Bookkeeping Tips

Running a freelance consultancy is rewarding — and chaotic. Early on I learned the hard way that tidy bookkeeping isn't just about compliance; it’s what lets you see where your business is going, price services correctly and avoid last-minute panics at tax time. Below I share the practical, step-by-step approach I use with consultants who are growing from a side-hustle into a sustainable business. It’s written as if I’m sitting next to...

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I remember the first time a new client asked me to recommend a bookkeeper. They were overwhelmed—but also relieved to hand over day-to-day bookkeeping. What many small business owners don’t realise is that finding someone who’s technically capable is only part of the job. The other part—arguably the harder one—is onboarding them properly and putting controls in place so your finances stay accurate and secure.Below I’ll walk you...

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I’ve spent years helping retail shops, cafés and small restaurants tidy up their books, and one lesson keeps repeating: small bookkeeping errors quietly eat into profit until a sudden review reveals a worrying hole. In this post I’ll walk you through the most common, sneaky mistakes I see in retail and hospitality businesses, how to spot them quickly, and practical steps to fix them so you stop losing margin every month.Why these errors...

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Choosing between cash and accruals accounting is one of the first practical decisions every service business faces — and it’s one that affects how you see your cash position, how you manage tax, and how you talk about performance. I help lots of small service businesses make this choice, so here’s a straightforward, experience-based guide that walks you through the trade-offs and how to pick the right method for your circumstances.What's...

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I run into this situation a lot when I advise one-person shop owners: you’re brilliant at your product and customer service, but bookkeeping feels like a jumble of receipts, tills and end-of-day cash. If your retail shop is a sole trader or single director limited company with under £50k turnover, you don’t need an elaborate accounting department — but you do need a tidy, reliable system that saves time, keeps you tax-compliant and gives...

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I’m often asked how to reconcile bank feeds in Xero quickly without sacrificing accuracy. Over the years I’ve seen business owners spend hours in the reconciliation screen, getting frustrated by duplicates, bank fees and transfers that don’t quite match. In this post I’ll share the practical, no-nonsense approach I use with clients so reconciling becomes a reliable, even routine, task rather than a weekly stress point.Why bank feeds...

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