Paperless Office for CPAs - Myth or Reality?
Myth or Reality?
Getting rid of paper is not the answer to reducing costs for accounting firms. The number one way to save money when you're in the accounting business is to ensure that your clients book their work properly, and that your company's staff use less-expensive software. These are two different issues – a paperless office isn't going to make everyone’s jobs easier or reduce expenses for everyone else. It just might be worth considering if it will help you achieve these goals and/or if it aligns with your company’s culture and mission statement. That being said, most CPA firms have switched over to digital methods without much worry about what the direct consequences will be (if any). When it comes to paperless offices, though, there's an extra layer of concern. A business-wide switch can be risky – especially if your company has a particular vision for how its workforce is organized, and what the overarching goals are for the business.
What's the end goal?
In reality, most CPA firms are already paperless in many measure. Anyone who works in a firm that uses QuickBooks can attest to this fact. Just about everything we do is digital at this point.