Bookkeeping Tips for small businesses (From a Certified Bookkeeper)

Hey, small biz fam! I’m a bookkeeper who’s seen it all, and trust me, I’ve had clients make some wild moves with their finances. Here are a few tips based on the chaos I’ve helped clean up, hopefully they’ll keep your books tight, and your stress low.

Keep Business and Personal Funds Apart – I’ve had clients who dumped everything into one account. Big no-no. Get a separate business bank account and card, mixing it up turns tax time into a dumpster fire.

Track Every Single Expense – I’ve seen tiny purchases snowball into a mess because nobody wrote them down. Use a spreadsheet or software like QuickBooks. (Thumb Rule- If you have more than 30-40 transactions per month, please do yourself a favor and buy a subscription like QB, Xero etc)

Reconcile Monthly- Clients who skip this end up with mystery charges or double payments. Match your records to your bank statements every month- it’s a lifesaver.

Go Paperless - One client had a shoebox of crumpled receipts. Apps like Dext or QuickBooks can digitize it all.

Invoice Fast and Chase Payments - I’ve watched clients sit on invoices for weeks, then wonder why cash flow is negative. Set up auto-reminders.

Save for Taxes Up Front - Had a client get slammed with a tax bill they couldn’t cover. Move a chunk of your income to a separate account monthly.

Know When to Get Help - Some clients try to DIY it until they’re drowning in errors. Hiring a bookkeeper can save you time and money when it’s too much.

If y'all want, I can create industry-wise posts with tips and tricks.

Thanks for the read!