Be your Own Bookkeeper ??

Starting anything new can be intimidating. Starting a new business is no different; it’s both exciting and scary.

The key to being your business’s bookkeeper is to educate yourself. Learn what you need to track and how. Learn how to evaluate your numbers to know if you're making money. People get into trouble when they try to do it themselves without first learning how to do it. I've had to help people correct 2-3 years of their bookkeeping so that we could figure out how much they owe to the government and whether they've made money.

I remember starting my first business and wondering how I was going to figure it all out - between the website, social media, and documentation, I felt like I was in over my head.

We get into business to do what we’re passionate about, not because we want to do all the behind-the-scenes work.

I’m guessing that when you got into business you were super excited about the product or service you were going to offer. Maybe it was yoga class, or pottery. Whatever it was, I bet that when you pictured running your business, you didn’t see yourself sitting at the computer trying to figure out your bookkeeping.

Then you get going and realize that you have to keep track of all the money you’re spending, and how much you’re making in sales. All of a sudden you’re wondering if you can do this at all! The thought creeps in…”can I do my bookkeeping?” Many people that I talk to say that they were most intimidated or overwhelmed by the financial side of their business. Some even say that there’s NO WAY someone could do it on their own.

Well, I believe that’s false. If you’re just getting started in business, it is possible to do your bookkeeping. Often people can’t yet afford to hire a bookkeeper every month.

What I do believe is that it’s a worthwhile investment to hire a bookkeeper to help you set up your books.

Let someone help you figure out what expenses you need to track, what you need to do with the government, and how to look at all your numbers to figure out if you’re making money.