Help, My Books Are a Mess! 7 Signs Your Small Business Needs a Bookkeeper (Like, Yesterday)

Messy bookkeeping is like trying to untangle a string of holiday lights — only half of them work, none of them make sense, and you’re pretty sure you’re about to cry in the middle of it. Although many of us experienced this struggle last month, this should not be a holiday or year-round experience for your business bookkeeping. If you want to find out if your business is in need of a bookkeeper, this list is for you! Keep reading as we review seven warning signs that your business needs a bookkeeper ASAP.  

1) Excel is starting to feel like Ex-hell 

If your Excel spreadsheet has more tabs than your browser after a late-night Googling spree, it may be time for you to hire a bookkeeper to weed through the mess. Remember, just because a spreadsheet can have up to 1,048,576 sheets doesn’t mean you need to use all of them. 

2) The drawer of doom  

If your “filing system” is just an overstuffed drawer labeled “Do Not Open Until Tax Season" it may be time to face the monster in the closet or the ‘drawer’ in this case and hire some bookkeeping help. 

3) Expense tracking, who?  

Are you finding that your method of tracking expenses is frantically scrolling through your credit card statement the night before a meeting? If so, it may be a sign that your business requires a bookkeeper who can manage and track your expenses for you.  

4) The CRA is your new best friend  

If the CRA sends you mail so frequently that you’ve started to think of them as pen pals, this signals some compliance issues. Hiring a bookkeeper can help you stay compliant and save you the financial headache.  

5) You use an ‘ignorance is bliss’ mindset 

If your personal mantra is: “If I ignore it, maybe it will balance itself”, you would highly benefit from the help of a bookkeeper. Although ignoring the problem feels good now, it can lead to serious issues down the line.  

6) Audit = alarm 

If the words “audit” and “alarm” are interchangeable in your vocabulary, a bookkeeper could be your saving grace. Not only is a bookkeeper an expert at numbers but they know all of the important rules and regulations when it comes to business finance.  

7) You are a tax preparer's worst nightmare 

Are you noticing that your tax preparer sighs deeply every time you walk through the door? If so, it may be time to hire a bookkeeper — for your sake and theirs. No one wants extra stress during tax season; by seeking the help of a bookkeeping professional you can navigate this stressful time with ease.  

If any of these signs sound like you, it’s okay — we’re not judging. As a small business owner, it can be hard to give your bookkeeping the time that it needs. That said, it’s important that someone manages and monitors your bookkeeping process to prevent errors or costly compliance issues. That’s where we come in! Here at STEPS, we offer small business bookkeeping services and can manage your books for you while you do what you do best —running an amazing business! To learn more, visit our bookkeeping tab or send us a message on our contact page.