Most small business owners and entrepreneurs launched their business because they had a good idea that they believed could succeed. Sometimes people who start a business end up running all aspects of the operations and have to learn along the way. This is perfectly fine for many aspects of your business, but when it comes to the accounting functions, it’s almost always best to solicit advice from seasoned professionals to make sure you are adhering to all laws and regulations.

A financial consultant can also assist you with achieving your financial goals and take some of the angst out of building your business. A financial advisor or consultant can provide guidance on a range of functions and business requirements, including forensic accounting and fraud examination. Regardless of your accounting needs, you can benefit from the expertise of a financial consultant. They can also provide you with an understanding of current trends, best practices and laws that are on the horizon that might affect your business.

It’s not uncommon for entrepreneurs to become frustrated after having to work around the clock to meet the needs of the business. Instead of working a standard eight-hour schedule, most business owners find themselves working around the clock. When this happens, there’s a greater chance that you’ll end up falling short in some areas, and the aspect of the business for which you have the least experience usually suffers most. This is especially the case when it comes to the complexities of accounting. Things tend to pile up, and before you know it, months have passed and your long list of tasks is getting longer.

Quite frankly, most entrepreneurs will tell you that the most complicated part of running a small business is the accounting functions. It can be intimidating, especially when you think about the possible consequences of not handling everything according to the laws of the land. Then there’s the issue of not understanding complicated tax codes and any other requirements that might be specific to your industry. Not only can it be challenging, it can also produce anxiety, and sometimes fear of the consequences if errors are made.

A financial consultant can help you understand key aspects of accounting, such as cash flow, P&L, balance sheets, GAAP, Sarbanes Oxley and financial reporting. Even if you choose to use accounting software that simplifies some of the processes, a consultant can guide you and introduce best practices. This can help you to implement standard operating procedures that will simplify the process in the future.

Here are some examples of the guidance and tips that financial consultants have provided entrepreneurs over the years: Regularly reconcile your bank account, automate your invoices and payments, implement and adhere to internal controls, plan all of your purchases, monitor your accounts receivables and always close your books on the same schedule. This is just the tip of the iceberg because there is a long list of best practices that you can learn about from a good financial consultant.