Canadian small businesses and accounting firms are outsourcing more bookkeeping offshore, and India is the most popular destination. Here is how it works, where the savings come from and how to choose a provider you can trust.
Why India?
- Time-zone advantage: India is 9½ to 12½ hours ahead of Canadian time zones. Work sent at the end of your day is often finished by your next morning.
- Accounting depth: India has a very large pool of commerce graduates and accounting professionals experienced in cloud software such as QuickBooks Online and Xero.
- Lower cost: you pay for skilled work at a lower cost than hiring locally, usually as a predictable fixed monthly fee.
Is my data safe?
Ask any provider how they protect your information. At minimum, look for:
- Signed non-disclosure agreements with the firm and its staff
- Work done inside your cloud software, with no files copied to personal devices
- Accountant-user or read-only access, so you never share your banking password
- Multi-factor authentication on every account and role-based access
- Privacy practices consistent with Canada’s PIPEDA and a clear data-handling policy
Questions to ask before you sign
- Do you know Canadian GST/HST, PST and QST rules, payroll and year-end requirements?
- Who exactly will work on my file, and will it be the same person each month?
- What are your turnaround times, and when can I reach you during Canadian business hours?
- Is the price fixed, and what would make it change?
- What automation do you use to reduce manual work and errors?
- How do you work with my CPA at year-end?
How IndoMaple Advisory works
We are an India-based firm built only for Canadian clients. We are automation-first, work in your software and are available during Canadian business hours. Book a free consultation to see whether outsourcing is a good fit for you.