Finding new sources of income is essential for anyone who wants to have financial freedom. Currently, there are many ways to generate new sources of income. However, the simplest is to acquire assets, which generate passive income, as it is a way to generate income with little effort.
A financial asset is a resource that allows its owner to obtain future income and is usually issued by economic entities, whether companies, government, or others. Financial assets can be obtained through investments or businesses.
Basic Principles of a Financial Asset
The assets have several standard features related to each other; these characteristics are profitability, liquidity, and risk.
Cost-effectiveness
Cost-effectiveness represents the acceptance and interest that investors have in the asset. This will be affected by the benefits that can be obtained from the investment. This concept is the most relevant of a business because it will be possible to know the success that will be obtained from it.
Risk
Risk refers to the guarantee offered by the asset. This principle affects the return of the asset. Generally, the assets with a high level of risk do not insure the investment or capital of the individual. This higher risk is because the value of the said asset is volatile and can generate future losses.
Liquidity
Liquidity is the asset’s ability to transform into money without causing losses, while an asset that is more liquid will obtain greater profitability, thus becoming a risk-free asset. In this way, the relationship between the principles of assets is fulfilled.
What is Passive Income?
Passive income is the earnings generated without excessive work; if an investment generates income, indifferently from the amount of time its owner invests. Each amount generated as profit is known as passive income.
There are many ways to generate passive income. However, the fastest way is acquiring financial assets that generate passive income over time. However, these assets have a risk because there is the possibility of losing the investment made. It is fundamental to learn about the state of the asset that you intend to acquire since it is not something that should be taken lightly.
What are the most profitable assets to generate passive income?
Thanks to technological advances, it is increasingly easy for anyone with considerable capital to invest in assets that generate passive income. However, it is necessary to know the means of income that will be used. Currently, the most popular are the following:
Investment in Cryptocurrencies
Undoubtedly, cryptocurrencies are one of the most popular assets of today. This popularity is due to the exponential increase in profitability demonstrated by multiple cryptocurrencies in recent years. However, most cryptocurrencies have a relatively unstable value, leading an investor to earn a lot of money or vice versa; It can lead to losing everything.
The key to cryptocurrencies is to know when to buy them and wait for the right time to sell them. In addition, it must be borne in mind that it may be difficult to predict the value of the asset in this market due to the aforementioned instability.
Investment in Stock Shares
The shares are the first known financial assets. They represent a fraction of the capital stock, where the asset gives the holders or investors participation rights and income, depending on the state of the organization, the relation to the profits and losses.
To begin generating this asset, the company must study the total value of its organization. The value obtained is divided into equal units, and the result of that division is known as the shares, securities, or securities.
According to the fluctuation of the company’s value, investors and owners will obtain profits or losses, generally to generate significant passive income, concerning the shares of a company; it is necessary to study it since, after a specific time, the state of the company is maintained. That is why the best strategy will be to invest capital in shares of a company with potential and is relatively new in the market.
Aspects to Consider When investing in Financial Assets
The level of risk will be affected by the profitability of the assets, which is why it is necessary to study the asset in which it is expected to invest. Since there is an excellent variety of these, cryptocurrencies have greater acceptance because they are decentralized, net, and proportional to their investment.
On the other hand, the world of actions is broader than the crypto world. This broadness is due to the number of intermediaries that exist. To ensure the success of an investment in shares, it is necessary to seek advice, so business will be done with greater security, which generates additional costs apart from the investment.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Before 1911, the working conditions of employees in the United States of America were not very impressive. Things were worse for workers employed under powerful employers. During this era, employers did not offer any compensations for injuries incurred by an employee within the scope of performing a job.
The employees had to legally file a lawsuit against their employers, which was a rare case. A very few employees could file a lawsuit because of the expense. The chances of them winning the case were not that strong. The employers used strong defenses such as Contributory negligence, assumption of risks, or fellow employee negligence, which were very difficult to overcome.
Workers’ Compensation Insurance
Workers’ Compensation laws, referred to as the Grand Bargain, were introduced in 1911. It was after these laws the workers began to receive their due rights. The workers’ compensation insurance is a bargain between the employers and the employees. An employer provides the workers the benefits if they get injured, fall ill or die while on the job, and in return, the employers are safe from a legal lawsuit.
Types of Workers’ Compensation Insurance
There are different types of workers’ compensation insurance, including;
Medical Treatment
For injuries that need medical treatment, an employer is expected to pay for all the medical treatments required. If the recovery time exceeds the waiting period, an employer must also pay cash benefits for the time an employee misses the work. It is to cover up the lost income while an employee is unable to work. An employee who recovers within the waiting time gets medical treatment benefits only.
Rehabilitation
There are injuries when simply treating them with medical treatments is not enough. Sometimes for recovery, along with medical treatment, some rehabilitative services are required. In this case, an employee will have to cover the cost of all the rehabilitative therapies. Also, suppose the injury has caused an individual to be unable to return to the pre-injury job. In that case, workers’ compensation will provide benefits so that the individual can train for another position.
Disability
Four types of disabilities lie under workers’ compensation insurance. These four types include; temporary partial disability, temporary total disability, permanent partial disability, and permanent total disability, and based on these, the employer provides the benefits.
Temporary partial disability is when an employee cannot perform some tasks of the job for a specified period, temporary total disability is when the injury restricts a worker from doing the total job for a limited time. The permanent partial disability restricts a worker from doing some job tasks forever. In contrast, the permanent total disability means that an employee is no more capable of the pre-injury job.
The benefits paid to depend upon the income that the employee received before the injury. Generally, the amount is equal to two-thirds of the wage. An employee is not expected to pay tax over this income.
Death
If an employee dies during work in an unfortunate situation, a company is expected to pay death benefits to the deceased employee’s family. Spouse, children, parents, or siblings are the expected beneficiaries of these benefits. Some states also cover the funeral and burial costs. The total cost of these benefits depends upon how much a deceased employee contributed to the lives of their dependents.
These are the four basic types of insurance. The provisions of each of these types differ in every state. As the state is the body that sets the laws, all the states have different policies. Even though injuries are unexpected, an employer reserves the right to terminate an individual if they do not return to work for a long time.
