Which is Right for Your Business?
If you’re a business owner drowning in financial admin instead of focusing on growth, you’re not alone. Many entrepreneurs find themselves caught up in bank reconciliation, invoicing, and payroll, leaving little time for business-building activities. Worse still, outsourcing all bookkeeping to an accountant can be an expensive mistake, with every small task adding to your bill.
This is where bookkeeping virtual assistants come in. By delegating financial tasks to bookkeeping VAs, you get expert bookkeeping support without the hefty accountant fees. In this blog, we’ll explore why hiring a bookkeeping VA is the smarter, more cost-effective alternative to relying solely on an accountant.
The Real Cost of Using an Accountant for Bookkeeping
Accountants are essential for tax compliance, BAS statements, and financial strategy, but many business owners also rely on them for everyday bookkeeping tasks—without realising just how much it’s costing them.
The Reality of Accountant Fees in Australia:
- Most accountants charge $100 – $400 per hour (yes, even for simple bookkeeping work!).
- Many have minimum billing increments—so even if it takes five minutes to send an invoice, you could be charged for 15.
- BAS lodgements, bank reconciliation, and software management can quickly add up to thousands of dollars annually.
What does this mean for you? You’re paying premium prices for work that a bookkeeping virtual assistant can do at a fraction of the cost.
Bookkeeping Virtual Assistants vs. Accountants
Who Should Handle What?
A bookkeeping VA, through a virtual assistant agency, can manage the day-to-day financial tasks that don’t require an accountant’s expertise, saving you time and money. Here’s how they compare:
The takeaway? A bookkeeping virtual assistant can handle 80% of your bookkeeping needs, allowing you to only pay an accountant for the specialised tax and compliance work that truly requires their expertise.
The Hidden Cost of Doing It All Yourself
If you’re still managing your own bookkeeping, you’re not saving money—you’re losing it. Every hour spent on admin is an hour not spent growing your business.
Time Wasted on Low-Value Tasks:
- Sending invoices, tracking expenses, and reconciling accounts can eat up hours of your week.
- Instead of focusing on sales, strategy, and growth, you’re stuck doing back-office work.
- If your time is worth $100 per hour and you spend 10 hours a month on bookkeeping, that’s $1,000 lost per month—and you’re not even factoring in the frustration!
What’s the smarter move? Delegate tasks to virtual assistants and focus on high-impact areas that actually move the needle in your business.
Why a Bookkeeping Virtual Assistant is the Best Investment
Unlike accountants, bookkeeping VAs offer flexibility, affordability, and dedicated support. Here’s why you should hire a VA instead of paying inflated accounting fees:
Cost Savings – A bookkeeping VA is significantly more affordable than an accountant for daily financial tasks.
Specialised in Xero, MYOB, and QuickBooks – Many VAs are certified in leading accounting software, so they can seamlessly integrate into your workflow.
Flexible Support – Work with a virtual assistant agency that provides on-demand bookkeeping support without long-term contracts.
Frees Up Your Time – Stop getting bogged down in numbers and focus on growing your business instead.
Secure & Confidential – Virtual Elves’ Filipino VAs are trained to handle sensitive financial data with professionalism and discretion.
How to Hire a Bookkeeping Virtual Assistant
Ready to take the next step? Here’s how to get started with bookkeeping virtual assistants:
Identify the tasks you want to delegate – Invoicing, reconciliation, payroll, or all of the above?
Choose a trusted virtual assistant agency – Work with a provider like Virtual Elves to ensure you get a skilled, reliable VA.
Onboard your VA with clear systems – Provide access to your accounting software and outline workflows for a smooth transition.
Start small and scale up – Test your bookkeeping VA with a few tasks, then expand as they integrate into your operations.
Smart Business Owners Delegate
Business owners who prioritise business-building activities over admin tasks are the ones who scale successfully. By hiring a bookkeeping virtual assistant, you can save money, time, and stress while keeping your finances in order.
The choice is clear:
Keep overpaying an accountant for simple bookkeeping tasks…
OR hire a VA who can manage the day-to-day finances affordably and efficiently.
Ready to enhance business productivity and stop wasting time on admin? Contact Virtual Elves today and find your perfect bookkeeping VA!
Download our ‘100 things a VA can do for you’ checklist and start taking control of your growth.
