business I can point to 5 pivotal factors that were – and are- invaluable in building our organization:

Check your pride at the door

You’ve likely heard the adage “never be the smartest person in the room”. This is a rule that I absolutely live by. I like to think of my brain as a highly absorbent sponge; gleaning every tiny tidbit of information that I can locate. Even on topics where I may actually have thorough knowledge and years of experience my sponge soaks up everything it can in search of that one potential take-away that may turn into our next big breakthrough. For example, every week I like to watch industry webinars or check in with industry forums to stay as informed as possible. Many times discussions cover ground I’ve traveled long, long ago. Nearly every day I can find a kernel, look at a problem from a new perspective, and simply learn something new. Grandpa use to say “Even a blind pig can find an acorn every once in a while”.

Self Reflection

I don’t know about you, but I am not perfect. There is nothing about operating a business that is not impacted your personal challenges. Understanding your personal challenges and how they relate to how you think, behave, react, learn – is the secret sauce of success. I cannot think of one successful entrepreneur that I’ve studied that hasn’t examined ” how they tick”. In fact that very self reflection is often the core of what business leaders write about and we seem to clamor for it. Identify your key roadblocks and find a path around them.

Two rock climbers teamwork

Support & Mentorship

There is nothing you cannot achieve in this world without guidance and support. For me personally I can tell you that there was a time in my life where this was absent and a time in my life where this has become present….there is no comparison. My life (and business) knows no bounds short of getting in my own way! That’s where support comes into the game. Setting your pride aside and honestly reflecting on one-self and business with the support and mentor-ship of Coaches, Consultants, friends and loved ones will help you create beyond what you dreamed is possible. This is why it has been so very important to myself and my team to transition far beyond the traditional bookkeeping service into Business Management & Advisory support.

Hire People Smarter Than You

It takes a lot of confidence to hire someone or build an entire team of people smarter than you but it is so important to the success of your business. Hiring smart people shows you are committed to the vision and mission of your company. Intelligent employees will allow you to solve problems you otherwise wouldn’t be able to do on your own. Most importantly, imagine what you can learn from this person. 

A Little of Something is Better Than Nothing

Perfection is the enemy of goals. Many people get hung up on creating something that’s 100% perfect and fail to ship their creation. While you don’t need to accept mediocrity, excellence does not require perfectionism. This can lead to failure to launch, high amounts of stress on your body, precious time and resources wasted, and dry creativity. Instead, try something to your best ability (but not 100%) perfection and run tests to see if your idea gains traction. If it doesn’t, fail quickly. If it is successful, double down. 

Female entrepreneur working on her laptop

Never Be Complacent in Your Success

Complacency is the silent business killer and it affects small businesses and large corporations. While you should celebrate your successes, being complacent leads to stagnation. Stay on top of your industry trends, technology, and competition. The world is always changing. Be dynamic and be willing to change with it. Be prepared for the worst case scenario, even in times of success.  Always, be thinking ahead and be better tomorrow. 

Entrepreneurs flourish when the walls come down. While there are many other more practical factors in building your dream, incorporating these 5 today and in the future will keep you on the right path. 

We know small business and we have been working with people like you since 2006. Schedule a free accounting consultation.  

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