News,May 2018

accounting for small construction companies

Accounting for Small Construction Companies – Why Xero is the Ideal Solution?

04/07/2022Accounting , Accounting Issues , accounting software

If you are an individual who is associated with the construction sector and runs your small business in the building, you must have an idea of how challenging the management of bookkeeping and accounting can become. You have to keep up with the requirements of HMRC, which they require every month as well. Especially when you are dealing with several building projects, it’s a hard task to manage different construction sites and the staff you have hired. Finding a smart way of accounting for small construction companies can make work a lot easier and doable. If you are trying to maintain your accounts manually in such a scenario, you are clearly in trouble. As this is time-consuming and frustrating to go with old ways like Excel and other manual methods. What you need is to play smart and save your time and energy to invest more productively to grow your business. This problem can be solved if you get your hands on learning cloud accounting software. Xero is one such practical solution that can solve your accounting problems swiftly. This will help to manage several requirements on the same platform, and hence a good way to reduce your burden. In this blog, we have gathered the key features that will help you to realise how Xero can help to streamline your business requirements. Reach out to one of our accounting experts to learn more about the accounting solutions if you are associated with a small construction company. Call us on 02086868876 or email us today. We will offer instant help! Accounting for Small Construction Companies As discussed above, how challenging and time-consuming it is to maintain accounting records with the old orthodox ways. It can frustrate you to a level that you are left with no productive energy to invest in your business. Nowadays, people believe in working smarter rather than working hard. Xero is the best solution to all the frustrating accounting issues for small construction companies. The key factors are listed and explained below for your information. Easy To Access Cloud software like Xero is easy to access from anywhere, even from your smartphones or tablets. It makes the access super handy and you can do it any time it is required no matter at what site you are working on. In case you are a site manager who is out in a remote area, you will still be able to log into Xero to get to know about the updated details to ensure that things are under control. The above-mentioned are a few out of many reasons that make Xero a great, beneficial source for the individuals associated with the small construction companies. The Documentation of Construction Projects Most construction projects require a longer period to be completed. The documentation of these years is an important and time-consuming task. However, with the help of Xero, the documentation of all the projects will be recorded through scanning in the software and linked with the transactions as well. The receipt of money from the customer can be linked to the accurate period. You will have to drill down to the relevant phase to get the relevant access to the documentation. This sets you free from worrying about the missing paperwork and the frustrating stuff of keeping the manual documentation. Business Mileage Tracker Keeping track of the business mileage is vital for accounting for small construction companies. Previously, it was quite time-consuming and a challenging task to consider. This task’s work efficacy is increased by the feature of a mileage tracker in the case of Xero. You are only required to add the details of the initial and ending dates; you will automatically get the calculations of the mileage. Moreover, the powerful analytical capabilities of the tracker will help you get the mileage rates, and you will be informed by sending notifications as well. Cost of Construction Project In case a business is handling construction projects with several sites at the same time, you must maintain a well-organised track of all the costs involved in each project. This helps you to ensure that any unbudgeted cost is avoidable and identified on time to rectify. The in-built tracking module of Xero helps to allocate the cost of each project, and this will help to avoid the mixing of costs while you are handling multiple construction sites. This allows you to generate on a weekly as well as a monthly basis, just like you require for your project. It helps in management at decisions to prove right and favourable. Tracking the profit and loss of each project individually supports better decision-making and long-term success. Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) Tax Construction Industry Scheme (CIS) is a built-in feature in Xero. The important features relevant to this are given in the following: The calculations of CIS Tax The filing of CIS returns is required every month. A good way of keeping a record of the balance you owe or others owe to you. Domestic Reverse Charge Automation The Bottom Line Now that you have gathered a fair amount of information about accounting for small construction companies, we can bring the discussion toward wrapping up. We can sum up by saying that accounting management for construction companies is a great deal and a time consuming task. Previously, it was hard because of the old ways of maintaining the records. However, Xero provides a platform that not only offers easy access to all the documentation at any required hour but also works smartly to save your time and energy. Moreover, this will allow you to focus more on your business growth, and you will stop worrying about the paperwork or missing old documents. We hope these few minutes of reading will help you manage the accounting issues of your construction company efficiently. Are you stuck with your accounts? Why don’t you speak to our young and clever team members and get your queries answered quickly? Call us on 02086868876 or email us today. Disclaimer: The …

Read more
What does a Financial Controller Do

What Does a Financial Controller Do and How Can One Help Your Business?

