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No matter your job, there are days that can be more stressful and overwhelming than others. It may seem that as you get one thing done, there are three more to do. On the days it feels like your head is spinning, it’s important to find ways to center yourself and stay focused. 

Make a priority list

Make a good old fashioned “to do” list! Write down everything you absolutely need to get done for the day. Try to prioritize so the most important things are listed first. It’ll feel good to watch your progress as you check things off. 

Use a planner

Planners are fantastic for keeping track of all the moving pieces! Write down your appointments, deadlines, events, work hours, and more. The more

At Skynar Bookkeeping Services, we Set Up, Clean Up, and Keep Up with our clients’ books with the help of the number one accounting software for small to mid-size businesses - QuickBooks by Intuit. There are a variety of plans and services that you, as the user, can pick and choose to fit exactly your business’ needs. 

As a new user, there is a free 30 day trial to test it out and see if it’s the right fit. There are two options available - QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop. Online is cloud-based so you can access your books from any device at any time. Desktop is installed and accessed on only one computer. 

From there, there are multiple plan options. Choosing the

Automatic payments are the way of the future. Having automatic invoices generated for payments sounds like a dream, but can be your reality. If you are a business that has customers/clients that utilize your products/services frequently, it may be best to set up auto-pay to streamline the entire process of sending invoices. It seems everyone is looking for the easiest, most efficient way of doing things - and recurring payments is one!

Invoices won’t slip through the cracks, cash flow will be improved, and it’s also eco-friendly! If you use QuickBooks for your accounting software, we have good news - the process of setting up recurring payments is a breeze. We provided a step-by-step guide below…

How to set-up recurring payments in QuickBooks

We thought we’d take some time to address some frequently asked questions that bookkeepers receive. These are questions that you should ask your bookkeeper before you begin a working relationship.

What if I want to do my own day-to-day record keeping?

Definitely an option! It’s up to you to work with your bookkeeper to determine a sound game plan. Determine which bookkeeping tasks you will be completing and which your bookkeeper should complete. 

Will I have access to my bookkeeping whenever I want?

Yes! You should always have access to your bookkeeping records - the information is yours! It’s a major red flag if you do not have access to the backend of your books. Even if you don’t make any

There should always be open communication between you and your bookkeeper. Although running a business can become chaotic and time can get away from you, it’s vital to remain connected. Every month you should sit down, either remotely or together, and review your company’s financial health. Set aside time to review and analyze reports, ask questions, and determine a game plan for moving forward. Together, you and your bookkeeper will come up with a sound plan for your business. Some questions to address along the way…

What changes did we make last month & how did they play out?

Did you hire a new employee? Lose an employee? Add on to inventory? Take away from inventory? Look at the changes you implemented last month and see how they

Use the 2020 Olympics as inspiration to take your bookkeeping to the gold! Olympics athletes and bookkeepers have more in common than you’d think. Both require an inner self-motivation to perform their best, to put in the time and effort, and to continue following through. Without this, the act remains undone and incomplete with no signs of progress or completion. To be self-motivated is not something that can be taught. 

Repetition. Olympics athletes practice, practice, practice. They put in the time and effort to perfect their craft by doing it over and over. Similarly, bookkeepers perform the same acts in and out to ensure their clients’ books are thorough, complete, and accurate. If they don’t enter the transactions in

As many of us return to work at a physical location, many of us also remain working from home. Then, there are some that are teetering between working on location and remote. While we all ease back into whatever this “new normal” is, it’s important to make sure you’re on the same page as your team so nothing falls through the cracks. How can you keep unity when it seems everyone is doing their own thing?

Regular meetings. 

Stay in touch and hold each other accountable with regularly scheduled virtual meetings to review what projects are still up in the air and to work on wrapping up loose ends. Depending on your business, a weekly meeting may suffice just fine. For others that have more ins and outs on a daily basis, it might

QuickBooks allows its users to set up automatic entries so you never have to manually enter debits and credits unless you choose to do so. However, sometimes it’s necessary to manually add a journal entry, like when you’re transferring money from one account to another. QuickBooks Online makes the process a breeze. See below for step-by-step instructions on adding, deleting, and editing journal entries. 

Add

Select “New+” and then choose “Journal Entry.” First, select the Account you need to debit or credit, and then enter the necessary amount in the correct column. Below that, you’ll select the second Account you’ll be moving money to or from, and you’ll enter the exact same

Your relationship with your bookkeeper needs to be solid. If you don’t fully trust them with your bookkeeping records, it may be time to start considering other options. It’s up to your bookkeeper to be reliable, timely, consistent, and open with their communication. There are some red flags that can be hard to ignore and can be detrimental to your books and, in result, your business. 

Nothing adds up. 

