When I first talked to “Sarah,” she was exhausted. She had spent the last two years pouring everything into her small business—late nights, weekends, and every ounce of energy. From the outside, things looked great: sales were steady, customers were happy, and growth inevitable.

But behind the scenes? Her books were a mess.

She hadn’t reconciled her bank accounts in over a year. She was running all of her expenses—both business and personal—through the same checking account. And while she had invested in QuickBooks Online, she wasn’t sure how to use it correctly.

When tax season rolled around, she handed everything over to her CPA… only to learn that her financial reports didn’t make sense. Income wasn’t matching deposits, expenses were miscategorized, and the business looked far less profitable than it really was.

That’s when she reached out for help.

By the time I stepped in, the cleanup process was massive. I had to go transaction by transaction, untangling her personal purchases from her business expenses, fixing duplicate entries, and reconciling more than 14 months of bank activity.

What could have been a simple monthly bookkeeping routine turned into a several-thousand-dollar clean-up project. Sarah was shocked. She thought she was saving money by doing it herself and putting bookkeeping on the back burner. Instead, the DIY approach ended up costing her far more in time, money, and stress.

The truth is, Sarah’s story isn’t unique. I’ve seen business owners:

> Skip reconciliations for months (or years).

> Categorize transactions incorrectly, leading to inaccurate profit reports.

> Ignore unpaid invoices or bills until cash flow runs dry.

> Wait until tax season to call for help—when the books are already a mess.

Every time, the end result is the same: higher clean-up fees, missed tax deductions, and unnecessary stress.

The good news? Once we cleaned everything up (it took almost 4 weeks!), Sarah finally had clear, accurate numbers. She could see exactly how much money was coming in, where it was going, and what she could afford to reinvest in her business.

Today, her books are kept up-to-date every month—and tax time is no longer something she dreads.

Her biggest takeaway? “I wish I had gotten help sooner.”

Bookkeeping might not be the most exciting part of running a business, but it’s one of the most important. Keeping your books accurate and up to date can save you thousands in mistakes, clean-up fees, and missed opportunities.

Look, nobody wants to pay a bookkeeper.
But here’s the truth: it’s far more costly not to have one. When your books are messy or ignored, it doesn’t just create tax-time headaches — it can cloud your decisions, hide profit leaks, and cause stress you don’t need. That’s why it’s worth finding an accountant who also acts as your bookkeeper (eh hem, me 👋). Someone who not only keeps your books clean and tax-ready, but also helps you navigate the why behind your numbers — so you can make confident, informed decisions all year long.

Your books should work for you, not against you.

👉 Let’s get them there: Book a Discovery Call

If your books feel overwhelming or you’re not sure they’re accurate, don’t wait. Getting professional support now can give you peace of mind and help you avoid Sarah’s costly mistake.