“I think I need to hire a bookkeeping service for my small business,” you whisper to yourself. Amongst the 900 other daily tasks you have on your plate, keeping up with the books sounds like exactly zero fun. That means you put it off altogether or dump it in your nice but not exactly bookkeeping trained assistant’s lap. After you Google a couple of online bookkeepers and ask a business friend what they pay, you come to this sad conclusion: You cannot afford to hire a bookkeeper.
But alas, we would (typically) strongly disagree.
While we’ve genuinely told a few small business owners that they’re not ready for bookkeeping services yet, for the vast majority of small business owners, we’ve actually found that they SAVE more money than they SPEND when they hire a bookkeeper.
While hiring bookkeeping services for small business might sound like a luxury, it’s actually one of the most cost-effective investments many small businesses can make. Depending on your location and the scope of your bookkeeping needs, a professional bookkeeper might cost you around $250 to $600 per month. But when you factor in the time savings, the improved accuracy in financial records, and the expert advice on financial planning, the return is often well worth it in the long run.
What many small business owners don’t realize is just how much they’re losing by doing it themselves. The hours you spend trying to figure out bookkeeping software or backtracking to fix categorization mistakes aren’t free—they come at the cost of revenue you could have earned elsewhere.
Even worse, DIY bookkeeping often leads to late filings, missed deductions, or poor financial decisions based on outdated information.
How, you may ask? Well read on to learn 10 ways that bookkeeping services for small business can save you MORE money than it costs.
1. Frees up your time so you can make more money
If you walk away with nothing else, please consider this. Are you gifted to be a bookkeeper? Is that your strength? Let’s go out on a limb here and say, probably not, or you 1. Wouldn’t be reading this, 2. Would be joyfully categorizing expenses rather than googling anything about bookkeeping.
Chances are good that you got into business because you saw a hole in the market and wanted to bring solutions, to serve those around you.
When you can delegate what you’re not fantastic at or just don’t like doing, then it frees YOU up to go make more money in your business, doing what you truly ARE gifted to do.
Instead of spending hours doing data entry and reconciling transactions, hiring a dedicated bookkeeper gives you the time and energy to grow your business operations and focus on sustainable growth.
2. A great bookkeeper can help you catch mistakes or errors quickly
What’s worse than one little bookkeeping error? 245 bookkeeping errors that snowball for a year, costing you money AND clarity on the current financial situation of your business.
On more than one occasion, we’ve had bookkeeping clients who were spending an exorbitant amount of money on dues or subscriptions that they forgot about. A free trial here and a free trial there that turn into $10 to $20 per month subscriptions can really add up over time.
By hiring bookkeeping services for small business, a bookkeeper can really look at your subscriptions with an objective eye and help you decide if it is worth the money.
They can also flag discrepancies in financial transactions, check for duplicate charges on credit cards, and ensure your general ledger is accurate, giving you cleaner monthly financial statements and better financial health.
Related: 7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire an Accountant for Your Small Business
3. You’ll be more knowledgeable about where your money is going
A bookkeeper will help you see which parts of your business are getting the most of your resources so that you can make informed decisions.
With accurate financial data at your fingertips, you can make faster, smarter business decisions about where to cut back, where to reinvest, and how to manage your cash flow more effectively. Good bookkeeping services offer more than basic bookkeeping. They’re a powerful tool for financial management and business growth.
For example, if your monthly financial statements show that 40% of your revenue is going toward one vendor or service provider, you can evaluate whether that investment is pulling its weight. Maybe it’s time to renegotiate. Or maybe you’ll see an underfunded area of your business that’s producing strong results and decide to double down. Financial visibility gives you real power to lead your business with clarity.
4. Is advertising money spent correctly or not?
Sometimes business owners throw out advertising nets, hoping to catch fish in all the places but the truth is, some forms of advertising are going to be more effective than others.
Bookkeeping services for small business can track your advertising expenses as their own category within your accounting system, giving you clean monthly financial reports that show whether that money is yielding returns. That kind of financial reporting helps you make an informed decision about where your marketing budget is best used.
5. Labor cost evaluation. Is that person actually needed?
Maybe Linda in advertising need only be a part time employee or a 1099 contractor. Maybe with a few system tweaks or spending less on advertising, but more strategically, the whole advertising team can be trimmed down.