13/04/2022Accountants , Accounting , Accounting Issues , accounting software

You are associated with the business world as a small business owner or you might carry out business on a large scale? There are several hats that an owner tends to wear which might include the sales associate hat, customer service hat, and the manager hat. Moreover, the more your business grows, the more responsibilities it will add. It becomes challenging to maintain balance among all the responsibilities hats at the same moment. Do you wonder how to lighten this burden with surety that the business success is not compromised? Here comes the need for a financial controller. But what is a financial controller?  How they might help to lighten business responsibilities? Here is a fine roadmap to make you understand how advantageous it is to consider hiring a financial controller. This article will cover the regular responsibilities, special skills, and everything that you need to know as a business owner. This includes the following: An Introduction to What is a Financial Controller and His Roles How is Hiring A Financial Controller Beneficial? Final Thoughts   Is financial management giving you chills? Take a back seat. Our team of expert chartered accountants help you build long-term strategies. Do reach out now.   An Introduction to What is A Financial Controller and His Roles To ensure the effectiveness and efficacy of a business, a financial controller is responsible to see all the accounting matters. The financial controller is also considered the lead accounting executive. It will not be wrong to say that financial controllers are the human version of accounting software. The language of numbers is their prominent skill. In order to make just the accurate financial reports and budgets, they are your go-to person who will handle data interpretation and understand it accurately. The internal weaknesses of a business can turn into growth opportunities in the right hands of a financial controller. The financial terminologies that might sound fancy to you can be handy to them. Moreover, it depends on what size your business scale is, however, mostly their responsibilities include the following: Ensuring financial records in an organised manner Management of accounting staff Budget making Financial statements on a monthly basis To publically post legal reports with financial regulations Coordination with tax accountants Have look at the internal weaknesses of the business Development of accounting policy to ensure seamless working An eye on debt collection and cash flow Management of billing, ledger, cost accounting and revenue etc   Stuck with your accounts and looking for a helping hand? How about you get our guys on a quick call. We love talking about taxes, payroll management and any opportunities that help you expand your prospects. Call us on 020 8686 8876 or email us today.   How is Hiring A Financial Controller Beneficial? Apart from the most prominent benefit guidance of in making business decisions,  hiring a financial controller will help to save the amount of money because of the accuracy factor in the accounting affairs. Because when it is about the company’s finance, there must be zero tolerance for accounting errors. The experience and accounting background of a financial controller is what exactly are needed to maintain accurate records. This will further help to stay on top when it comes to business transactions. This will make you less worried about the slipping of incoming and outgoing payment activities that might get you stuck in debt, penalties or late fees. Moreover, another call from an external auditor for your financial documents will not sound like a nightmare. While you are stress-free from the above-mentioned problems, you can now focus more on business scaling and other such responsibilities that might include the following: Ideas to expand the market Management of regular operations and responsibilities Training and hiring of new employees Good quality products High standard services Working on a healthy relationship with the customers Partnership with other business owners   Final Thoughts Now that you have developed a basic understanding of what is a financial controller and its responsibilities and benefits, we can sum up the discussion by saying that hiring one will actually lighten your business burden. This will set you free and let you focus on other factors that will take your business to the next level of growth. If you are a business owner, you must have analysed your suitability according to your business size and make unmatchable business decisions to flourish and rise better than before.   Our accountants can help with preparing and reviewing the financial reports of a company, including data management, review and consulting, production of financial statements, and ensuring that the company’s accounting practices comply with regulations. Contact us now!   Disclaimer: The information about what is a Financial Controller provided in this article including text, graphics and images is general in nature and does not intend to disregard any professional advice.

Read more
Cloud Based Accounting

Cloud Based Accounting – Why It is Good for Small Businesses

08/09/2021Accounting , accounting software , Business

Many businesses and accountants are shifting towards cloud-based accounting. They are requesting cloud based solutions, and the trend of using this technological innovation is increasing at a rapid pace. The cloud is making your data and information all times available, and you can access it anytime, anywhere from any smart device. However, there are still some SMEs who are reluctant to move towards cloud accounting. So, in this blog, we will inform you about the advantages of preferring cloud accounting.   Allow us to move all your business finances to the cloud with the best-suit accounting software at reasonable prices!   What is Cloud Based Accounting and How it Works? In cloud accounting, you keep your company’s records such as revenues, expenses, assets, and liabilities available on the internet. It is secure and reliable as data is encrypted and can only be accessed by the person who has a valid password. In addition, there are many free software accounting apps available for managing bills, invoicing, etc. Click here to know more about the best small business accounting applications. You can move your business books to the cloud by subscribing to online accounting software. After that, you can access your data anytime, anywhere, on any web browser, and with any available smart device. You can also save yourself from a lot of data entry by connecting the software with your business bank account as the banking operations proceed systematically (from the bank to the books).   Advantages of Cloud-Based Accounting? There are many advantages of using cloud accounting, which are as follows: 1. Accuracy With the technologies like AI (Artificial Intelligence) and OCR ( Optical Character Recognition) developing capabilities, accuracy levels are increasing. It eliminates the risk of inaccuracy and the need for human re-entering by automatically generating data to other relevant fields. 2. Accessibility You can access your finances anywhere, at any time, and from any smart device. It provides you the freedom to access and manage your business finances on the go. 3. Up-to-date Data and Saves Money When you input your financial information, it will be instantly available to all of your company team members no matter where they are, and data will always remain up to date. Cloud accounting can save your money as it does not require any IT staff for maintenance, and you only pay the subscription fee. There are no extra costs for the updates and upgrades. 4. Useful for Making Tax Digital (MTD) To digitally provide updates to HM Revenue & Customs monthly and to keep records of the business finances, many SMEs above the VAT threshold will be obliged to move towards cloud accounting. So to save yourself from any panic situation in the future, you should move your business data into the cloud now. 5. Security The software companies make sure that the privacy of your data and security is always airtight. In addition, your data is systematically backed up and stored offsite (to keep it secure from cybercrime).   Final Thoughts We hope now you are well aware of the advantages of moving towards cloud-based accounting. You can run your business remotely and be sure that the finances of your company are accurate and up-to-date. Cloud and accounting software are the best matches because they provide you with the flexibility to enjoy endless possibilities as data is accessible 24/7. In addition, it helps the owner of a company stay connected with their accountants and business finances.   CruseBurke has a team of professionals that manage your finances with the best cloud-based accounting software! Contact us now!   Disclaimer: This blog contains general information about cloud based accounting.  

