Online Accounting: How do I choose the best one for my company?
What is online accounting? What are the advantages? What should you look for when hiring? Find out all about it here!
Online accounting brings the traditional accounting service into the digital world and this still raises many doubts among those who need to hire an accounting service.
If this is your case, in this article we'll explain what online accounting is, what the differences are between it and conventional accounting, its advantages and we'll also give you important tips for making a good decision when it comes to hiring it.
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How does online accounting work?
Online accounting manages the accounts of a company in the same way as a traditional accounting office, except that everything is done through a digital platform.
This way, instead of going to a physical office, everything is done online, from sending documents to preparing declarations.
The online accounting company you hire will provide you with access to a platform where you can send all the documents and information needed for the accountants to carry out their work.
Payment slips, statements and other documents generated by the accounting department are also sent via this system.
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What are the advantages of hiring online accounting?
The main advantage of hiring an online accounting firm is practicality. You can follow everything that happens in the company's accounting management in real time, without having to travel.
In addition, the virtual platform centralizes all the information, which makes the accountants' work easier, as the company's accounting processes are very organized.
Anyone who works in management knows how much the organization of information impacts on the decision-making process, saves time and increases productivity in day-to-day activities.
Another important factor is information security. In general, companies that provide online accounting services tend to invest heavily in data protection systems. Documents and information are stored in the cloud, preventing the loss of important business data.
Another positive point is the support. You can get in touch with expert accountants at any time of the day to ask questions and receive advice.
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Does online accounting have the same validity as traditional accounting?
Both traditional and online accounting, when carried out properly, will ensure that the company's accounting obligations are met. The main difference between the two is that one works in a physical office and the other via a virtual platform.
In this way, we can say that online accounting, in addition to increasing practicality, promotes greater independence for the company.
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How do you choose the best online accounting for your company?
When deciding to hire an online accounting firm, it's important to take care when selecting a company that is experienced and can meet the demands of your business quickly and efficiently.
A few tips can help with this:
Take stock of the options available
The first step is to look for companies that offer this type of accounting. At this stage, it is very important to assess whether the companies cater for your type of business, i.e. whether they offer services for your tax regime, legal nature and market.
This is because there are accounting firms that work with specific types of companies or market segments.
Easy access to information
In the research stage, try to find out how all the company's processes work, especially if it is easy to access information.
In other words, find out how the service's platform works, whether it's usable, whether it's easy to find the tools and information you need, etc.
It is very important that the online accounting firm demonstrates clarity in its processes and has clear communication.
Brand reliability
It's very interesting to find out about the company's history in order to know if it's trustworthy. To do this, you can look for reviews on the internet, comments about the company on Google or Social Media, etc.
Another effective suggestion is to talk to customers you have served. If you don't know any of them, ask the company which clients it has served and get in touch with them.
Support and security
Support is of the utmost importance so that whenever the need arises, the company can clear up its doubts, receive guidance and not have its accounting routine jeopardized.
You can assess this by asking the company about its support service and checking which channels exist for this.
With regard to security, it is essential to ensure that information is stored correctly and that all company data and documents are safe. Therefore, find out whether the company's system is secure, which cloud provider is used, how often backups are made and other information in this regard.
Budget
Last but not least, you need to assess the prices charged for the services you provide, compare the prices of the companies you have chosen and analyze which offers the best value for money for your business.
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If you are looking for online accounting and want to rely on a company with extensive experience in the sector, get to know CLM Controller.