A professional bookkeeper can track payroll expenses, categorize your payroll taxes accurately, and help you spot inefficiencies in your labor budget using real-time financial information, not just gut instinct.
6. Renting office space that is much too expensive
Looking at your financial records over the last 12 months can give you clarity on whether your rent is one of your top costs and whether it’s aligned with your long-term financial planning goals. Some small businesses realize they can maintain the same level of service using virtual bookkeeping services and remote client meetings, saving thousands per year.
7. Make wiser decisions about renting vs. buying equipment
A bookkeeper who works closely with your tax services provider or professional CPA can look at your current loss statement and help you understand which option, renting or purchasing, makes more sense based on your cash position and overall financial health.
Bonus: If your bookkeeping and tax preparation are handled by the same dedicated team, you’ll get holistic insight across multiple financial areas including business assets and depreciation.
8. Save money on taxes at the end of the year
Even better? When your financial transactions are accurately categorized throughout the year, you’ll avoid last-minute scrambling at tax time. A full service bookkeeping team can help you prepare for tax season proactively, ensuring your deductions are maximized and your books are clean for your accountant or CPA.
9. You’ll be paying someone who knows what they’re doing
Professional accountants and bookkeepers know best practices for managing different accounting methods, how to work within QuickBooks Online or other bookkeeping software, and how to generate accurate balance sheets and monthly financial reports.
10. Time to spend with family
Your peace of mind is priceless, and outsourcing your bookkeeping tasks frees up mental bandwidth you didn’t even know you were losing. It also gives you the right track toward financial clarity so your business doesn’t take over your personal finances or your life.
When your books are taken care of, you’re no longer staring at a stack of receipts while your kids beg you to come outside and play. You’re not spending weekends buried in spreadsheets instead of enjoying a family dinner. The time you reclaim isn’t just about rest—it’s about being present for the people you’re doing all this for in the first place.
Who Should Not Hire a Bookkeeper Yet
While most small businesses benefit from hiring a bookkeeper sooner than they think, there are a few cases where it’s smarter to wait. If your business is in the early stages and you don’t yet have consistent revenue, or you’re still validating your offer, your bookkeeping needs may be minimal. In these cases, using basic bookkeeping services or low-cost bookkeeping software to track financial transactions manually can get the job done for now.
If you’re still mixing personal finances with business bank accounts or haven’t set up a dedicated accounting system, it’s a sign you may need to organize the foundation first. That said, even a short consultation with a professional CPA or bookkeeping expert can help you get on the right track and avoid costly mistakes down the road.
If you’re ready to go from this: You’re scrambling at the end of every month, guessing at your cash flow, and praying you didn’t forget a tax deadline. Your accounting software is half-updated, and your inbox is full of unread receipts and reminders.
To This: Your books are clean. Your monthly financial statements are delivered on time. You know your numbers, make confident decisions, and actually sleep at night—because your financial information is current and taken care of by someone who knows what they’re doing.
Related: Should You Hire a Bookkeeper? How to Know You’re Ready
Still Wondering If Bookkeeping Services For Small Business is Worth It?
If you’re in the early stages of running your business or unsure whether full service bookkeeping is the best option yet, start with a consultation. We’ll help you evaluate your specific needs and recommend the best bookkeeping service or accounting platform for where you are right now.
At Lauren Hale CPA, we don’t just plug numbers into a system. Our dedicated team works closely with each business owner to ensure their financial records, tax strategy, and cash flow goals are fully aligned. Because we offer both bookkeeping and tax services under one roof, you’ll never have to wonder if your financial information is accurate or actionable.
Whether you’re juggling your own bookkeeping or looking for a dedicated accountant to take it off your plate, one thing is certain. Professional help will save you money, not just this year but for the long run.
Ready to See if Bookkeeping Services Are Right for You?
Whether you’re drowning in receipts, frustrated by inconsistent numbers, or just ready to stop doing it all yourself, bookkeeping help is closer (and more affordable) than you think.
Click here to schedule a consultation with Lauren Hale, CPA. We’ll help you figure out what makes the most sense for your business, your budget, and your goals.
Proudly written by the team at FaithHanan.com with the expertise of Lauren Hale CPA.