In Georgia, it is a legal step to fire an injured employee. Therefore, both the entities, the employer, and the employees must know about their rights and responsibilities when it comes to workers’ compensation.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Before you can save money in your company, you have to understand why you are in business and your objectives. Most people start a business out of necessity or a desire to run their own business in the industry of choice. However, the main objective of any business is to earn money.
Part of your money-saving plan for your company will have to include the evaluationof expenses. Many businesses that get in trouble are due to the owner having difficulty handling expenses properly. And this is a problem since it is critical to earn and save money.
To save money for your company, you need to understand all of your expenses and handle them. Ultimately, saving money in your company is more about money management and controlling costs than it has to do with how much your company generates in income.
While you want to continuously bring revenue into the company, you should be equally focused on saving money and controlling expenses. Many companies have a department dedicated to expenses within the company and recommend ways to save money.
There are different types of expenses within a company. Those costs that are the same month after month, such as a lease, are considered fixed costs because they will be constant and often the same. Fixed costs can include electricity, water, internet, rent, and payroll.
What can you do to save money here in fixed costs? The answer is almost nothing because most of the fixed costs are or commodities that have a low cost and resources on which your business depends and that if they are not well maintained, can affect your operation.
Therefore, you will need to find other ways to save money within these costs.
You can save some money on services, such as water and electricity, if it does not take a long time or affect your service quality and operations. Either way, this will bring small savings for you.
Try to reduce rental income only if your business does not depend on the location, as in restaurants, stores, or personal assistance services.
Try to reduce the total cost of fixed employees. Here, the key is that you learn to differentiate which roles of your company are fundamental for your organization and which can become a variable cost, which you can hire through services to freelancers.
Other operations costs can also be looked at to save the company money. These are the necessary expenses directly associated with the product or service, and that can go up and down according to the production demand, your sales, or projects.
You can save by doing the following.
Get discounts or suppliers that allow you a percentage of savings in raw material.
Change one expensive material for another, as long as it does not affect the quality of the product.
Have better inventory management, decreasing the number of products that can be cold in your stock.
Outsource services such as customer service or for specific activities that are demanded according to sales.
Saving money in your company and how you do it is not the same for every type of company. Some companies will find it more difficult. However, all companies can look at ways to save, such as through opportunity costs.
The opportunity cost is a way of measuring if we are doing what interests us. Measure what we could be doing instead of what we do (opportunities).
For example: if I have a women’s clothing store brand A, I lose the opportunity to sell brand B clothes. If I have my employees in a project, I lose the opportunity to work in another.
This can confuse the cost of execution, but the opportunity cost tells you that you are doing your best with your resources.
In this case, there are no specific tips. The director of the company has some practices to help him make decisions:
Purchasing policy based on turnover based on sales
Make decisions based on market share and product or service potential
Management of human resources, considering the specialization and alternatives of outsourcing
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Often the wedding is the first significant financial strain of a couple starting together. Therefore, when planning a wedding, finances should be considered, and planning should be within the means of the couple and whoever else is springing for the wedding.
With the awareness of the importance of getting off to a good start, here is some excellent advice from Melissa Morales, general manager of Argentarium, inspired by the lessons learned from the planning of her ceremony.
The wedding is only one day. The first and most crucial task is defining the household budget and short-, long- and medium-term goals with your partner. After you get married, you will have many more financial responsibilities. If you plan your household finances before the union occurs, it will be easier to know how much money you can spend on the wedding.
Before planning your wedding, you must make a detailed budget with what you can spend in this event and commit to being rigorous with its compliance. As it is an event that we plan with much emotion, we are often tempted to do the opposite: plan and then look for the money. This would be a mistake with essential effects on the marriage pocket. Remember: first determine how much you can spend and, from there, make plans.
Define priorities. Some things may not be so essential for your wedding. Do you need an orchestra or stage that acts as a dance floor? It is convenient to define, from the beginning, which things are so vital that they are not negotiable and then several levels of priority so that it is easier to make cuts in case the quotations exceed the budget.
Do not pond with the opinion of a single supplier. Look for several opinions and compare until you find what best fits your budget. Some experts recommend analyzing between three and six quotes, at least in the most expensive services.
Selecting services well in advance will help you find a better price. In addition, in some cases, you have the option of paying in installments as the wedding approaches, or you get discounts for paying in advance.
Eye with this. Never think about financing your wedding! If you do not have enough money to make an expensive event, you can choose to do something familiar and straightforward and postpone the celebration “in style” or be open to more guests.
If you buy something or hire a service, it must be because you want it, and you need it. During the planning, many will think and tell you that this or that thing is a good option, that it is at a reasonable price, that it was incredibly good at the wedding of The Mangano’s. Avoid falling into the temptation of incorporating elements that, initially, you were not interested in including in your link ceremony.
Look for the opinions of friends who have already been married. They are great experts, especially if they have recently remarried. Take into account the initial budgets they had better if they are like yours. They will guide you on almost everything you need.
Be careful with the guest list. This is one of the most challenging parts of organizing a wedding. On the one hand, you have a limited budget and, on the other hand, many people that you would like to invite to the celebration or with which you feel committed.
In this case, it also turns out to establish categories: first the guests and essential guests that you want to be present at your wedding; then, those with whom you and your partner feel that they must “look good” and, finally, those with whom your parents, uncles, brothers, brothers-in-law, and cousins think that you must “look good.” It will never be easy to cut out invitations, but at least you will know where to start.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The process of buying a car involves a few crucial steps. But some critical steps must be completed pre-purchase. The steps that one needs to complete before the purchase include the following:
Analysis of the financial situation
The setting of a budget
Listing down of required specifications
Payment Methods
These are the four most essential steps that must be completed before a car is purchased. All these contribute to making the process of buying a car simple and stress-free. Analysis of the financial situation helps in deciding the amount that a buyer can spare for the car. Having a strict budget and listen to requirements provides the buyer with an upper hand in the price negotiations with the car dealer.
After all, this has been done, the most significant decision has to be made, the payment method. Selecting the method of payment varies with the type of car one wishes to purchase. Here are three ways to pay when buying a car and their advantages and disadvantages.
Paying Cash
Out of the three payment methods for buying a car, paying through cash is the most straightforward one. To make it simple to understand, it is just like buying shoes or a burger. A customer pays and gets the item without any stress or difficulties.
Advantages
The main advantage is that people save themselves from monthly payments through this method, freeing themselves from the liabilities attached. It does not affect their monthly responsibilities, and their lives stay balanced.
