Why do you need a Bookkeeper?
The most successful business owners concentrate on their strengths and know when to seek help with their weaknesses.
Although you may think you save money by doing everything yourself, the fact is that a professional bookkeeper actually saves you more. That’s because there is a reduced level of risk for human error, lack of knowledge, missed payments and tax obligation due dates and delayed accounts receivable.
Plus, your time is money that you could be using toward keeping your business running and bringing in the revenue to move to the next level.
Not many business owners have backgrounds in finance or even a working knowledge of accounts payable, accounts receivable and taxes. It’s better that a professional who has years of experience in these areas handle those aspects of the business.
That way, mistakes will be less likely, as well as issues that could cost you more money. Remember, if you miss a bill or forget to pay something important, this will significantly impact your business credit.
While you could focus on core business needs and handle everything else in your business, the problem is you’ll have no time left at the end of the day or week for yourself or your loved ones. Therefore, you’ll be missing that balance every person needs in order to stay healthy and not burn out on what you are doing.
Your bookkeeper can put the financials in order and run reports showing how you are doing each month, where the funds are going and how your efforts are paying off (or might need improving upon). He or she will give you that "big picture" through the numbers being crunched.
It’s hard to imagine that the financial aspects of your business make you excited. You likely have no passionate feelings about tallying up payroll or paying the bills. However, your bookkeeper will enjoy those tasks, so it makes sense to hand over these areas to someone who does them -- and does them well -- because of that motivation.
Depending on the type of business structure you’ve created for your business, you will have various tax requirements, including self-assessment returns and payments, corporation tax payments, CIS returns for your sub-contractors and other filings.
“With all the online accounting tools available today, is the role of a professional bookkeeper still valid? In my own view, absolutely.
Sue Pawlowski’s breadth of knowledge and experience has a direct benefit on both a business and personal level. I receive excellent advice on best accounting practice and with Sue’s up to date knowledge, payroll, pensions and all matters relating to HMRC are kept in line with the ever-changing government legislation and requirements.
Our 24 year working relationship, which spans several different companies – all of whom Sue continues to work with - stands as strong testament her professionalism, work ethic and integrity.”
Packages
From £60 per month:
Sales invoicing (up to 10 invoices)
Purchase Invoices (up to 10 Invoices)
Bank Reconciliation
VAT Return Checking
Email Support
From £180 per month:
Sales invoicing (up to 40 invoices)
Purchase Invoices (up to 40 Invoices)
Bank Reconciliation – up to 3 accounts
Credit Card Reconciliation
VAT Return Checking & online Submission
Email Support
From £120 per month:
Sales invoicing (up to 20 invoices)
Purchase Invoices (up to 20 Invoices)
Bank Reconciliation
Credit Card Reconciliation
VAT Return Checking & online Submission
Email Support
Additional Services
Additional Reconciliations
If your monthly package needs more credit cards or bank account reconciliations, add in each one for an additional £15 per month
Bookkeeping by the hour - £25 per hour
This can be a catch-up service if you have a back-log, or if you prefer to have an hourly, as you go rate, rather than a bespoke package.
Collection of Paperwork
I am happy to receive paperwork via email, Dropbox or personal delivery to my office. If you would like me to collect, I charge a mileage fee of 45p mile.
Credit Control
Reporting and advising on outstanding debts and money owed by your business, £15 per month. Ad hoc chasing for payments via email/telephone, £25 per hour pro rata
Software Packages:
I use Excel, Xero, Quickbooks and Sage and monthly subscriptions to these are charged in additional to my rate.
Self-Assessment Tax Returns:
For sole traders – Preparation of tax return from bookkeeping already completed by yourself or by me.
Cost for completing and submitting to HMRC - £100 (up to end of July)
A surcharge of £10 per month for completing returns after July and before end of January (deadline)
“I couldn’t recommend Sue highly enough. She has run our bookkeeping, payroll, VAT returns, pensions and annual reporting for the accountants ever since we started our business 8 years ago. Sue’s brilliant at explaining complicated things in a simple way, dealing with HMRC so I don’t need to, and is always on hand to answer any questions or produce spreadsheets. Sue’s expertise, experience and calm approach make her an indispensable part of the office team, even though she works remotely!”
