9 Red Flags Your Bookkeeper Is in Over Their Head (Or Worse)
Bookkeeper red flags fall into two groups: six that mean they’re overloaded and one conversation usually fixes, and three that mean stop and get help today.
Clarissa
How to Switch Bookkeepers Without Losing Your Financial History
Quick Answer Switch bookkeepers in this order: export your data and confirm you control the accounting file before you give notice, pick a cutover date at a month end, close and lock all prior periods, then rotate every credential your old bookkeeper had. The single most important step is the first one, because the leverage … Read more
Best Online Programs for Doing Your Business Bookkeeping
You set up your business, and now money comes in and you spend it on what you think you need — plus you’re probably covering personal expenses out of the same pile. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. I see this all the time from new business owners and from people who’ve been at it for … Read more
7 Reasons Why You Should Outsource Your Bookkeeping
Bookkeeping is one of those business tasks that has to get done whether you like it or not. The IRS doesn’t care that you’d rather be coaching clients, designing websites, or running your agency. Your books still need to be accurate, current, and ready when you need them. Here’s the thing most service-based business owners … Read more
How to Handle Money Complaints in Your Business
Every service-business owner hears it. “This costs too much.” “I don’t have the money.” “Can you lower the price?” Handling customer complaints about price is part of running a business, not a sign you priced wrong or did something to deserve it. The complaints sound personal. They almost never are. The list of money objections … Read more
How Messy Books Lead to Bad Business Decisions
You run a business, which means you make decisions all day long. Should you raise your prices? Can you afford to bring on help? Is it safe to pay yourself more this month? Do you have enough set aside for the bills coming due? Should you build that new course, or buy the one your … Read more
Creating a Weekly Financial Workflow in Your Small Business
The thing that gets ignored most in small businesses is the finances. You have a hundred other things on your plate — clients to serve, content to make, emails to answer — and keeping up with the money lands somewhere near the bottom of the list. It also makes you feel a specific kind of … Read more
What receipts do I need to keep for tax time?
I get this question constantly, usually from a coach or consultant who’s staring at a shoebox (or a very messy inbox) in March and starting to sweat. So let’s cut to it. If you’re wondering what receipts to keep for taxes, here’s the honest, unsexy answer: keep all of them. Every single one. That’s not … Read more
Giving Gifts in Your Business: Are There Tax Benefits?
You want to send a client a nice bottle of wine, or slip your best referral partner a gift card to say thanks. Good instinct. But before you spend, you’re probably wondering how the business gift tax deduction actually works, and how much of that money you get to write off. Short version: business gifts … Read more
Why QuickBooks (or Xero) Won’t Save You From Bad Bookkeeping
You bought the software. You linked the bank feed. You ran a report. And something still feels off — you just can’t figure out what. That’s not a personal failing. It’s what every commercial promised you: sign up, connect your bank, and your books handle themselves. It’s a good pitch. It’s also not true. Here’s … Read more