You’re running your business: juggling client projects, mastering marketing, tackling social media, and expanding your network. You’re working hard on establishing and growing your business and achieving your goals.
Unless you’re a professional bookkeeper, chances are bookkeeping falls to the bottom of your to-do list. Let’s be honest, sorting through receipts on a Saturday morning before the kids wake up isn’t exactly appealing, especially when you suddenly need to launch a Facebook ad campaign.
Suddenly, you realize your receipts are piling up unprocessed in the corner of your desk or your inbox. The pile is way too intimidating, so you officially put them off until “just before” tax season. You put it in your diary, adding a new task to your future self. Then we all know what happens “just before” tax time, don’t we?
Can you relate? No Judgment Here ☺️
Even professional bookkeepers can have messy books – let’s save that story for another day. But here’s something to think about: how do you make informed business decisions? Are you analyzing your numbers, or are you flying blind?
Remember, your accounts are the backbone of your business’ financial management. Therefore, recordkeeping (or bookkeeping) safeguards your financial well-being. You’re not doing your business books just for their own sake. You’re doing it so that you can make well-informed choices. Without sound and reliable financials, you’re navigating in the dark, period.
Risks of messy bookkeeping
Here’s what happens when you shove your bookkeeping aside until tax season.
1. You Don’t Know Your Numbers
The bottom line? You’re clueless about your business’ actual financial performance. What was your revenue last quarter? How much did your operations cost? Which of your products or services are profitable? Which of them is making a loss? You may have a ‘feeling’, but you don’t know for sure.
Without your numbers, these questions remain unanswered, making it nearly impossible to decide on launching new services or switching suppliers. Ultimately; how do you know whether you’re on the trajectory to reach your goals?
Knowing your numbers isn’t just nice – it’s necessary.
2. Cash Flow Issues Become the Norm
Without accurate records, predicting cash flow is a shot in the dark. You don’t know who owes you money or when it’s coming. Similarly, tracking your expenditure is almost impossible. You end up using whatever cash comes in to cover urgent bills.
Strategic financial planning has become a thing of the past. Instead, you will focus on putting your money where there’s a fire. Every business decision becomes reactive, not proactive.
3. Securing Financing Becomes a Herculean Task
Do you need a loan or investment? Good luck with that if your books are a mess. Especially, if you need the funds fast due to the insufficient cash flow.
Lenders and investors see poor bookkeeping as a red flag, indicating a high-risk venture. Without clear, detailed financial records and financial history, your business appears unstable and risky.
4. Your Invoicing Goes Haywire
Accurate invoicing is crucial for your business because your clients provide the cash you need for the operation. If your invoicing isn’t accurate, cash flow suffers.
If your records are not straight, are you sure you didn’t forget to send an invoice to a client? Do you know if they paid? They won’t remind you that they owe you money. Imagine the embarrassment and credibility hit if you repeatedly send incorrect reminders to your clients!
5. Money Leaks Unnoticed
As you don’t have accurate data to check your spending, money will slowly leak from your company. Late payment fees, overdrawn fees, extra interest premium on unpaid fees – all avoidable with up-to-date records. Ever paid for the same subscription twice? You’d be surprised how many times I’ve seen it when fixing messy bookkeeping…
Without precise records, tracking expenses becomes impossible. Mismanaged billable expenses can lead to lost revenue, and missing receipts mean missing out on rightful reimbursements.
6. Holistic Pricing
If you cannot track and allocate your expenses properly, you won’t have a clear view of how much it costs to provide your services. How likely are you able to make a strategic pricing decision?
I know that cost-based pricing tends to be obsolete; at least some gurus may advocate for holistic pricing 🤔. Good luck with it if you can’t work out the minimum price to break even.
7. Tax Season Nightmares
As tax time approaches, the pressure mounts, causing a massive headache. Improper records lead to late tax filing or missed tax deductions (and paying higher tax bills) or, worse, claiming tax deductions without proper documentation that could trigger audits and result in paying fines.
Take Control Before It’s Too Late
Let me repeat: good recordkeeping is the foundation of your financial well-being. Think of bookkeeping as your business’s safety net. It safeguards your business decisions.
Don’t wait until it’s too late and a crisis hits. Get a handle on your books now. Your business – and your peace of mind – will thank you.
I believe in You: you’re a champion 🏆
