Small Business Accounting Tips That Will Save You Time, Cash and Tax

bookkeeping tips for small businesses

A looming tax deadline can be quite stressful, especially if you’re rushing because you forgot and any mistakes made can take longer to process. Some people like a bit of clutter and others can’t work if their documents aren’t neat, tidy and organised.

  • Separate expenses make your bookkeeping task way easier and with de-cluttered books, you will not have to over-exert on the reconciliation part.
  • Prior experience working with businesses in your industry is also a plus.
  • It’ll summarise the expenses, costs and revenues of your business during a specific time to satisfy HMRC and their requirements.
  • These small business accounting tips will help you improve your chances of business success by being better at financial management.
  • When you start your business, it may not seem like a bad idea to keep your business finances and personal finances in one account.

Similar to leaving breadcrumbs, an audit trail helps you retrace your steps in accounting. The scoring formulas take into account multiple data points for each financial product and service. Her previous work as a writer, photojournalist, editor and copy editor has been published by The Points Guy, Bankrate, CreditCards.com, LendingTree and more. She holds dual degrees in journalism and ethnic studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Katherine started her career in the tech industry as a software sales executive. We believe everyone should be able to make financial decisions with confidence. Deciding which accounting structure to use for your small business is not your accountant’s prerogative alone.

Keep Your Personal And Business Finances Separate

For instance, direct labor costs and direct materials costs might be best predicted as a percentage of sales. After the delivery of goods or performance of services, you should send the invoice immediately—at least within 48 hours.

bookkeeping tips for small businesses

If you don’t carry a receipt book with you everywhere you go, you can always rely on technology. Keep track bookkeeping tips of your cash using cloud software that links through multiple devices, like your phone or laptop.

Resources for Your Growing Business

Making sure that your financial records are backed up in the event of a natural disaster or cyberattack are key to keeping your business running smoothly. If you lose your records, you might not be able to take advantage of some important tax deductions.

Your accountant should be able to not only offer advice but also set up the software for you and show you how to use it. “What I’ve learnt over the years is that you must check your historical performance. Additonally, you should keep some extra cash handy for any bad days or bad months,” she said. Remember that keeping good records ensures that you comply with government regulations and helps you keep control over your finances. Realistic Budget – Budgeting is half the battle in running a successful business. Creating a realistic budget will help you better manage your finances and track your marketing efforts.