Before choosing a bookkeeper or accountant, list the work your business needs: recording sales and expenses, reconciling bank or M-Pesa statements, tracking stock, preparing management reports, payroll or tax-related support. A small shop in Nairobi and a service business in Kisumu may need different reporting and stock processes. Ask the provider which tasks they handle and which remain your responsibility.
Clarify scope, fees and credentials
Ask what records you must provide, how often reports arrive, what software or format is used, and how corrections are handled. Get the KSh fee and billing frequency in writing, including any charges for cleanup, urgent work, meetings or filing support. If the service includes tax advice or statutory filings, confirm the provider's relevant qualifications and scope; tax rules change, so verify obligations with current official guidance or a qualified professional.
Protect invoices, bank details, identity information and M-Pesa records. Use controlled access, agree how documents are transferred and stored, and remove access when the engagement ends. Do not share passwords to a personal or business account when a safer delegated-access method is available.
Test the working relationship
Request a sample report with fictional or redacted data and confirm deadlines around your monthly close. Agree who checks source documents and who approves filings or payments. A provider should explain missing records and uncertainties rather than silently filling gaps.
KobStore can help business owners discover professional services, but verify a provider's qualifications, references, security practices, availability and written engagement terms directly before handing over records.