Secondly, they have to pay the exact amount, free of any interest. The addition of interests reduces the chances of reselling the car in profit. In addition to this, the reselling of the car becomes more accessible and more straightforward. The chances of earning profits are higher in this case.
Disadvantages
There are downsides to everything and even paying for a car directly with cash has its disadvantages. Cars are not cheap. A person needs to work tirelessly for a long time to gather such a vast amount. Paying fully in cash takes a massive chunk of money from the savings, exposing an individual to the stress of emergencies.
A car’s value depreciates every year, and it is not a good investment option. After four years, the price of a car drops to half of its original price, which comes as a massive blow to the car owners at the time of resale.
Financing
The most common payment method in car purchases in America is getting the car financed by a third party. An external party, i.e., banks, financial companies, and credit unions, pays off the car dealer. It is a feasible method for many. Due to this payment method, a lot of middle-class Americans have been able to get a car.
Advantages
There are some fantastic benefits of getting a car financed. As a buyer uses someone else’s money to pay the car dealer, the financial balance is not significantly affected. It helps in maintaining the lifestyle as only monthly payments have to be made.
Cutting out only a few expenses helps people pay off their monthly payments. Once the payments have been successfully paid, the buyer becomes the owner of the car. People who have a good credit score can enjoy loans with lower interest rates. It gets easier for them to get loans on acceptable terms.
Disadvantages
Besides great benefits, there are some non-negligible disadvantages of getting a car financed. The very first drawback of this payment method is the interest rates. With financing plans, a buyer is liable for monthly payments and ends up paying way more than a car costs.
It is true that after ultimately paying off the loan, a buyer becomes its owner. But by the time these payments are completed, the car’s value drops to 50% of its original value. When it comes to reselling the car, there are negligible chances of earning any profits. Things are worse for people with a bad credit score. They are unable to get feasible financial plans. Either they end up paying high-interest rates, or the payments are too large.
Leasing
The last payment option is the leasing of the car. It is a highly unpopular payment method in the United States. Its unpopularity is because a person cannot buy a car; instead, they are forced to rent it.
It is somewhat similar to financing as it also requires payment of a down payment followed by fixed monthly payments. Unlike financing, after the payments are completed, the buyer must return the car to the dealer or replace it.
An individual is not asked to pay the whole loan instead of only the depreciated value. This means that if a lease is five years and the cost of the car after five years equals 40% of the original cost, the buyer will have to cover only 60% of the original price.
Advantages
In getting a car on a lease, a buyer does not have to pay the whole loan but only the depreciated value. It makes this method one of the most affordable options. Also, the amount of monthly payments is much lower than in the case of a financed car. When the payments are completed, an individual does not have to stress about selling it off. They can return it to the dealer or get it replaced.
Disadvantages
As compared to other payment options, leasing a car is attached to the minor disadvantages. The permitted period to keep a car by a lender is not more than three years, which forces an individual to change their rides. A significant downside to getting a car on a lease is that the annual mileage is limited, restricting a driver’s driving habits. If a driver goes over the limit, a high cost is imposed on them.
Making the Right Choice
The payment option depends entirely upon a car buyer’s budget, financial situation, and preferences. Not any people can afford to pay with cash as it will eat a significant portion of the total savings, making the financial situation unstable. But it depends on the buying capacity and the mindset of the buyer.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Daily, workers perceive that their gross salary, before taxes, and net salary, after IRPF and contributions, reflect the total compensation their company provides each month. However, other contributions by the company are not necessarily reflected on a pay stub. Other contributions make up what is the total compensation to the worker for the company. These costs are divided into the following categories:
Common contingencies (social security and pensions)
Professional contingencies for unemployment (unemployment insurance)
Vocational training (courses that the worker must receive to be up to date in their profession)
The Wage Guarantee Fund (coverage of dismissals of companies in bankruptcy)
The companies share these costs distinguishing between the company’s contribution and the worker’s contribution when it comes to the total compensation to the worker. And this difference is reflected in the payrolls, where only the second one is reflected.
Specifically, the gross salary reflected in the payroll is deducted from the IRPF and the items contributed by the workers in the form of contributions for common contingencies (4.7%), unemployment in fixed contracts (1.5%), unemployment in temporary contracts (1.6%) and professional training (0.1%).
However, there are other costs that payroll does not reflect, and that are contributions by the company to the worker, such as common contingencies (23.6%), professional contingencies for unemployment in fixed contracts (5.5%), for unemployment in temporary contracts (6.7%), by professional training (0.6%) and by the Wage Guarantee Fund (0.2%).
Or, put another way, workers’ compensation is usually around 30% higher than their gross salary before taxes and contributions reflect their payroll. The OECD, the United Nations System of National Accounts, and the National Institute of Statistics (INE), define workers’ compensation as the sum of the salary or profit reflected in their payroll (and where personal income tax and contributions are deducted). Part of the worker), and social contributions by the company.
Regarding this second item, it is essential to highlight that social contribution for workers made to the public treasury is included and differentiated, such as, for example, Social Security contributions for public pensions and contributions made to private social insurance programs. as can be private pension funds.
On the other hand, the European statistical office defines wage compensation as labor cost, this being the sum of three items: the compensation of employees (including salaries and wages in cash and in-kind and employer contributions to the social security), the costs of professional training, and other expenses.
As can be seen, the most critical organizations define similarly what is salaried compensation, also called labor cost or salary remuneration, differentiating, on the one hand, the gross wages and salaries received by a worker on the payroll, and on the other the social contributions for pensions or public unemployment contributed by the company.
The critical question to answer is: can wage compensations be considered salaries in their broadest sense? Can this labor cost be modeled as a wage income? To answer this hypothesis, the following arguments are proposed.
One of the arguments against this hypothesis is that Social Security contributions, both by the employer and the worker, are made in different items, subject to different tariff and rebate policies. Therefore, they cannot be interpreted as the same.
However, all this is an accounting device, since in the fictitious assumption that the Ministry of Labor changed the law. The company was obliged to provide the entire taxable base to the worker. No significant change would be appreciated if this should now provide, for example, 28.30% of common contingencies (4.7% + 23.6%). As will be seen below, there are countries where their labor model works similarly.