A tell-tale sign that your bookkeeper has checked out or your bookkeeping system is no longer working? Nothing seems to add up, whether because the information wasn’t logged or wasn’t logged correctly. This would definitely be noticed come time to reconcile at the end of the month, but sometimes these gaps or errors can be

Bookkeeping is not something you can eliminate from the day-to-day of your business. If you do, you’re walking blindly into the unknown and likely won’t last. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 20 percent of small businesses fail within the first year - and after five years, only 50 percent of small businesses survive. There are many reasons why businesses fail, but almost one-third are due to cash flow problems, which can be caught and addressed with detailed, up-to-date books. 

That leads us to the question, what exactly is bookkeeping and what does a bookkeeper actually do for you? The act of bookkeeping itself simply means the activity of keeping records of the financial affairs of a business. So, what exactly does a bookkeeper do? Let’s

Budgeting is just another component of running a business. Not only do you need to know where your money is coming and going, but you should have limits so you only spend within your means. Budgets encourage accountability and responsibility. QuickBooks, the number one accounting software for small to midsize businesses, makes budgeting a breeze with a built-in tool for your convenience on both the online and desktop versions of their software. Let’s get started!

QuickBooks Desktop

Once you are logged into your QBD account, go to Company > Planning & Budgeting > Set Up Budgets. From there, update the year you are budgeting for and choose your budget type. The two budget types are Profit & Loss or Balance Sheet. Normally, a Profit &

Whether your small business remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic, if it’s just now re-opening, or somewhere in-between, it seems all are trying to find ways to save some money. Believe it or not, there are some simple yet effective ways small businesses can save. It’s important to have up-to-date and accurate bookkeeping records so you know where you can make changes and then notice the impact of their savings.  

Outsource. 

Rather than onboarding a new employee, offering benefits, and training, consider outsourcing when possible. This cuts out payroll costs, which accounts for roughly 70% of a business’ expenses. By keeping your payroll costs low, you’re saving money. Outsourcing will typically be a lower cost

There are certain relationships in your life that need to be solid, reliable, and consistent - like the one with your bank. If you’re not happy with your current bank and are looking for alternatives, there are some questions to keep in mind while you research. Some common reasons people switch banks are poor customer service satisfaction, lack of account types, and outdated online banking tools. 

Some banks require account minimum balances or minimum deposits. Before closing your account at your current bank, be sure to find out the minimum account balance needed to avoid fees. If you’re required to maintain a minimum balance or deposit, this may not be feasible. If this is an account you use regularly to pay bills and make everyday purchases, it’s not

Fraudulent scams and hackers are not going away any time soon. If anything, they’re adapting with the changing times, becoming more stealthy with our modern technology. How can you protect yourself or your business from scams and hackers? It may seem like a big feat, but can be done with a few simple precautions that will help keep you and your information safe and protected. 

• Don’t share your personal information with anyone.

This includes your PIN, passwords, Social Security number, and other confidential information. Keep your personal information in a safe space, if written down, and do not share your personal information with anyone. This is very sensitive information that is unique to

We say it time and time again - it’s vital to reconcile on a regular basis! But, what does that really mean and how do you reconcile? And, why bother?

To reconcile, in accounting terms, means you compare two sets of reports to make sure the numbers match up. This involves your internal bookkeeping records and your bank account, credit card statement, or similar. It’s a simple process of verification, but can be a huge life saver. You should get in this habit of doing this - you’ll catch mistakes sooner and be able to adjust accordingly quicker. 

Reconciliation should happen on a monthly basis since most statements arrive monthly. This is also a short enough amount of time that if things don’t align, you will be able to fix them without too

Your bookkeeping can uncover essential information about your business, but you need to know where to look and how to find it. If you choose not to utilize your books as a tool for your business, you’ll likely notice the negative effect over time. Think of your bookkeeping as the eyes for your business - without it, you’ll be moving forward blindly. 

First and foremost, your bookkeeping is a journal for your business’ transactions. All the in’s and out’s of money should be recorded on a daily basis. Being able to see exactly where your money is going and where it’s coming from are incredibly helpful when it comes to having conversations about cutting costs or investing even more into something. There are multiple reports you can run that

Spring is in full bloom and the summer months are upon us! Our list of things to do seems to get longer and the days become busier. It’s only normal for some things to eventually slip through the cracks, but your bookkeeping cannot be one of them. Outsourcing is a great way to ensure that your books are completed and accurate at all times, while also not having to think about it at all! Not convinced? We have some more reasons outsourcing may be right for you…

Pass it off to an expert. 

Passing off your bookkeeping to an expert will have you resting easy, knowing your books are in the right hands. Rather than hiring an employee who may need to be trained, you can work with a knowledgeable expert who will be ready to get started. By using