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Accounting Tips for New and Small Businesses

By REDC Accountant Karla Dillon



Managing the finances of your new businesses is a critical cornerstone to ensuring your business is built to last. We have compiled our top advice for best practices when it comes to accounting for your new and small business.


  • Keep your business and personal finances separate.

    • Open a new bank account, just for business revenue and expenses.

    • If you need funds for personal expenses, transfer funds to your personal account.

  • Choose an accounting software that fits your budget and needs and use it.

    • Accounting software can track invoices, pay bills and reconcile accounts. This is a huge time saver!

    • Online platforms (such as QuickBooks Online) allow you to access your info from anywhere.

    • Price varies widely and there are even some free options available.


  • Balance the books monthly.

    • It is easy to put off paperwork until “later” but staying on top of your accounting records saves a lot of time and frustration at the end of the quarter/year.

    • Having your records up to date allows you to get a clear picture of your business’s financial status at any point in time.

  • Keep your business accounting documents.

    • Organization is important, and allows you to easily track any questions that may come up.

    • Documents serve as proof if you are ever audited by the IRS or another entity.

    • The general recommendation is a minimum of 5 years, and frequently 7 years.

    • Documents you should retain include invoices, receipts, and payroll records.

    • Utilize an organized filing system, either via paper or electronically.


  • Utilize financial reports.

    • Most accounting software platforms can prepare essential reports such as balance sheet, profit and loss (income) statement and statement of cash flows.

    • Financial reports help you keep track of your company’s financial health and can help you make decisions on growth.

  • Keep track of cash payments.

    • If your business receives cash payments, they should be deposited into your business bank account, prior to spending.

    • Depositing the funds and recording them into your accounting software will prevent you from forgetting which customer paid or what they purchased.


  • Keep up with invoicing.

    • Send invoices to customers as soon as the job is complete, or at the very latest, the end of that month.

    • Delays in invoicing can appear as being unorganized to your customer.

    • Immediate invoicing via your accounting software allows you to track accounts receivable and stay on top of payments due to you.


  • Pay your employees on time.

    • Employees rely on timely payments so they can pay their bills.

    • Be sure to set aside funds for payroll taxes.

    • Be sure to pay payroll taxes on time as well.


  • Ask for help.

    • If keeping track of all your financial transactions proves to be too much, consider hiring an experienced bookkeeper. You can outsource as much or as little as you want done.

    • Common bookkeeping tasks include:

      • Entering transactions into the general ledger

      • Completing bank and other account reconciliations

      • Preparing/sending invoices

      • Preparing monthly financial reports

      • Entering/processing payroll

      • Paying bills

    • A good bookkeeper can also offer advice on appropriate software, help you prepare an annual budget, and understand your financial reports


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