Secondly, it is argued that social contributions are contributions, and therefore cannot be considered salaries. And although it is technically correct, that is, it is a future income that is not enjoyed in the present (it cannot be used for consumption), it does constitute a contribution in the worker’s name to receive rights in the form of future contributory benefits, equivalent to payment in kind.
For example, many companies provide part of the salary in food vouchers, gasoline for transportation, schooling of children, etc. Instead of providing liquid money, payment is provided on future goods and services equivalent to liquid money that is not perceived.
Thirdly, countries where the standardized methodology for measuring compensation do not include social contributions to public social security, either because it does not exist or because it is collected through other channels.
The first case is proposed as an example to the United States, a country where there are no universal public pensions. The company contributes no social contributions for this public insurance. Private pension funds are negotiated and included as “benefit” and other items, such as health insurance (private) or benefits in the form of company shares, to cite three examples.
On the other hand, there are paradigmatic countries such as Denmark whose model work model does not include contributions from the company (“Employer SSC”) to Social Security. The following graph shows the percentage represented by Income Tax (“income tax”), the contribution to social security by the employee (“Employee SSC”), and the contribution by the company (“Employer SSC”), concerning the total cost of the worker, also called total remuneration of the employee, for different countries of the European Union.
This phenomenon is that in Denmark, social services and benefits are financed mainly through IRPF, so this item absorbs the other two. Or, put another way, unlike the payrolls of workers in the United States in which only salaries and salaries can be verified (and their corresponding contributions by IRPF and common contingencies), Danish workers’ payroll would be reflected all the remuneration salary.
Finally, some countries implement specific quotes in a radically different way than in the United States. In our country, the contingencies for unemployment are contributed directly to the public insurance of Social Security, where the worker contributes a part, and another contributed by the company.
However, in countries such as Austria, they are implemented in the form of an Austrian backpack. The difference between one and the other is that the first contributes to an unemployment benefit only in being unemployed.
In the second case, the employee receives from the entrepreneur an annual contribution in a capitalization fund throughout their working life, becoming a de facto equity in his name that can be incorporated in the form of income when he deems it appropriate. In other words, unlike public insurance, the Austrian backpack works as a “piggy bank” that can be accumulated throughout the working life on behalf of the worker.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
The fundamental things you heft around in your tote frequently incorporate things that set you up for crises, similar to tampons, tissues, and over-the-counter prescriptions. Even though it’s critical to be readied, keeping certain things in your tote can set you up for destruction for the situation that your suitcase is lost or taken. On the off chance that the things in your suitcase have any nostalgic worth joined, similar to family photographs or adornments, or could have costly results whenever lost, at that point, you ought to abstain from conveying them in your tote.
As an ever-increasing number of sites and applications require passwords for security purposes, it very well maybe not be easy to monitor that data yet, it would help if you abstained from keeping this touchy data recorded on a sheet in your tote.
Regardless of gender, we always carry a compartment (bag or purse) to carry the important. We will talk about objects that have to do with finances or useful life. Each person is a world and is organized differently so that the things they carry are also. However, they usually coincide in some, such as credit cards, money, etc.
You ought to routinely convey the main distinguishing record with you is a driver’s permit or state ID card. You ought not to make a propensity out of conveying your government-backed retirement card, visa, or birth declaration with you except if you need it for voyaging. Besides the issue of supplanting these things, they’re a significant wellspring of data fraud.
The important thing is not to carry things that may represent a danger or a big problem in the future due to loss or loss. All of it is related to the importance of these goods.
What you should avoid loading in your wallet or purse
To guide you on the important things you should avoid having all the time with you, we share a list.
Credit and debit cards
Unless you plan to use any of the two cards, it is recommended that you do not load them. You can always run the risk of losing them or having them stolen. Although it is easy to protect them in banking institutions, it is not necessary to go through that. On the other hand, thinking more positively, bringing credit cards with you is a synonym for spending more if you don’t have self-control.
Storage devices
It depends on the type of information your device has. If you have sensitive information, the ideal is not to bring it with you all the time. Imagine that anyone could have access to documents with very personal information? It could be a victim of identity theft or extortion.
Unnecessary cash
The same thing happens with credit cards; you will be more likely to spend out of your budget. If you do not use that money, leave it at home or the cashier.
Important access passwords
It may seem dated, but many people still keep their passwords in small notebooks or papers. Either because they don’t have a good memory or because they are used to using a pencil and paper.
You should have passwords with easy-to-remember numbers, in theory, so you don’t need to write them down on paper or on your phone. However, it would help if you also tried not to be very predictable and not use numbers to do with birthdays.
Invoices or receipts
Most of us forget to tidy up that part, so we just put the bag or purse without paying attention. Many people have these receipts or bills so old that the information is no longer perceived.
Although it may seem somewhat helpless and common, it is possible to share sensitive information without realizing it with this type of activity. It is easy to notice your shopping habits or personal data with only these receipts or invoices. Be more cautious and set aside a place for these types of documents; if you are not going to use them, destroy them.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Mastering Transportation and Logistics: Essential Insights
Transportation and logistics encompasses the strategic planning, movement, and management of goods, inventory, and information from origin to delivery to maximize efficiency, reliability, and cost-effectiveness. This integrated system includes warehousing, distribution, freight transportation across multiple modes, supply chain optimization, and last-mile delivery services that connect businesses to customers worldwide.
Leading companies are transforming their logistics operations through data-driven strategies and automation technologies. Over my 20 years as CEO of Complete Controller, I’ve witnessed businesses across all sectors struggle with rising freight costs, delivery delays, and inventory management challenges. This article reveals proven strategies for optimizing your logistics operations, including scenario-based planning techniques that reduced costs by 12% for major carriers, automation solutions cutting warehouse expenses by 30%, and sustainable practices that both lower emissions and improve profitability. You’ll gain actionable frameworks for selecting transportation modes, managing inventory systems, and building resilient supply chains that adapt to market volatility.
What is transportation and logistics, and how do you master it?
Transportation and logistics refers to the coordinated planning, movement, and management of goods and resources across supply chains to achieve on-time, cost-effective delivery
Planning encompasses demand forecasting, route optimization, and resource allocation across the supply network
Movement includes selecting optimal transportation modes—trucking, rail, air, or waterway—based on speed, cost, and volume requirements
Management involves real-time tracking, inventory control, and performance monitoring to maintain service levels
Mastery requires integrating technology platforms, building strong carrier partnerships, and implementing continuous improvement processes
The Core Components of Modern Transportation and Logistics
The global logistics market reached $11.26 trillion in 2024 and continues expanding at 6.3% annually, driven by e-commerce growth and increasing supply chain complexity. This growth reflects fundamental shifts in how businesses manage inventory, fulfill orders, and meet rising customer expectations for speed and transparency.
