Top 3 Mistakes Small Business Owners Make With Bookkeeping (and How to Avoid Them)
You’re good at running your business-but bookkeeping probably isn’t your favorite part.
Still, keeping your books clean and up to date is essential to staying profitable, tax-compliant, and stress-free.
In this post, we’ll show you the top 3 bookkeeping mistakes small business owners make-and how RemoteBooksOnline helps you fix them (and avoid them for good).
Doing It Yourself (Way Too Long)
We get it-when you’re starting out, doing your own books feels like a smart move.
But here’s what happens:
- You forget to reconcile accounts
- You miscategorize expenses
- You rely on spreadsheets or guesswork
- You forget about tax deadlines
- You eventually fall months behind
DIY bookkeeping often leads to catch-up bookkeeping at tax time-and surprise CPA bills to fix it all.
Fix:
Let us handle it. Our monthly bookkeeping plans give you CPA-reviewed reports, on time, every month.
Trusting the Wrong “Bookkeeper”
Just because someone knows how to log into QuickBooks doesn’t mean they’re qualified to manage your finances.
Red flags:
- They don’t reconcile regularly
- Your CPA is constantly fixing their work
- Your reports don’t make sense
- You get surprise tax bills from incorrect entries
- They disappear when you need them most
Fix:
All of our work is reviewed by CPAs. And if your books are already messy, our QuickBooks bookkeeping cleanup team will fix it fast.
Waiting Until Tax Time to “Catch Up”
Bookkeeping is not a once-a-year task. If you’re scrambling to organize receipts in April, you’re:
- Losing track of deductible expenses
- Making tax filing harder (and more expensive)
- Risking IRS penalties
- Making business decisions with outdated data
Fix:
With catch-up bookkeeping, we’ll bring your books current-no matter how far behind you are-and then roll you into monthly service.
Real Use Case: Online Store Owner Who Waited Too Long
Lindsay runs an eCommerce shop. She DIY’d her books for 18 months and only looked at them when it was time to file taxes.
The result?
- Over $11,000 in missed expenses
- Inventory purchases booked as personal draws
- No reconciliation ever done
- A $2,500 CPA cleanup bill
She signed up with RemoteBooksOnline:
- We cleaned up 18 months of records
- Rebuilt her chart of accounts
- Delivered tax-ready reports
- Set her up with monthly bookkeeping going forward
Now her books are updated, clean, and accurate-all year long.
FAQs
What if I’m already months behind?
Perfect. We specialize in catch-up bookkeeping and will get you current fast.
I use QuickBooks-why isn’t it enough?
QuickBooks is a tool. You still need someone to use it correctly. Our QuickBooks bookkeeping service ensures accuracy and reconciliation.
Will I get monthly reports?
Yes. You’ll receive CPA-reviewed financials-P&L, balance sheet, and reconciliations-every month.
How much does cleanup or catch-up cost?
We quote based on how far behind you are. But it’s usually much cheaper than having your CPA do it.
Final Thought
Bookkeeping mistakes don’t just cost you time-they cost you money, deductions, and peace of mind.
We’re here to fix the mess, keep it clean, and make sure you never worry about your books again.
Ready to stop guessing and get your books done right? Request your quote now
If you’ve been doing your books yourself, using a flaky freelancer, or waiting until tax season every year-you’re making one (or more) of the big mistakes. Let us help you fix it with catch-up bookkeeping, clean up your QuickBooks file, and set you up with reliable monthly bookkeeping you can trust.
