Hire a bookkeeper or outsource your bookkeeping? When each makes sense
You're self-employed or run a small business in Germany, the job ad is out and nobody suitable has applied. Before you keep looking, there's a second option for the ongoing bookkeeping.
Hiring makes sense if you need someone on site who also handles filing, payments and office work. For the ongoing bookkeeping alone, outsourcing is usually faster to start and easier to plan. With AntiBooks you get the ongoing bookkeeping for a fixed price from €499 a month.
The comparison
| Criterion | Part-time employee | Outsourcing to AntiBooks |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Salary plus employer social security contributions | Fixed price from €499 a month |
| Start | Finding and training someone often takes weeks | Start once the software is set up |
| Holidays and sick days | Receipts pile up if nobody covers | Receipts and bank transactions keep coming into the system automatically |
| Knowledge | Often not documented | Processes are documented and largely automated |
| Workplace | Needs a desk and training | No desk in your office needed |
| Tasks on site | Filing, post and payments possible | Only what can be done digitally |
When hiring still makes sense
If you have a lot of paper and need someone on site to write invoices, approve payments and deal with the post, your own employee is often the better choice. In that case I can set up the software so this person spends a lot less time on bookkeeping.
Outsourcing your bookkeeping: what you hand over and what stays with you
When you outsource, you hand over the ongoing bookkeeping. That means recording receipts and matching bank transactions to open invoices. The decisions, approving payments and access to your numbers stay with you.
With me, the bookkeeping runs in your own software account. You keep full access, and if you want to switch later or do it yourself again, you take everything with you.
How outsourcing works
Short call.
15 minutes. How your bookkeeping works today, how many receipts you have, which software you use.
Software setup.
Receipts go into your bookkeeping automatically, your bank accounts are connected and recurring bookings are set up.
Ongoing bookkeeping.
I record your day-to-day business transactions, and you always see up-to-date numbers.
I record your day-to-day business transactions and prepare your VAT returns and year-end closing up to the final step. You or a tax advisor of your choice then submit them.
What clients say about working with me
“Sandra is the go-to expert for setting up automated accounting in Germany. She was very patient with me, always available for answering my questions. Very supportive. Highly recommend her.”
“She was an absolute pleasure to work with. Her expertise in accounting automation helped us streamline our processes significantly.”
“Sandra is one of a kind in her unique mix of great analytical & entrepreneurial thinking and hands-on mentality.”
Common questions
How much does it cost to outsource bookkeeping?
At AntiBooks the ongoing bookkeeping has a fixed price, from €499 a month. You know the exact price before we start.
Can I outsource even though I've just posted a job ad?
Yes. Many businesses start with outsourced bookkeeping and decide later whether they still need the position.
Do I have to switch software?
Not necessarily. In the call I check whether your current software works. Usually I set up BuchhaltungsButler, because it lets me automate most of the processes.
What happens with my tax advisor?
That's up to you. Your tax advisor keeps doing the VAT returns and the year end, or you do them yourself in future.
Can we work in English?
Yes. Calls and emails can be in English. The bookkeeping itself follows German rules, and your tax advisor gets everything in the usual German format. BuchhaltungsButler itself is in German, but I can send you your reports in English.
Still deciding?
In 15 minutes we look at how many receipts you have and how your bookkeeping works today. Then you'll know whether outsourcing makes sense for you.