Ask an Expert {AG Rueda Bookkeeping}
Q&A with Bookkeeper Alitca Garcia
As an Eastside small business owner herself, Alitca, the owner of AG Rueda Bookkeeping, knows what it is like to have to do it all. After 14 years of working for CPA firms, she decided to venture out on her own. With this knowledge in her back pocket, Alitca decided not to just help keep accounts straight, but also to spend time walking business owners through the process to alleviate the frustration and confusion that can often accompany this critical business process.
What are the most valuable services you offer to a small business?
My time and flexibility. I am always available for my clients, and I make sure that no client ever has to worry about having to wait on hold or twiddle their thumbs hoping for a phone call 24-48 hours later. My office phone is my cell phone, so clients have the flexibility of contacting me directly anytime since efficiency is key to a successful business.
Similarly, since part of my services to each and every one of my clients is to be able to provide them an easier way to handle their business efficiently, that means that everything is handled electronically: receipts, tax filing, reports, etc.
What kinds of tips would you give to people who are setting up a new bookkeeping system?
Choosing the right accounting software should be at the top of the list. An accounting software package that offers the flexibility to grow as the business grows is important. Secondly, once the software account is all set up, I make sure a clean set up of the chart of accounts is done—simplifying things for my clients moving forward. Categorizing each expense/income is critical to saving my clients time each month.
If your business plans on hiring a bookkeeper later down the road, they will need a clean set of books to begin working; otherwise, they will have to perform a “clean up” in order to ensure the chart of accounts is set up to be as simple as possible.
What other services do you provide clients in addition to bookkeeping?
I offer payroll, year-end services, and tax services.
What do you love about working with businesses on the Eastside?
Working with small businesses is a chance to not only develop business relationships but personal ones as well. Especially on the Eastside, where it is a very tight community, I love that I get to meet the people behind every small business I work with and watch them grow. Plus, as a small business person myself, working with other business owners allows for a mutual understanding and appreciation for all the hard work that goes on behind the scenes when you provide customized services like bookkeeping.
Contact:
AG Rueda Bookkeeping
agruedabookkeeping.com
@agruedabookkeeping101
