How do you know when its time to stop doing your own bookkeeping for your business?
I meet lots of small business owners. Most of them do everything when they start their business- they sell things, help customers, answer phones, and yes… they do their own books.
And you know what? That’s smart at first.
You want to save money. You don’t have staff yet. You think, “I can use QuickBooks for now. They say it’s easy!”
But one day, QuickBooks stops feeling easy.
In this post, I want to tell you how to know when that day comes – and what you can do next.
Why QuickBooks Is a Good Idea
When you start your business, QuickBooks looks perfect. Their ads say things like “Easy as 1-2-3!” “Anyone can do it!” “Set up in minutes!”
So you sign up. You feel smart for saving money on a bookkeeper.
And for a while, it seems okay. You don’t need much for a few thousand dollars of sales a month.
You feel good about doing it yourself. You think you’re staying in control.
But then… your business gets bigger, and the numbers are not working well in the program. You are comparing it to your bank account; you see the differences are present, but you don’t know why. The money people owe you or do not owe you is messed up and you are unable to be confident about your accounts receivable.
What Happens When Your Business Gets Bigger
You get more customers. You spend more money. You hire one or two people. You buy more supplies, tools, and programs. And all of a sudden, QuickBooks feels scary.
You click around more. You try to make it work. You watch YouTube videos. You read help pages. You think, “Maybe I can figure this out later.”
But it keeps getting harder.
That’s because the marketing lied to you. QuickBooks isn’t “easy”
– It’s a tool that needs someone who knows how to use it well, and the marketing forgets to mention that you need to at least know accounting or have taken accounting courses…
Real Signs You Need to Stop Doing Your Own Books
Here are some hints:
- You don’t know if you’re making money You see money come in. You see money go out. But at the end of the month, you can’t tell what’s left. That’s bad.
- You don’t want to look at your books You keep putting it off. You feel behind. It makes you worried. That means you need help.
- You don’t trust your numbers You’re not sure if the numbers are right, so you don’t use them to pick what to do. That’s like driving with your eyes shut.
- Your time is worth more somewhere else If you spend hours each week in QuickBooks when you could be helping customers or growing your business, you should give this job to someone else.
Here’s what QuickBooks ads don’t tell you:
You still need to know where each payment should go
You still need to know what counts as money you made vs. money you put in
You still need to know how to sort credit card payments right
You still need to know what to do with loan payments
You still need to check your accounts each month
You still need to know when something looks wrong and then fix it
And if you mess any of this up, your numbers will be wrong for months even years.
By then, it can cost you lots of money.
The marketing makes it sound simple. But doing books right is a skill that takes time to learn.
What Bookkeeping Should Really Do for You
Let’s step back for a minute. What’s the point here? Bookkeeping shouldn’t be clicking buttons in software. It should help you see things clearly and feel sure about your choices.
Here’s what good bookkeeping helps you do:
✅ Know how much money you really made
✅ Get ready for taxes before they surprise you
✅ See how money flows in and out
✅ Make smart choices about hiring, spending, or growing
✅ Feel less worried and more in control
This happens when your numbers are clean, right, and easy to read. QuickBooks alone can’t give you this – you need someone who knows how to use it right.
What We Hear from Our Customers
Here are some things real business owners told us:
💬 “I thought I was dumb because QuickBooks felt so hard.”
💬 “The ads made it look easy, but I was always confused.”
💬 “I wasted so much time trying to figure it out myself.”
💬 “Now I know my numbers are right and I can trust them.”
We don’t use the software and leave you hanging. We help people understand what their numbers mean.
Because numbers don’t tell a story by themselves. They tell your story.
So, what should you do if this sounds like you? Here’s what I really think in simple format:
📉 If it’s getting confusing, stressful, or too much – it’s time.
📈 That’s when you should get a bookkeeper.
And not any bookkeeper – someone who gets your business, talks like you do, and can explain things so they make sense.
What to do next?
-Book A Free Zoom Meeting with Amber 30 min Discovery Zoom Meeting
-Ask for a QuickBooks diagnostic review, which costs some money, but will give you an honest view into the truth about your books.
There’s always a way forward no matter where you are.
What Happens When You Stop Doing Your Own Bookkeeping
If you’re like most business owners we help, you’re doing too many jobs.
-Bookkeeper.
-Boss.
-Marketing person.
-Customer helper.
-HR person.
-Computer fixer.
-You name it.
At some point, those jobs get too heavy. And bookkeeping is often one of the first you should give away.
Because when you do, something great happens:
✅ You stop guessing
✅ You make better choices
✅ You feel more sure
✅ You stop being scared of tax time
✅ You finally feel like the boss again
And isn’t that what you really want?
Last Thoughts: Getting Help Isn’t Giving Up – It’s Getting Smart
If you read this whole thing, I want you to know something:
📌 You didn’t do anything wrong.
📌 You’re not “bad with numbers.”
📌 You’re not behind.
The marketing made it sound easier than it really is.
And growing businesses need people who know what they’re doing.
That’s not giving up. That’s being smart.
So if you feel lost in QuickBooks – or you’re not sure what to do next – take the first step. We’re here to help.
Your numbers should help you, not make things harder.
Let’s make that happen – together.
