I recently presented an Introduction to QuickBooks Online to about a dozen growing, dynamic business owners.
QuickBooks Online – A Small Business Owner’s Perspective – Many of these businesses use QuickBooks Desktop or even QuickBooks Online, often with other apps, and all have an accounting professional working with them either as a tax adviser, payroll processor or doing their accounting and bookkeeping. These are some of the many things they told me:
- My accountant has told me about QuickBooks Online, but I’m not convinced that I should move.
- My accountant has told me not to go to QuickBooks Online, that it won’t work for us.
- I looked at QBO years ago and it couldn’t do what I needed it to do.
- QBO doesn’t have job costing or project tracking.
- There is still so much data entry in QBO.
- I need it to be HIPAA compliant.
- Reporting isn’t that great, so now what do I do?
- I use Excel a lot for operational reporting.
- I need help and didn’t know who to talk to about financial or operational efficiency.
- I need a financial adviser that helps me with cash flow management, analysis of my information, and to help me think about my business differently.
- All my accountant does is my taxes.
- Converting to QBO will be a nightmare.
- I can convert on my own because it will be so easy.
- I can do my bookkeeping on my own.
- I need someone to check over my shoulder.
- I didn’t know there was a better way.
- You mean we can do THAT in QBO?
One of the biggest hurdles that CPA’s must overcome, is that they are just a CPA that does taxes or audits, processes payroll or basic bookkeeping to get the tax returns done.
Many CPA’s have insight, expertise, and experience in a variety of areas, and can assist small business owners in many ways beyond taxes, accounting and bookkeeping. But it is different than what many have done and requires some training and education in other areas of business consulting.
Finances are very personal to small business owners.
They don’t want to be talked down to, belittled, or feel like they are taken advantage of. They want to have someone who gets their business, sees how unique it is (even if we don’t think it is) and helps them alleviate the worries and stress of this aspect of their life. They want to know someone is looking out for them, and lets them know that there is a roadblock or obstacle or issue coming up they should be aware of. They want to know that you will bring an issue to them and help them find a solution. There is so much opportunity and the possibilities are truly remarkable.
About Carla
Carla Caldwell is the founder and CEO of Caldwell Consulting & Training. She strategically guides accounting teams to become a modern practice.
Carla works with accounting firms to implement the tools and processes that help them be more successful. Focusing on the strategic goals of the firm, she provides coaching to individual leaders in the organization that may be transitioning from “doer” to leader. These leaders learn Carla’s systematic approach to implementing change in the accounting services team whether they are revamping processes to fully utilize the team, or implement apps to fulfill their goals and scale the business unit. Learn more about Caldwell Consulting & Training.