Building strong logistics management foundations
Effective logistics management starts with robust inventory control and demand forecasting systems. Cloud-based inventory platforms provide real-time visibility across multiple warehouse locations, enabling businesses to maintain optimal stock levels while minimizing carrying costs. Smart warehouse management systems track every item from receipt through shipment, reducing errors and accelerating fulfillment times.
Distribution network design represents another critical foundation element. Strategic warehouse placement reduces transportation distances and delivery times while balancing inventory investment requirements. Leading companies utilize network modeling software to evaluate different facility configurations, analyzing factors including customer density, transportation costs, and service level requirements. These models help identify optimal locations for distribution centers that minimize total logistics costs while meeting delivery commitments.
Optimizing transportation mode selection
Transportation mode selection significantly impacts both costs and service levels. Road freight dominates domestic logistics, handling 72.6% of U.S. freight tonnage through flexible door-to-door service. However, each mode offers distinct advantages for specific shipping requirements:
Trucking: Provides maximum flexibility and speed for regional distribution, though facing 25% cost increases due to driver shortages
Rail transport: Delivers 4.1% annual growth through superior fuel efficiency for bulk commodities on established corridors
Waterway shipping: Achieves lowest per-ton costs for high-volume international trade, growing at 6.2% annually
Air freight: Offers fastest transit times for time-sensitive, high-value shipments despite premium pricing
Strategic mode selection requires analyzing shipment characteristics including weight, volume, value, urgency, and destination accessibility. Many companies adopt multi-modal strategies, combining rail for long-distance transport with trucking for final delivery to optimize both cost and service.
Leveraging Technology for Competitive Advantage
Technology transformation drives efficiency gains across transportation and logistics operations. Artificial intelligence and machine learning applications revolutionize route planning, demand forecasting, and capacity utilization.
Real-time visibility and tracking systems
Modern transportation management systems provide end-to-end shipment visibility through GPS tracking, IoT sensors, and integrated carrier data feeds. These platforms consolidate information from multiple sources into unified dashboards showing real-time location, estimated arrival times, and exception alerts. Advanced systems predict potential delays based on traffic patterns, weather conditions, and historical performance data.
Integration capabilities connect transportation systems with warehouse management, order processing, and customer communication platforms. Automated notifications keep customers informed about delivery status while exception management tools alert operations teams to potential service failures before they impact customers. This proactive approach reduces customer service inquiries while improving on-time delivery performance.
Automation and robotics applications
Warehouse automation technologies deliver substantial productivity improvements while addressing labor availability challenges. Automated storage and retrieval systems reduce picking times by 60% while improving accuracy to 99.9%. Robotic systems handle repetitive tasks including palletizing, sorting, and packaging, freeing human workers for higher-value activities.
Autonomous vehicle pilots demonstrate potential for transforming last-mile delivery economics. Major logistics providers test self-driving trucks for highway transport and delivery robots for residential service. While regulatory approval remains pending for widespread deployment, these technologies promise significant cost reductions and service improvements once operational barriers clear.
Implementing Sustainable Logistics Strategies
Environmental sustainability has evolved from optional initiative to competitive requirement as customers demand carbon footprint transparency and regulators impose emissions standards. Sustainable practices often improve profitability through reduced fuel consumption and operational efficiency.
Route optimization and load consolidation
Advanced routing algorithms minimize total miles driven while maintaining service commitments. Dynamic route optimization considers real-time traffic conditions, delivery windows, and vehicle capacity to reduce fuel consumption by 15-20%. Load consolidation strategies combine multiple shipments into fuller trucks, improving asset utilization while reducing per-package emissions.
Fleet modernization provides another sustainability lever. Electric vehicles suit urban delivery routes with predictable daily mileage and overnight charging availability. Alternative fuel vehicles including compressed natural gas and hydrogen show promise for longer routes. Leading carriers commit to electrifying delivery fleets by 2030, driven by both environmental goals and anticipated operating cost advantages.
Circular economy and reverse logistics
Reverse logistics capabilities become increasingly important as e-commerce return rates reach 20-30% for certain categories. Efficient returns processing recovers value from returned products while minimizing environmental impact through proper recycling and disposal. Streamlined reverse logistics networks reduce transportation requirements by consolidating return shipments and processing returns at regional facilities rather than shipping back to origin.
Packaging optimization represents another sustainability opportunity. Right-sized packaging reduces material usage and improves truck capacity utilization. Reusable packaging systems eliminate waste for regular shipment routes between facilities. These initiatives reduce costs while demonstrating environmental commitment to sustainability-conscious customers.
Navigating Market Volatility and Building Resilience
Recent years demonstrated supply chain vulnerability to disruptions including pandemics, natural disasters, and geopolitical conflicts. Building resilient logistics operations requires strategic planning and operational flexibility.
Scenario planning and risk management
Leading companies employ scenario-based planning to prepare for potential disruptions. DHL’s implementation of advanced scenario-planning tools evaluated impacts from fuel price volatility, labor shortages, and modal capacity constraints. By modeling various disruption scenarios, they identified vulnerabilities and developed contingency plans that reduced costs by 12% while improving service reliability during actual disruptions.
Diversification strategies reduce dependency on single suppliers, routes, or transportation modes. Multi-sourcing critical components, maintaining relationships with multiple carriers, and developing alternative routing options provide flexibility when primary channels face constraints. Investment in visibility systems enables rapid response when disruptions occur, allowing redirection of shipments and customer communication about revised delivery expectations.
Labor challenges and workforce development
The logistics industry faces severe labor shortages, particularly for truck drivers where demand exceeds supply by 80,000 positions in the United States alone. These shortages drive wage inflation and capacity constraints that impact service availability and costs. Companies respond through multiple strategies:
Technology adoption: Automated systems reduce labor requirements for routine tasks
Improved working conditions: Better scheduling, modern equipment, and competitive benefits attract and retain workers
Training programs: Partnerships with educational institutions develop skilled logistics professionals
Process redesign: Simplified workflows reduce training requirements and improve productivity
Practical Implementation: Your 90-Day Action Plan
Transforming transportation and logistics operations requires systematic approach and sustained execution. This roadmap provides structured path for improvement regardless of company size or current maturity level.
