Yes, as a genealogist, there are specific tax deductions you should be aware of. Some of these could include costs related to research materials, travel expenses for genealogical research, professional memberships, home office expenses, computer and software, and advertising and promotional costs. Each country, and even states or provinces within those countries, will have specific rules, so we would recommend consulting with a Bench bookkeeper to ensure you're deducting everything accurately.

For a genealogy business, the best type of accounting system would be cloud-based accounting software. This is due to the unique nature of genealogy businesses which often require location flexibility, involvement of various professionals from different areas, and the need for efficient data sharing. A cloud-based system provides convenient accessibility from anywhere and offers indispensable features for tracking expenses, invoices, and reporting, which can significantly simplify the bookkeeping process for a genealogy business. However, the specific choice may also depend on the size and other business needs.

Managing and tracking of travel and subscription-related expenses can be broken down into a few steps:

1. Create a Budget: It’s critical to establish a budget for travel and subscription services. This should take into consideration average travel costs, the price of various genealogy databases, and your income.
2. Separate Personal and Business Expenses: Make sure to keep your personal and business expenses separate. This will simplify expense tracking and make your bookkeeping more accurate.
3. Track Spending: Every time there’s a purchase made for travel or database subscription, it should be recorded. This provides an overview of expenses and allows for easier management.
4. Organize Receipts: Maintain a file with all the pertinent receipts pertaining to travel and database subscriptions. Digital or physical records can both be effective.
5. Use Accounting Software: There are many software programs that can help automate the bookkeeping process. These programs also allow you to easily categorize your expenses into different sections like 'Travel' and 'Subscriptions'
6. Hire a Professional: Consider hiring a professional bookkeeper or accountant if tracking expenses becomes too complex.

Implementing these strategies can help you keep track of your expenses and maintain your bookkeeping with ease.

Nope! All bookkeeping is completed in-house.

Your bookkeeper will be your main point of contact, but at times you might hear from another member of your team. This is usually when your bookkeeper goes on vacation, is sick, or otherwise unavailable.

We handle the bookkeeping for you but sometimes we’ll need your input, especially at year-end. On average, expect to spend 15 minutes each month answering questions for your bookkeeper, or uploading supporting docs.