Cash, tax & funding
Bookkeeping: DIY, software, or accountant?
Bookkeeping is a choice by volume and complexity: a spreadsheet when tiny, software as you grow, an accountant when multi-channel or multi-jurisdiction. Good books buy tax readiness, funding readiness, and real margin visibility.
Founders over-pay for an accountant too early, or keep receipts in a shoebox until tax time is a disaster. Step up instead: spreadsheet when tiny, software as orders grow, an accountant when multi-channel or multi-jurisdiction. Good books buy tax readiness, funding readiness, and real margin visibility. Tools and thresholds vary by country; confirm with an accountant qualified in your jurisdiction.
Most founders pick wrong at both ends: paying an accountant to log ten orders a month, or stuffing receipts in a folder until tax season is a fire drill.
The right choice moves with your volume and complexity. AI can size it for you and even reconcile a messy spreadsheet. But the tools that fit differ by country, so confirm your setup with an accountant qualified in your jurisdiction.
What you'll learn
- Start where your volume is, not where you wish it was
- Move to software when the spreadsheet starts costing you time or errors
- Hire an accountant when you go multi-channel or multi-jurisdiction
- Close the books monthly, not annually