Days 1-30: Assessment and baseline establishment
Begin with comprehensive logistics audit documenting current performance across key metrics including on-time delivery, transportation costs, inventory accuracy, and order cycle times. Map existing processes identifying bottlenecks, redundancies, and improvement opportunities. Survey customers about delivery expectations and pain points. Benchmark performance against industry standards to establish improvement targets.
Days 31-60: Technology selection and process redesign
Evaluate technology platforms for transportation management, warehouse operations, and customer visibility. Prioritize systems providing quick wins through basic automation and visibility improvements. Redesign core processes eliminating identified inefficiencies. Implement pilot programs testing new approaches with limited scope before broader rollout. Train staff on new systems and processes, addressing change management proactively.
Days 61-90: Optimization and continuous improvement
Launch optimization initiatives for routing, load planning, and inventory placement based on collected data. Establish partnerships with technology providers and logistics specialists filling capability gaps. Implement performance dashboards tracking key metrics in real-time. Create feedback loops incorporating customer and employee input into ongoing improvements. Document standard operating procedures sustaining gains achieved.
Final Thoughts
Transportation and logistics excellence demands continuous adaptation to changing market conditions, technology capabilities, and customer expectations. Success requires balancing strategic vision with operational excellence, investing in both technology and people while maintaining focus on sustainable profitability.
The companies that thrive will be those that view logistics not as a cost center but as a competitive differentiator. By implementing data-driven strategies, embracing automation, and building resilient operations, businesses can transform logistics from operational burden into strategic advantage.
Ready to optimize your logistics operations with expert financial guidance? The team at Complete Controller helps businesses implement cost-effective logistics strategies while maintaining the financial visibility needed for smart decision-making. Visit Complete Controller to discover how our expertise in business financial management can support your logistics transformation journey.
Frequently Asked Questions About Transportation and Logistics
What is the difference between transportation and logistics?
Transportation focuses specifically on moving goods from point A to point B using various modes like trucks, ships, or planes. Logistics encompasses the broader process including planning, warehousing, inventory management, order processing, and coordinating all activities required to deliver products efficiently from origin to final destination.
How can small businesses reduce logistics costs without sacrificing service quality?
Small businesses can reduce costs by consolidating shipments to achieve volume discounts, negotiating rates with multiple carriers to ensure competitive pricing, implementing basic route optimization software, partnering with third-party logistics providers for warehousing needs, and focusing on accurate demand forecasting to minimize inventory carrying costs.
What are the biggest trends shaping transportation and logistics in 2025?
The dominant trends include widespread adoption of AI and machine learning for route optimization and demand planning, sustainability initiatives driving fleet electrification and alternative fuels, continued e-commerce growth pushing last-mile delivery innovation, supply chain digitalization improving visibility and control, and labor shortage responses through automation and improved working conditions.
Which technologies provide the fastest return on investment for logistics operations?
Transportation management systems typically deliver 10-15% cost savings within 12 months through better route planning and carrier selection. Warehouse management systems improve inventory accuracy and reduce labor costs by 20-30%. GPS tracking and visibility platforms reduce customer service costs while improving satisfaction. Basic automation like conveyor systems and sorting equipment show payback periods under two years.
How do I create a resilient supply chain that handles disruptions effectively?
Build resilience through diversifying suppliers and transportation providers to avoid single points of failure, implementing real-time visibility systems for rapid response capabilities, developing scenario-based contingency plans for various disruption types, maintaining strategic inventory buffers for critical items, and creating strong partnerships with logistics providers who can flex capacity during emergencies.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer BrazerFounder/CEO
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Brittany McMillen is a seasoned Marketing Manager with a sharp eye for strategy and storytelling. With a background in digital marketing, brand development, and customer engagement, she brings a results-driven mindset to every project. Brittany specializes in crafting compelling content and optimizing user experiences that convert. When she’s not reviewing content, she’s exploring the latest marketing trends or championing small business success.
Insurance is a method of risk management and is utilized to protect an individual or a company from financial losses. The policyholder or insured individual buys an insurance plan or policy from a company for a price known as the premium. An insurance policy is based on the idea of sharing risks between the insured and the insurer. If the insured experiences a loss that is covered by the policy, he files a claim to the insurer. This article lists various types of insurances and helps you choose one for yourself!
Life Insurance
The idea behind life insurance is to leave some money for your family when you die. Often, a family is dependent on one or two bread earners who provide for the family. Therefore, if the bread earner dies, the family must have something to meet their needs. According to insurance experts, a life insurance policy premium should be 10% of your yearly income. When provided to the family, this amount should cover the funeral expenses of the deceased, other ongoing expenses like mortgage payments and allow for some money to be allocated for the future. Life insurance is of two types: Term Life, where the insured pays for a set time, and Traditional Whole Life, where the insured pays until he dies.
Health Insurance
They say that one is only an illness away from bankruptcy. Health insurance allows one to cover his medical expenses in case of any illness or medical procedure. It also provides for other needs while one is unable to earn due to bad health. There are various types of medical insurances. Some cover private hospitals and medical bills, while others cover traumas and major diseases like heart disease, paralysis, cancer, and other such diseases. Some plans pay a certain percentage regularly to cover ongoing medical conditions such as diabetes. Certain plans cover permanent disabilities and sickness, while others cover the mortgage if one can’t work.
Auto Insurance
Automobile insurance is one of the most common insurances that people buy. Every year, millions of car accidents happen on the road, killing thousands and leaving several disabled for life. Therefore, one must get the vehicle insured to prevent suffering a financial loss. Auto insurance covers the repair expenses or replaces the car if it cannot be recovered. Some auto insurances also cover the property destroyed due to the accident. Auto insurances also pay for the damage caused to the other persons as a result of the accident. Additionally, if an insured vehicle is stolen, the insurance policy replaces it with another car.