Payroll Services:
Payroll can be a real challenge for every size of business, from independent contractors right up to medium and large-sized businesses. Just because you only have a few employees doesn’t mean that you’ll find payroll simple. Staying up to date with ever-changing payroll legislation can be a real challenge, but you don’t have to deal with it all yourself.
If you choose to use my payroll service, you can be rest assured that your payroll is in safe hands.
Each month my Payroll Service will:
· Download and apply all tax coding notices from HMRC
· Load all payroll input data from your tailored input spreadsheet
· Calculate starter and leaver adjustments
· Check and verify the payroll’s accuracy
· Produce management reports tailored to your requirements in excel or pdf format
· Prepare BACS files for all your payments and send them to you for authorisation
· Issue ePayslips or a combination of ePayslips and pressure sealed payslips
· Prepare P45s for all leavers
I will also:
· Work to the schedules we agree
· Respond quickly to any queries raised by your payroll contact
· Prepare all year-end documentation – P35, P14s, P60s – and submit electronically to HMRC
· Look after your P11D reporting requirements
Pricing for Payroll
Monthly:
£20 per month for up to 5 employees, then £2.50 for each extra employee
Weekly:
£1.50 per week for each employee, with a minimum charge of £5.00 per week
Annually:
Production and submission of P11ds when required £2.50 per employee.
Costs for payroll software and initial set-up is included in my pricing.
“Sue and I have been working together since 1999, when she first arrived to clear up the mess that my previous bookkeeper had left. Her experience with dealing with HMRC was invaluable and ultimately gave my business the opportunity to continue trading.
Since those dark days the company has enjoyed much growth with a great proportion of the financial success being down to Sue & her accounting skills. Sue works closely with Mike Lindsey my accountant to ensure that all the business tax liabilities are dealt with correctly and on schedule, which is a one less burden that I have to shoulder. As a small business cash flow and cash forecasting are critical areas, for this reason I choose to pay a monthly fee to Sue which allows me budget throughout the year with no nasty surprises.
I cannot recommend Sue highly enough and after 20 years of working together I can honestly say she is absolutely brilliant and I know she will be the best asset for your company.”
CIS Payroll Services (Construction Industry Scheme):
The Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) can be a legislative nightmare for contractors and sub-contractors alike and the expectation of HMRC for compliance is very high. My simple CIS Payroll service makes your job a whole lot easier.
You will be well aware that legislation relating to the status of workers in the construction industry has been tightened. The liability for non-compliance with the CIS scheme is all yours.
Your responsibilities are to:
· Verify each sub-contractor with HMRC
· Calculate CIS tax
· Inform the sub-contractor the amount that they will be paid
· Take full responsibility for all status submissions to the Revenue
· Provide both a payment statement (for each time the subcontractor is paid) and an annual CIS deduction statement.
The risk of CIS Penalties:
The current penalties for failure include:
· Failure To submit monthly return, (including a nil return) by the correct date, £100
· Monthly return is still outstanding after 2 months, an additional £200
· Monthly return outstanding after 3 months = additional £300 or 5% of the CIS deductions from the return (whichever is higher), and additional increases for returns that remain outstanding at 6 and 12 months.
· Review and even loss of gross payment status
Pricing for CIS monthly processing:
£30.00 per month, up to 5 sub-contractors, plus an extra £5.00 for each extra sub-contractor
Costs for payroll software and initial set-up is included in my pricing.
“Sue has been looking after all aspects of our company’s financial matters including bookkeeping, payroll and VAT for the last 13 years. Her wealth of knowledge is truly outstanding and it gives us great comfort to leave all our financial activities to her professional guidance. Due to our long association, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend her to any organisation seeking first rate financial services.”
About me:
I have been bookkeeping for over 30 years, both in an employed and self-employed capacity. I have worked in a whole range of different industries, from Amazon retailers, antique dealers, through to upholsterers, travel suppliers and agricultural consultants. I have a client base of both micro, small, medium and large companies and sole traders, who each require various levels of involvement from me as their bookkeeper.
I am also able to provide bookkeeping services to Limited Companies and partnerships and have a good working relationship with several accountants who take my bookkeeping work and then provide their own services directly to my client to liaise, advise and produce company accounts and tax returns. I am also happy to liaise with your own accountant if you already have one for your year end routines.