There comes a time for any business, no matter what the size, that it’s time to replace or eliminate an employee’s position. This article is written for the business owner who has a bookkeeper and has given some thought to this topic. As business owners, we need to make tough decisions all the time. Perhaps, one of the hardest decision involves eliminating or reducing the hours of an employee. Lets face it, nobody likes to terminate an employee, especially in this economic environment. We all know, that its important to care about other people, so this type of decision is special and often is hard to make. Sometimes your perception of the problem is blocked by your feelings for the employee. So instead of making a decision, your perception creates a series of thoughts about the problem that results in no decision. This is article is written to help you realize that it’s time to make a decision.

As a small business owner, its tough to make this type of decision, because there may be no one to talk too, and also if you really haven’t had the sufficient time to devote to this problem. Here are 10 reasons or indicators to help you make that decision or to reinforce your decision to change your bookkeeper. If you can identify with a couple of these reasons or perhaps just one, and you believe that the problem cannot be fixed, then it may be time to terminate your bookkeeper or reduce their working hours.

1. Financial information is received late and always has mistakes.

2. You or someone in your family are financially and computer savvy and have the time to do the bookkeeping.

3. You need to replace the income of your wife, your parents, your in-law(s) or other family members.

4. Your bookkeeping doesn’t seem as complex and you are too dependent on the bookkeeper.

5. You have discussed this problem with your employee, have concluded that it can’t be fixed and you have made every effort to be fair and equitable.

6. The communication avenues are poor and you don’t understand what the bookkeeper is saying.

7. Your bookkeeper doesn’t answer your questions to your satisfaction.

8. Your bookkeeper seems to have a lot of extra time and doesn’t seem to be able to distinguish between urgent matters and priorities.

9. The economy has negatively impacted your business and you think you have too many people employed.

10. Other people have mentioned that’s its time to terminate your bookkeeper or reduce the bookkeeping hours.

Sometimes no decision is the wrong decision. If you have experienced one or more of the aforementioned indicators then it may make sense to internalize the bookkeeping within your family, assuming the replacement person is, or willing to learn, how to be computer and financial literate. Before making this decision, ask your CPA or accountant for their input.