There may be no hope for Excel Airways or US banking giant Lehman Brothers, but many struggling small businesses and sole traders could still survive the oncoming recession – all they need is some good business sense and top quality bookkeeping.

Now that the credit crunch is really digging its heels in, there’s no doubt that things are going to get worse before they get better for the majority of British businesspeople. Recent forecasts warn of a winter recession, while a survey of British workers revealed that many are now experiencing sleepless nights over financial concerns.

Whilst lack of sleep may not be an effective way of safeguarding your livelihood, it is also a very bad idea for business people to ignore the problems they are facing. For those who are struggling in the current economic climate, the most important thing is to monitor the progress of their business with effective bookkeeping and to react swiftly to any warning signs.

Here are five reasons why small businesses need to put even more emphasis on bookkeeping during the recession:

1. Monitor and Control Expenses

Now more than ever, it is important to watch the level of expenditure and not to let it get out of control. Regular accounting will tell you how your expenses are running when compared to your targets, and will also allow you to compare monthly income against monthly expenditure. (more…)

Different firms have radically different business models and, as such, have different bookkeeping needs and requirements.A firm with the primary business of buying and selling monetary instruments needs to have a very clear picture of the company accounts. This is because the very core of the business is predicated on controlling and influencing the flow of money and this is something that needs to conform very strictly to state laws and regulations. The accounts in this sort of situation need to be crystal clear so they can be used at any point in time to illustrate that no illegal transactions have occurred.

In direct opposition to this situation is the example of a firm that deals in a much more tangible product, namely shoes. A shoe company does not necessarily need to have a complete, microscopic view of the company accounts. In this scenario, there is a focus on knowing the inflow and outflow of revenue, value of assets and stock and so on.

In both cases, different business models necessitate different accounting needs. This is exactly why it is important for bookkeeping firms to offer customised solutions to different businesses and organisations.

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