Questions to Ask a Bookkeeper Before You Hire one

🧾 Experience & Qualifications

• What bookkeeping certifications or training do you have?

• How many years have you been working as a bookkeeper?

• Have you worked with businesses in my industry before?

• What accounting software do you use (e.g., QuickBooks, Xero, Wave)?

💼 Services & Scope

• What specific bookkeeping tasks do you handle (e.g., payroll, invoicing, reconciliations)?

• Do you also provide tax preparation or work with a CPA?

• How do you handle accounts payable/receivable and expense tracking?

• What reports do you provide and how often?

🔐 Processes & Communication

• How do you ensure accuracy and prevent errors?

• What’s your process for reconciling accounts and handling discrepancies?

• How often will we communicate, and through what channels?

• How do you handle confidentiality and data security?

💲 Pricing & Contracts

• What are your rates and billing structure (hourly, monthly, per-project)?

• Are there any setup or extra fees I should know about?

• What’s included in your standard package or service agreement?

• What is your policy for ending or changing the contract?

🧠 Technology & Systems

• Are you comfortable working with cloud-based accounting systems?

• Can you integrate with my existing tools (CRM, POS, etc.)?

👥 References & Fit

• Can you provide references or testimonials from current clients?

• How do you handle growth as my business scales?

• What makes you different from other bookkeepers?