General Insurance
A general insurance policy covers everything besides one’s life. However, it is especially important to study general insurance terms properly, as they can be misled by the company or misunderstood by the individual. General insurance policies usually span one year, and the premium is usually paid at one time. Some risks covered by a general insurance policy include property loss, such as a stolen car or a burnt building, accidental death, travel insurance, and more.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance covers a wide range of aspects. The policy covers emergency medical expenses while one is traveling, any personal liability if one is sued for causing an injury or damaging property, and lost belongings like bags and devices. The travel insurance policy also covers the costs of canceling, cutting, or delaying flights and trips. However, the insurance does not cover any medical condition that was pre-existing before traveling. It is also important to know that the policy does not cover any injury incurred in an adventurous sport or any other dangerous activities.
Before choosing an insurance policy, look carefully at the issues covered. Make sure that the right premium is charged and discuss this in detail with the insurance company. Also, be aware of how to end the policy if needed!
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
Jennifer is the author of From Cubicle to Cloud and Founder/CEO of Complete Controller, a pioneering financial services firm that helps entrepreneurs break free of traditional constraints and scale their businesses to new heights.
Small Business Bookkeeping: Hiring a Freelance Bookkeeper vs Firm – Which Is Right for Your Business?
Small business bookkeeping hiring a freelance bookkeeper vs firm requires careful consideration of your growth trajectory, budget constraints, and compliance needs—with firms typically offering better scalability and error prevention despite higher upfront costs. The decision impacts everything from daily cash flow management to year-end tax preparation, making it crucial to understand the tradeoffs between freelance flexibility and firm-level expertise.
I’ve spent over two decades as CEO of Complete Controller working with businesses across every industry imaginable, and I’ve witnessed firsthand how the right bookkeeping choice can accelerate growth while the wrong one creates expensive headaches down the road. This article breaks down the real differences between freelance bookkeepers and firms, including cost structures that aren’t always obvious, compliance risks that could sink your business, and the scalability factors that determine whether you’ll outgrow your solution in six months or six years. You’ll gain practical frameworks for evaluating providers, understand when switching makes financial sense, and learn specific red flags that signal it’s time to upgrade your bookkeeping support.
What exactly is the difference between hiring a freelance bookkeeper versus a bookkeeping firm for small businesses?
Core difference: Freelancers are independent contractors handling your books solo, while firms provide teams with built-in backup and specialized expertise
Freelancers typically charge $20-50 per hour and work flexible schedules suited for project-based or irregular bookkeeping needs
Firms offer flat monthly rates starting around $190, providing consistent service levels with CPA oversight and standardized processes
Risk factors differ significantly: freelancers may leave suddenly without backup, while firms maintain continuity through staff redundancy
Service scope varies: freelancers handle basic transaction recording, while firms include strategic planning, compliance monitoring, and growth-ready systems
The True Cost Comparison: Beyond Hourly Rates
Understanding bookkeeping costs requires looking past surface-level pricing to total value delivered. Freelance bookkeepers with 10+ years experience charge up to $34.50/hour, while firms offer flat monthly rates starting at $190/month for basic services. This pricing gap narrows quickly when you factor in hidden costs and long-term implications.
Client bears full cost of training on your specific systems
Zero redundancy means potential business disruption
Firm Pricing Advantages:
Predictable flat-rate monthly billing aids budget planning
Built-in coverage ensures continuous service
Error corrections included in service agreements
Standardized onboarding processes reduce setup time
Team approach provides knowledge redundancy
Many business owners discover that paying $500 monthly for comprehensive firm services beats spending $400 on freelance hours plus another $200 fixing errors. The real savings emerge when firms prevent costly mistakes before they compound into major issues requiring expensive CPA interventions.
Service Depth Analysis: What You Actually Get
The service gap between freelancers and firms becomes apparent when examining daily deliverables and strategic support levels. Freelancers excel at transaction recording and basic categorization, while firms deliver comprehensive financial management systems designed for growth.
Basic Freelance Services Include:
Data entry and transaction categorization
Monthly bank reconciliation
Simple financial statement preparation
Year-end document compilation
Invoice and receipt filing
Comprehensive Firm Capabilities:
Real-time financial dashboards with KPI tracking
Monthly CPA-reviewed statements with variance analysis
Proactive cash flow forecasting and alerts
Integration with payroll, inventory, and CRM systems
Strategic tax planning throughout the year
Industry-specific reporting and benchmarking
Small business accounting services from established firms include dedicated account managers who understand your business model, spot trends before they become problems, and provide actionable insights beyond basic number-crunching. This strategic partnership approach transforms bookkeeping from a necessary evil into a competitive advantage.
Compliance and Risk Management: Protecting Your Business
In 2024, 33% of accountants made financial errors weekly due to workload pressures, up from 27% in 2022. This alarming trend highlights why team-based review processes matter more than individual expertise when protecting your business from compliance failures.
Freelancers operating solo face inherent limitations in maintaining compliance and audit requirements for small businesses. Without peer review or standardized quality controls, errors slip through undetected until audits or tax deadlines reveal expensive problems.
Firm-Based Risk Mitigation:
Multi-level review processes catch errors before filing
Segregation of duties prevents fraud and embezzlement
Automated compliance tracking for changing regulations
Secure document management with audit trails
Professional liability insurance coverage
Regular training on tax law updates
Common Freelancer Vulnerabilities:
No backup during personal emergencies
Limited knowledge of industry-specific regulations
Informal documentation practices
Minimal technology security measures
Personal financial problems affecting work quality
The cost of non-compliance extends beyond fines to include legal fees, lost business opportunities, and reputational damage. Firms invest in systems and training that individual freelancers simply cannot match, providing peace of mind worth far more than monthly fee differences.
Scalability Factors: Planning for Growth
Research shows 68% of businesses using freelancers outgrow them within 18 months, needing advanced reporting or payroll integration. This predictable bottleneck occurs because freelancers optimized for simplicity cannot evolve alongside expanding businesses.
Growth Triggers Requiring Firm Support:
Business Milestone
Freelancer Limitation
Firm Solution
Adding employees
No payroll expertise
Integrated HCM systems
$1M revenue
Basic reporting only
Dashboard analytics
Multiple locations
Single-state knowledge
Multi-jurisdiction compliance
Seeking investment
Informal documentation
Audit-ready financials
International sales
US-only experience
Global accounting standards
Boxelder Consulting solved tax resolution bottlenecks by partnering with Bench Accounting, which provided scalable bookkeeping for clients in 50 states. This partnership enabled geographic expansion without the typical growing pains of upgrading financial systems mid-growth.
