Bookkeeping Hacks for the Savvy Business Owner

Banking reports on a folded sheets and pen

There are several bookkeeping hacks to help you streamline your accounting process. These methods allow you to spend less time on bookkeeping, freeing up your time for more important tasks. In addition, proactive bookkeeping can help you shape your business’ future and attract investors. By keeping track of your finances, you can demonstrate your creditworthiness to lenders and investors. Furthermore, you can utilize financial analysis to spot trends in your industry. You can then use these bookkeeping hacks to capitalize on them or mitigate them.

Automate Your Bookkeeping Process

Bookkeeping software can help you automate your process and save time. While this is not a foolproof solution, it can save you a significant amount of time. Not only will your bookkeeping process be faster, but you’ll also receive real-time metrics, including monthly profit and loss statements. This data can be used to make informed financial decisions and implement changes quickly. Listed below are five key benefits of using bookkeeping automation software.

Monitor Your Accounts Receivable

While many small businesses are aware of the importance of monitoring their accounts receivable, some may not be as proactive. There are many ways to improve your accounts receivable. For example, creating a system to monitor accounts receivable is a great bookkeeping hack. This process can help you keep track of outstanding accounts and apply customer payments to those accounts. Taking advantage of this method will ensure that your accounts remain accurate.

Organize Your Receipts

One of the most important aspects of preparing for tax time is knowing how to organize your receipts for bookkeeping. Many business owners make the mistake of placing their receipts in shoeboxes, assuming they will never be audited. However, it is important to note the purpose of each receipt, and tie it to your business. This way, you can easily identify and file the receipts accordingly. When filing your receipts, write down your client’s name and business purpose.

Create a Thorough “Paper” Trail

The importance of creating a thorough “paper” trail cannot be overstated. The best way to do this is to document every transaction, whether large or small, as it happens. This avoids relying on memory, which can fail to capture the details. You should take notes during bank conversations or type your notes on the back of checks. Moreover, you should also write down all the important numbers and information you encounter.

We cannot stress how important these bookkeeping hacks are for small business owners to help them save time, effort, and energy. And, your CPA will thank you when they see how organized your company’s books are.

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About the Author

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Eric Sheldon

Eric Sheldon is a certified public accountant with more than 25 years of experience in a wide variety of industries. He's the owner/operator of Eric Sheldon CPA, PC, an accounting firm that specializes in providing tax strategy and preparation, accounting, and bookkeeping services to individuals and small business owners.

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