Messy books? Endless receipts? Feeling lost every time you open your accounts? Well, bookkeeping doesn’t have to be stressful! In this article, we’ll share five simple, actionable tips, so you can get better at it and stay on top of your finances.
Key Takeaways
With the right tools, strategies, and small daily habits, you can easily keep track of your finances.
The best way to get better at bookkeeping is to automate tasks, do small daily check-ins, go paperless, focus on key financial basics, and set aside money for taxes.
Tips for Getting Better at Bookkeeping
How to get better at bookkeeping for beginners? Whether you're a small business owner or a freelancer, here are some actionable, value-packed tips to improve your bookkeeping skills.
Automate Your Bookkeeping (So You Don’t Forget It)
Manually tracking expenses and invoices is a headache and easy to fall behind on.
How to do it: Use an accounting tool like QuickBooks and Xero, or JAFA’s AI-powered bookkeeping technology, which automates transaction recording, categorisation, and reconciliations, so you stay organised without the extra effort. Set up automatic bank feeds and invoice reminders to ensure payments don’t slip through the cracks.
Do a 10-Minute Daily Check-In (Instead of Monthly Panic Mode)
Waiting until the end of the month (or worse, tax season) to organise receipts is overwhelming.
How to do it: Spend 10 minutes every day logging expenses, categorising transactions, and checking for discrepancies. It’s easier to fix errors in small chunks than to tackle a mountain later.
Go Paperless (No More Digging for Receipts)
Losing receipts and invoices can mess up tax deductions.
How to do it: Use apps like Dext, Expensify, or your accounting software’s receipt scanner. Take a picture and upload it when you get a receipt or let JAFA’s receipt capturing software organise your receipts digitally.
Learn the 80/20 of Bookkeeping (You Don’t Need to Know Everything)
Bookkeeping is easier when you focus on the most important things, not every little detail. Instead of trying to track everything, prioritise the tasks that have the biggest impact.
How to do it:
Categorise expenses correctly – Helps with taxes and budgeting.
Reconcile bank statements – Ensures accuracy and prevents errors.
Track cash flow – Avoids surprises and keeps your business stable.
Review key financial reports – Gives a clear picture of your business health.
RECOMMENDED READING: Basic Bookkeeping Terms (and Definitions) You Must Know
Build a Tax Safety Net (So You’re Ready for Tax Time)
Many business owners get blindsided by tax bills.
How to do it: Open a separate tax savings account and set aside 20-30% of your income for taxes. Automate transfers every time you get paid, so you’re never scrambling when tax season hits.
RECOMMENDED READING: Bookkeeping Tips for Entrepreneurs to Avoid Costly Mistakes
What We Think
A lot of business owners struggle with bookkeeping, not because it’s hard, but because it takes time and often gets pushed aside. The problem is that waiting too long to organise your finances can lead to stress, surprise expenses, and last-minute tax panic.
We believe bookkeeping should be simple and easy to manage. Instead of spending hours sorting through receipts and spreadsheets, using smart systems and automation can make the process much smoother.
One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is treating bookkeeping as something to deal with “later”. But staying on top of it isn’t just about taxes - it helps you understand your money and plan better. After all, the best qualities of a bookkeeper include being organised, detail-oriented, and proactive - skills that help any business owner manage their finances better.
How JAFA Can Help
Bookkeeping doesn’t have to be stressful or take up your time. At JAFA, we use AI technology for bookkeeping, which makes it easy for you by handling the hard work.
With JAFA, you can:
Track transactions automatically – No need to enter everything manually, your income and expenses are recorded for you.
Stay tax-ready – JAFA helps you see how much to set aside for taxes, so there are no surprises.
Understand your finances – Get clear reports on your cash flow, profits, and expenses without the confusion.
Save time and avoid mistakes – Smart automation keeps your records accurate and up to date.
Are you ready to make bookkeeping easier? Contact our expert accountants based in Birmingham, UK, either by booking a FREE discovery call or calling us on +44 121 227 6277.
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