Cost-effective bookkeeping solutions must balance current needs with future requirements. Starting with a firm positions your business for seamless scaling rather than disruptive transitions during critical growth phases.
Making the Switch: Timing and Transition Strategies
Recognizing when to transition from freelancer to firm prevents crisis-mode decisions that disrupt operations. Warning signs include missed deadlines, increasing errors, unavailable support during crucial periods, and inability to provide strategic insights beyond basic reports.
Optimal Transition Timeline:
Month 1: Evaluate current bookkeeping gaps and future needs
Month 2: Interview 3-5 firms matching your industry and size
Month 3: Run parallel systems during knowledge transfer
Month 4: Full transition with historical cleanup completed
Month 5: Establish rhythms with new strategic reporting
Red Flags Demanding Immediate Action:
Tax penalties from filing errors
Inability to secure loans due to poor documentation
Cash flow surprises from delayed reporting
Bookkeeper expressing overwhelm or burnout
Business decisions delayed by missing financial data
Freelancer Danielle transitioned to a limited company structure after realizing sole proprietorship couldn’t support client growth or tax complexity. This structural evolution mirrors the journey many businesses face when informal bookkeeping arrangements constrain expansion opportunities.
Strategic Decision Framework
Affordable bookkeeping for small businesses requires matching service levels to business complexity while maintaining room for growth. The decision matrix below clarifies when each option makes sense:
Best practices for hiring a bookkeeper include verifying credentials, checking references from similar businesses, and ensuring cultural fit with your communication style. Whether choosing freelance or firm options, prioritize providers who demonstrate industry knowledge and proactive communication habits.
Conclusion
The choice between freelance bookkeepers and firms ultimately depends on your business trajectory and risk tolerance. While freelancers offer flexibility and lower entry costs, firms provide the scalability, compliance expertise, and strategic support that growing businesses inevitably require. Smart entrepreneurs recognize that small business financial management strategies evolve with company growth, and choosing providers with expansion capacity prevents painful transitions later.
I’ve guided thousands of businesses through this decision at Complete Controller, and the pattern remains consistent: companies that invest in scalable bookkeeping infrastructure early avoid expensive corrections and missed opportunities down the road. Your bookkeeping choice shapes more than just monthly reports—it determines whether financial management accelerates or constrains your business potential.
Take action today by auditing your current bookkeeping effectiveness against future growth plans. If gaps exist between current capabilities and upcoming needs, explore how Complete Controller’s team of CPAs and certified bookkeepers can transform your financial management from basic compliance to strategic advantage. Visit Complete Controller to discover how expert bookkeeping support fuels sustainable business growth.
FAQ
How much more expensive are bookkeeping firms compared to freelancers?
While freelancers charge $20-50 hourly, firms typically start at $190 monthly for basic services. However, firms often prove cheaper long-term by preventing errors—research shows businesses save 40% or more when factoring in mistake corrections, compliance penalties, and strategic planning benefits that firms include standard.
What certifications should I verify when hiring bookkeeping help?
Look for QuickBooks ProAdvisor certification, Certified Public Bookkeeper (CPB) credentials, or CPA licensure. Firms typically employ multiple certified professionals, while freelancers may hold single certifications. Verify current status through official certification databases rather than trusting claims alone.
Can a freelance bookkeeper handle my growing business needs?
Freelancers work well for businesses with under 100 monthly transactions and simple structures. However, 68% of companies outgrow freelance capacity within 18 months due to multi-state operations, employee additions, or investment preparation requiring sophisticated reporting that exceeds individual capabilities.
What risks come with using freelancers for bookkeeping compliance?
Solo freelancers lack peer review processes, increasing error rates significantly—33% of accountants make weekly mistakes under pressure. Without backup coverage, standardized procedures, or regulatory update systems, freelancers expose businesses to audit failures, tax penalties, and documentation gaps that firms systematically prevent.
When should I switch from a freelancer to a bookkeeping firm?
Switch when experiencing missed deadlines, increasing errors, unavailable support during critical periods, or approaching $500K revenue. Other triggers include adding employees, expanding geographically, seeking investment, or needing strategic financial guidance beyond basic transaction recording.
Sources
Bean Ninjas. “Accounting Firm vs Freelancer for eCommerce.” Bean Ninjas Blog, 13 May 2021.
Bench.co. “Boxelder and Bench: How a Client-First Tax Resolution Firm Scaled Nationwide.” Bench Blog, 20 Sep 2023. https://www.bench.co/blog/small-business-stories/tax-resolution-bookkeeping
Caroola. “Sole Trader to Limited – Freelancer Case Study.” Caroola Resources, 2025. https://caroola.com/resources/business-structures/sole-trader-limited-case-study
Complete Controller. Internal Case Study. 2023.
Gartner. “Gartner Survey Shows That a Third of Accountants Make Several Errors Per Week Due to Capacity Constraints.” Gartner Newsroom, 21 Feb 2024. https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2024-02-21-gartner-survey-shows-that-a-third-of-accountants-make-several-error-per-weeo-due-to-capacity-constraints
Insight Chicago. “Freelance Bookkeeper vs Firm: Choose Wisely.” Insight Chicago Blog, 16 Jun 2021.
RemoteBooksOnline. “Freelancers vs Bookkeeping Firms: Which Is Better?” RemoteBooksOnline Blog, 29 May 2025.
SBA.gov. “Manage Your Business Finances.” U.S. Small Business Administration. https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/manage-your-business/finances
Whistler Valley Business. “Freelance vs Firm: Cost and Quality Tradeoffs.” Whistler Valley Blog, 16 May 2021.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud platform where their QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools are hosted in an efficient SSO environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
About Complete Controller® – America’s Bookkeeping Experts Complete Controller is the Nation’s Leader in virtual bookkeeping, providing service to businesses and households alike. Utilizing Complete Controller’s technology, clients gain access to a cloud-hosted desktop where their entire team and tax accountant may access the QuickBooks™️ file, critical financial documents, and back-office tools in an efficient and secure environment. Complete Controller’s team of certified US-based accounting professionals provide bookkeeping, record storage, performance reporting, and controller services including training, cash-flow management, budgeting and forecasting, process and controls advisement, and bill-pay. With flat-rate service plans, Complete Controller is the most cost-effective expert accounting solution for business, family-office, trusts, and households of any size or complexity.
