From Chaos to Clarity: 7 Bookkeeping Mistakes You Should Never Make
There is no doubt that bookkeeping plays a crucial role in maintaining a business. But the truth is only a few people know how to do it correctly. And what happens when you lack the knowledge to do something? You end up making mistakes, and when it comes to bookkeeping, that can be detrimental to your business.
Bookkeeping is like the compass guiding your business through the financial wilderness. It’s not just about recording numbers; it’s about ensuring your business stays financially healthy and poised for growth. But if you do it incorrectly, your business will suffer consequences like missed growth opportunities and financial losses.
To help you avoid treading down that path, here’s an overview of 7 common bookkeeping mistakes you should be aware of.
#1 – Merging Personal and Business Finances
If you’re not that familiar with understanding the difference in your finances, chances are you’ll end up combining them. This is probably because most people think it saves time, considering both are aligned with handling money. But here’s what you need to remember: personal expenses must be removed from your business financial statements for tax purposes.
It’s easier to keep track of where the money in your business goes when you separate your personal and business expenses. That means it’s also easier to organize your financial documents for filing taxes. It’s an efficient strategy that saves you time, financial error, and stress.
#2 – Neglecting To Record Cash Transactions
Cash is often seen as a quick and easy payment method, but the downside comes when the recording process falls behind or, worse still, is forgotten altogether.
Documenting cash transactions is especially important because it acts as an overview of your cash outflow when purchasing goods, services, and assets. Otherwise, it can lead to all kinds of financial problems, like the inability to reconcile with bank accounts and identifying errors or discrepancies.
#3 – Incorrect Declaration of Revenue
Another aspect that most businesses fail to understand is the relevance of correct revenue declaration in handling a business. As entrepreneurs, we already know that revenue keeps a business alive, which is why monitoring whether it grows or not is crucial.
This information provides insight into how well or poorly a business performs over a certain period. It also serves as a form of financial transparency, which is especially important in compliance with tax laws.
Unfortunately, some people fail to declare their revenue accurately because of simple math errors and inadequate bookkeeping, resulting in an over or understated actual amount. Correct income declaration plays a significant role in filing taxes and understanding your business profitability so it’s important to get this one right!
#4 – Disposing of Receipts
Although receipts may seem insignificant, and many of us just throw them away, they actually play a significant role in the overall growth of your business. Believe it or not, these small and seemingly unimportant pieces of paper serve as financial records that your business will need for its tax returns and audits.
If tax authorities ever require documentation of your spending, receipts are utilized to support business deductions and expenditures. A lack of documentation or paper trail is identified as a lack of proof, which can lead to penalties and legal issues. So, if you find it hard to keep hard copies of your receipts, at least try to store them digitally so you know where to find them easily.
#5 – Forgetting To Track Income and Expenses
Income and expenses are two things we all need to track when we are in business. And yet, some business owners fail to keep track of them, probably because they’re overwhelmed, lack the knowledge on how to track them, or have little understanding of basic bookkeeping principles.
But if you fail to record income and expenses, you’re undoubtedly setting your business up for failure simply because you have no clue about what’s going on with your business financially. Missed payments, over expenditures, and cost overruns are only some things that can happen to your business if you don’t prioritize expense tracking as early as possible.
#6 – Failing To Conduct Monthly Reconciliations
Another thing that entrepreneurs need to be aware of is monthly reconciliations. The primary purpose of reconciliations is to compare the financial transactions and balances in the accounting program to ensure that they match exactly with the actual bank, credit card, and loan statements.
Performing these reconciliations on a monthly basis is a crucial business practice as it ensures the accuracy of a business’s financial data. But in the event that you fail to do it or choose to delay it, you may end up overlooking bookkeeping errors, which can create a domino effect on your business’s cash flow.
#7 – Relying Solely on DIY Bookkeeping
As mentioned above, bookkeeping plays a vital role in your business’s overall growth and trajectory. Although it’s tempting to rely solely on your do-it-yourself bookkeeping skills to cut down on costs, that comes with risks and consequences.
DIY bookkeeping assumes that the business owner has the necessary knowledge and expertise in bookkeeping principles and practices. However, without a solid understanding of bookkeeping, mistakes can easily occur, such as misclassifying transactions or incorrectly recording entries. These errors may seem minor, but if undetected, they can lead to inaccurate financial snapshots and misleading financial statements.
Moreover, DIY bookkeeping can fail to leverage the benefits of specialized software and technology that can streamline bookkeeping processes and enhance accuracy. Experts often use professional accounting software that offers automation features, integration with other systems, and real-time data updates.
So, relying solely on manual bookkeeping methods can limit efficiency, increase the risk of data entry errors, and hinder the ability to generate meaningful financial reports.
Handle Business Finances Correctly With Accurate Bookkeeping
The importance of accurate bookkeeping in any business venture can’t be overstated. It’s not just a simple task of recording numbers; it’s the lifeline that keeps a business alive.
Precise and up-to-date bookkeeping is all about safeguarding your financial health, ensuring compliance with regulations, and positioning your business for growth. So, if you want to avoid all the bookkeeping pitfalls discussed above, be sure to entrust your finances with experts like us at eGO Bookkeeping. Book a call with us today to find out how we can help you!