Factors Influencing Acceptance Of Home-Based Accounting Services (Hibas) For Micro-Entrepreneurs: UITM Postgraduate Accounting Students Perspectives

Abstract

This study aims to investigate and identify the main factors that influence the acceptance of the Home-Based Accounting Services (HBAS) concept from the perspective of postgraduate students. A well-structured survey questionnaire was distributed to all postgraduate students from the Faculty of Accountancy, University Teknologi MARA (UiTM) between 1 November 2018 and 30 November 2018. The research findings revealed that factors that influence the acceptance of HBAS, the ability of HBAS to provide comprehensive reporting on performance, and increasing the efficiency of owner-clients to manage accounting information were ranked as top priorities. The respondents also expect that HBAS could save time required for their involvement, from the recording to the reporting stages. Additionally, the owner client‘s convenience at the location while the HBAS team operates on-site and the securing of documents that must not be taken out from the site are other contributing factors. This paper contributes to the existing literature and broadens the provision of accounting services to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), also known as Micro-Entrepreneurs. The concept of HBAS could encourage Micro-Entrepreneurs to be more proactive, and issues related to the low percentage of SME business enterprises that keep proper accounting records could be reduced. HBAS is a new concept that aims to assist Micro-Entrepreneurs to keep proper accounting records. Consequently, this could help improve their financial position, as they would be able to review their business‘s financial statements regularly.