Author Archives: Amber Malone

Don’t Dam Your Cash Flow: Why A/R Works Best In-House

Hand operating a lever to release a stream of money flowing through a dam, symbolizing cash flow management and financial control for small businesses.

When it comes to bookkeeping, we handle almost everything virtually — accurately, consistently, and on time. But there’s one area we intentionally leave in your hands: Accounts Receivable (A/R) — the process of sending invoices, tracking who’s paid, and following up on customer payments. At first, some business owners are surprised.   “Wait, shouldn’t my […]

Cheap Bookkeeping vs. Quality Bookkeeping

Person jumping between cliffs labeled "COST" and "QUALITY," symbolizing the balance between affordable and high-quality bookkeeping services.

The Hidden Danger of “Simple” Bookkeeping At first glance, bookkeeping looks simple. You log income, track expenses, and maybe run a few reports. Done, right? Not exactly. Bookkeeping is like fast food: quick, cheap, and temporarily satisfying. But what you don’t see is what’s under the bun—the preservatives, the shortcuts, the sludge your body (or […]

How to Build Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) in QuickBooks Online for Service-Based Businesses

Calculator and notebook displaying "COST OF GOODS SOLD," with U.S. dollar bills in the background, illustrating financial analysis for business profitability.

Dave thought everything was going fine. He ran a commercial property maintenance company. Solid team. Regular clients. Decent revenue. But one Friday afternoon, reviewing his Profit & Loss report, something didn’t sit right. His gross profit margin seemed off—way off. It said he was making a 48% margin. Except his bank account said otherwise. So, […]

Keep Loan Balances Accurate in QuickBooks

Bank building with cash coins, loan documents, stopwatch, money bags, and a joyful businessman celebrating financial success, illustrating quick loan concepts relevant to business finance.

Let’s not sugarcoat it: If your loan balances are wrong in QuickBooks, your business is flying blind. We see it all the time. A business owner takes out a loan, the money hits the bank account, and QuickBooks records it as income. From there, every monthly payment gets lumped into a single expense line, no […]

The Real Cost of Messy Banking Data in QuickBooks

Businessman overwhelmed by flying dollar bills, illustrating the chaos of poor financial management and inaccurate bookkeeping.

Ever followed a recipe, but the cake flopped anyway? Looked perfect, smelled great—but one bite told the truth: something was missing. That’s your business with incomplete or inaccurate bookkeeping. From the outside, it looks fine. But behind the scenes, your decisions are built on bad data. And bad data? That leads to worse outcomes: missed […]

You Used Your Personal Card for Business Expenses — Now What?

Man in apron mixing money labeled "Personal Account" and "Business Account" in a large bowl with a commercial mixer, symbolizing financial management for small business owners.

Let’s be real. Most business owners swipe their personal card in the early days — not because they planned poorly, but because they had to move. Fast. Maybe it was a legal fee. Maybe it was a website, a Canva subscription, or a hefty franchise fee. Either way, you made a move to invest in […]

Here’s the truth: where you put things in QuickBooks matters—a lot.

Hand removing a wooden block from a precariously stacked Jenga tower, symbolizing careful decision-making in bookkeeping and accounting.

Here’s the truth: where you put things in QuickBooks matters—a lot.Small clicks create big ripples. In your tax bill. In your cash flow. In your valuation. In your confidence. If you’ve ever thought, “I can’t mess it up that much, right?” this is for you. Keep reading. You’ll see how a few simple habits can […]

Don’t Only Turn On QuickBooks Settings — Follow Through!

Stressed businessman overwhelmed by paperwork, clock, and multiple hands pointing, illustrating the pressure of monthly bookkeeping and financial management.

Running a business means making smart choices with your money. QuickBooks gives you powerful tools, but flipping a switch is not enough. The real value comes when you follow through with the settings you turn on. Let’s talk about three of the most important ones: Inventory: Track It Item by Item Turning on Inventory Tracking […]

Can I Put More Than One Business in a Single QuickBooks Subscription?

Person struggling to close an overstuffed red suitcase filled with colorful clothes, illustrating the challenges of packing for travel.

The Short Answer: Yes, But You Shouldn’t QuickBooks Online lets you put more than one business under a single subscription. But just because you can doesn’t mean you should. Think of it like trying to forecast the weather for two completely different cities using the same thermometer. You might get a number, but it won’t tell you the […]

When It’s Time to Stop Doing Your Own Bookkeeping

Man in business attire smiling while using a smartphone in a modern indoor setting, representing the integration of technology in business operations.

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. […]