How do small-business owners figure out which they need – an accountant or a bookkeeper?

That’s actually a trick question, because you need both. You may not need both initially, but eventually – if your business becomes larger and more complex – you certainly will need both a bookkeeper and an accountant. Think of it this way – you need both an architect and a carpenter to build a house, don’t you? Well, you really need an accountant and a bookkeeper for the same general reasons. An accountant will oversee the vision, financial issues, and quality control for your business. A bookkeeper will take care of the actual day-to-day tasks of entering data, paying bills, sending out invoices, and managing payroll. An accountant can analyze the big picture of your financial situation and can offer strategic advice on financial strategies, such as whether it would be a good idea to get a line of credit for emergencies. A bookkeeper will make sure that new employees file the right paperwork, submit invoices quickly, follow up and make sure you’re paid, pay the bills and make sure very cost has been entered – and recorded – correctly. In addition, both accountants and bookkeepers can – and do – handle your taxes. At Burch’s Bookkeeping, you have the best of both worlds, plus a couple of certified tax preparers to boot!