Small business owners face numerous everyday challenges, and they usually conquer them with their entrepreneurial strength. Unfortunately, keeping the books on their growing business is not a skill someone can simply persevere through and get it right.
The potential consequences of messing up on the accounting functions can be serious when it comes to the success or failure of a business. Here are the top five accounting mistakes that small business owners face, and how to avoid them.
Not staying on top of receivables
Getting paid is fun. Managing who owes you money is usually not. But staying on top of your receivables is critical to ensuring your cash flow is healthy and that you know where you stand financially each month. It also ensures that at tax time, you’re not scrambling to piece together which payments belong to which invoice.
Fortunately, there are more software options than ever before for freelancers to painlessly manage this part of their business. Small business owners should consider taking advantage of cloud accounting tools that allow you to send invoices and update payments from anywhere. Many of our clients use Quickbooks for this purpose.
Not keeping expense receipts
How many times have you scanned your bank account statement trying to figure out what a charge was for — was it supplies for your office or was it an expense related to a client’s project? Not only is this frustrating, but not having copies of your receipts can land you in trouble at tax time. If you’re unable to accurately report your expenses, you might find yourself getting nailed with costly penalties.
Best practices for keeping organized include:
- Using only your business credit or debit card to cover business related expenses
- Keeping copies of your receipts in one place and reviewing these at least weekly or monthly while they’re fresh in your memory
Mixing personal/business finances
When starting your own business, a first step should be to open a separate bank account where you deposit your income and pay your business expenses from. A second step should be getting a credit card that you will only use for this business. These are important signals to the IRS that you’re running a business vs. a hobby. If you’re mixing your finances, the IRS might not grant this important distinction.
Mixing your expenses also prevents you from really knowing how much money you’re actually making vs. spending for your business, which increases your chances of accidentally running up debt or losing track of project profit margins.
Not hiring a professional to handle taxes
In an effort to save money, some entrepreneurs might be tempted to do their taxes themselves, but hiring a professional you can trust will pay off in two ways. First, your accountant can apply the most up-to-date tax laws to ensure you’re benefiting from all the deductions you qualify for. For example, many business owners might not realize their bank fees are tax deductible, or that they can claim that professional development course they took a few months back.
Secondly, working with a professional on your taxes means they can help resolve any discrepancies or confusions resulting from guesswork (ex. incorrect tax categories, deductions) that might have otherwise lead to an audit, saving you potentially thousands of dollars in penalties.
Not getting on the same wavelength as your accountant
Your CPA can be an ally to you and your business, since they have the skills and training to help guide important business decisions you might face. Is it time to hire your first employee? When’s the right time to make a big purchase for your business, like upgrading your software or buying a new computer? All too often however, creative professionals are uncomfortable with accounting jargon and might be embarrassed or intimidated when trying to communicate with their accountant, resulting in them not asking the questions they have and causing accounting mistakes.
It’s important that when you don’t understand, that you ask your accountant to explain things in plain language. Or if you continue to find this tricky, consider finding an accountant who is more on your wavelength and communicates in the style that works best for you. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consultation to meet with a Dallas CPA to discuss your business’ accounting and tax needs.