Read more
Best Small Business Accounting App

The Best Small Business Accounting Apps – Basic Guide

31/08/2021Accounting , accounting software

Many business owners are finding it difficult to choose the right accounting software for their small businesses. They are frustrated and overwhelmed by their workload. The reason for this is that they need an action plan to acquire a successful name in the field of business and a responsive mind full of bright ideas. The question here is what to do with all of the fantastic ideas to make them a reality? So in this post, we will discuss the best small business accounting apps that can bring up all your brilliant ideas into reality and make your professional life easier. These well-designed apps can perform a wide range of tasks with efficiency. The majority of these apps have a monthly or annual cost. They also provide a free trial version for a limited time.   Let us manage all your finances with the best-suit accounting software at reasonable prices!   Top Small Business Accounting Apps Following are the top small business accounting apps :   1) Sage Sage is one of the best accounting software available for helping your company to organise, simplify, and resolve accounting-related problems efficiently. In addition to that, it provides the best accounting solutions to a wide range of business problems. Sage’s services are significant for creating financial statements, keeping track of records, effectively managing the business, and providing the best solution for businesses of any size or industry. Sage includes everything you could need, including payroll, invoicing, and cash flow. In addition, sage cloud-based accounting has a reasonable subscription charge of 12 pounds and, like other apps, gives discounts for the first few months. Sage now also provides Digital Tax Tracking. 2) QuickBooks QuickBooks cloud accounting software gives you access to your financial data 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter where you are. It allows you to access your books from any device at any time. It also allows your accountant to log in and work on the data online at any time and from any place. You may also use it to keep track of your costs, prepare and submit business documents, manage your cash flow, and synchronise and backup your data automatically.   Unable to use Sage or QuickBooks, let us handle it!   3) Xero Xero is another important competitor in the competitive industry of cloud accounting software, with its prominent feature to ensure support to business owners. With the help of Xero, complicated terminologies like inventory, payroll, invoicing, and expense claims have become simpler. This program works well with Android and iPhone if you want to import PayPal, credit card, or other data details. The rates start at ten pounds each month. However, they can be decreased during special offers. It also provides VAT tracking and digital returns to HMRC, just like other apps.   4) Fresh Books FreshBooks is cloud-based accounting software for freelancers and small businesses. It is well-known for being the most user-friendly accounting tool available. In addition, FreshBooks’ services make invoicing and cost monitoring considerably easier to manage. FreshBooks also integrates with PayPal and Zendesk. You must pay 11 pounds per month for a basic subscription named lite to use the services provided by this small business accounting app. Lite meets all the basic requirements of a business owner. This software also provides free invoice templates. Take a look at it right now to see if it’ll work for you.   5) Free Agent FreeAgent is accounting software that is only available to NatWest/Royal Bank of Scotland trade banking clients. Apart from that, it is a useful component of a cloud-based application, having a Trustpilot rating of 4.7 out of 5. Furthermore, it is used by 90,000 SMEs in the United Kingdom. It allows you to produce VAT returns, and it fills out the major part of the Self-Assessment tax return form for you. Additionally, you can see a detailed image of each project’s salary, time, and costs. This allows you to see your company’s financial condition, including whether it is profitable or not.   If you’re looking for a Xero, FreshBooks, FreeAgent certified bookkeeper, or accountant for your company, get in touch with us quickly as possible!   Conclusion We will advise all self-employed persons, freelancers, and small business owners to choose one of these small business accounting apps according to their business requirements. Because with the help of these accounting applications, time-consuming processes like invoicing, tax records, and other calculations have become easier and more time-saving.   Are you having trouble deciding which accounting software to use? Then, allow us to choose the best application for your company and let us manage your finances. We are qualified, pleasant, and reasonable, and we stay on top of all the latest developments in your business to help you grow your business like never before!

Read more