The Real Cost of Doing Bookkeeping Yourself
If you’re a small business owner trying to save money, it’s easy to think:
“I’ll just do the books myself.”
It feels logical. Why pay someone when you have QuickBooks and a few hours at night?
But DIY bookkeeping often comes with hidden costs – in time, stress, accuracy, and in some cases, actual financial loss.
Here’s what you really need to know before you continue doing your books yourself.
The Hidden Costs of DIY Bookkeeping
1. Your Time Is Worth More
Let’s say you spend 5 hours a week managing your own books. Over a month, that’s 20 hours. Multiply that by your hourly rate – even $50/hour – and that’s $1,000/month of your time.
And chances are, bookkeeping isn’t the best use of that time. What could you do with 20 extra hours? Sell, market, lead, build your business?
2. Missed Deductions and Write-Offs
Without proper categorization or tax knowledge, you might miss out on deductions your CPA could’ve used to lower your tax bill.
A good bookkeeper will ensure everything is captured, organized, and classified correctly – maximizing your tax savings.
3. Risk of Errors or Audit Triggers
DIY bookkeeping often leads to:
- Duplicate entries
- Unreconciled transactions
- Misclassified expenses
- Missing receipts
All of which can create red flags during tax season or a potential audit.
4. No Financial Clarity
Do you know your actual margins? Can you project cash flow confidently? DIY bookkeeping often ends up being “data entry” – not real financial insight.
That’s why we deliver monthly bookkeeping services with clear profit and loss statements, balance sheets, and more.
A Real Case: What DIY Cost One Business Owner
A freelance consultant in Florida did her own books using QuickBooks for two years. She assumed everything was fine – until her accountant refused to file taxes based on the data.
It took:
- 3 weeks to clean up over 600 miscategorized transactions
- 5 emails back and forth with the CPA
- A $900 catch-up fee from another service
After that, she moved to Remote Books Online. We now handle her books monthly for a flat rate, and her reports are always CPA-ready.
If you’re in a similar spot, explore our catch-up bookkeeping services to fix things fast.
DIY vs. Hiring a Professional Bookkeeper
| Factor | Doing It Yourself | Hiring RBO |
|---|---|---|
| Time Required | 15-20 hours/month | <1 hour/month |
| Risk of Errors | High | Very low (professional review) |
| Tax Readiness | Manual effort | CPA-ready monthly reports |
| Monthly Cost | Your time (opportunity cost) | Flat rate from $150 |
| Software Included | Must purchase | Included with your plan |
Still Want Control? You Can Have Both.
Some business owners want visibility, but not responsibility. That’s where Remote Books Online comes in.
- You still log in to QuickBooks.
- You still see every report and transaction.
- But we do the heavy lifting.
We even include QuickBooks cleanup services if your DIY attempt went sideways.
FAQs
Do I lose access to QuickBooks if I hire you?
Not at all. You have full access. We work in your books, but you control the data.
What if I’ve already done some of the work?
We’ll pick up where you left off. No problem.
Is this only for growing businesses?
No. We work with solo entrepreneurs, eCommerce stores, consultants, and more. Whether you’re behind or on time, we can help.
What if my books are a mess?
That’s exactly what QuickBooks cleanup and catch-up bookkeeping are for. We’ve seen worse – and fixed it.
Conclusion
DIY bookkeeping may feel like you’re saving money – but it often costs more in time, errors, and missed opportunities.
If you want to focus on what actually grows your business – not just reconciling receipts – it’s time to bring in help.
Request a free quote now
and try your first month free. We’ll take it from here.
