Bookkeeping is an absolutely essential part of operating a business. The business’s financial information needs to be accurate, complete and detailed for several reasons. Poor bookkeeping could lead to serious problems and could ruin a company’s chances of remaining successful. Here are a just a few reasons why a business needs quality bookkeeping.

1. Accurate bookkeeping allows a business to properly plan for tax season

In order to properly document their financial transactions, apply for tax exemptions and avoid being audited by the IRS a company needs to have accurate financial records. Maintaining these records over the course of the year rather than just before tax season hits will ensure that the business is always ready and prepared to handle the taxes it has to pay. Good bookkeeping skills help protect a business against IRS tax audits and allow the business to get through any such audits unscathed by the IRS.

2. Quality bookkeeping allows a business to plan for its future

Managers of business need to know a lot about their current financial situations in order to properly prepare for the future. For example a manager needs to know whether or not their current pricing structures are meeting the needs of the company’s expenses. They need to know the company’s financial trends to see if their management business plans are working or if they need to be altered. Future expansions, taking on new employees and acquiring new funding all requires detailed and accurate financial account information.

3. Accurate bookkeeping displays a company’s solvency

Many businesses will rely on outside financing to help them expand and grow. In order to receive this financing the company will have to show accurate and detailed financial records. Quality bookkeeping ensures that the business can properly display its financial solvency to its lenders, who are not going to give out any money without first seeing such records.

4. Good bookkeeping frees up more cash flow

Cash flow is the bread and butter of many small businesses. A qualified bookkeeper will find ways to free up more cash flow so that it can be used in other ways to benefit the business. In addition to freeing up more cash, an efficient bookkeeper will also free up the efforts and time of the company’s other employees, so they will be better able to serve the business.