Creative Accountancy

Running a small business is a little bit like having another member of the family😂❤️

It’s there when you wake up.

It comes to dinner with you.

It occasionally interrupts your weekend.

And somehow you’re always thinking about it! 😂

But one of the best things about running a small business is the people you build around you along the way.

The clients who have been with you from the beginning.

The ones who become more like friends than clients.

The people who recommend you, support you, check in on you and celebrate your wins.

And of course, the family at home who put up with the “I’ll just quickly check this email” that somehow turns into an hour! 😂

Small business can be hard work, but the relationships you build along the way are one of the best parts. ❤️

Here’s to the clients, friends, family and little community that make it all worthwhile. 🥂

If you’re a small business owner, who’s part of your business family? 👇

😩 Let’s be honest… what’s your biggest accounting headache?

Running a business is busy enough without trying to keep on top of the numbers too!

Is it…

🧾 Keeping track of receipts?
📊 Keeping your bookkeeping up to date?
💷 Knowing how much to put aside for tax?
📅 Remembering deadlines?
🏦 Understanding your cash flow?
🤯 Or simply finding the time to do any of it?!

There’s no judgement here I have heard it all! 😂

Drop yours in the comments 👇

And if your answer is all of the above” you’re definitely not alone! 😉

🚀 Starting a business is exciting… until the financial side starts getting confusing!

If you’re just starting out, you don’t need to know everything on day one. But getting a few financial basics right from the beginning can save you a LOT of stress later.

1️⃣ Keep your business and personal money separate

Even if you’re a sole trader, having a separate bank account for your business can make tracking your income and expenses so much easier.

2️⃣ Keep track of EVERY expense

Don’t just keep the big invoices. Small expenses can soon add up.

Think software subscriptions, mileage, insurance, phone costs, professional fees, stationery and other costs related to running your business.

And keep those receipts! 🧾

3️⃣ Put money aside for tax

One of the biggest surprises for new business owners is that the money coming into your account isn't necessarily all yours to spend.

Get into the habit of putting money aside regularly for your tax bill rather than waiting until the deadline comes around. 💷

4️⃣ Know what’s coming in and going out

Keep an eye on:
💰 Money coming in
📤 Bills going out
📅 When customers are actually paying
💳 What you have committed to spend

5️⃣ Get your bookkeeping system sorted early

Don't wait until you have hundreds of transactions to deal with.

Whether you use accounting software, an app for receipts or work with a bookkeeper/accountant, get a system in place from the start.

Future you will be VERY grateful! 😂

6️⃣ Understand your numbers

You don't need to become an accountant

Know your:
📊 Turnover
💷 Profit
💸 Expenses
🏦 Cash in the bank
📅 Upcoming liabilities

7️⃣ Don't be afraid to ask for help

You don't have to figure everything out yourself.

Getting the right advice early can help you avoid costly mistakes and give you much more confidence as your business grows.

✨ Starting a business isn't just about making sales it's about building something financially sustainable too.

📸 Who here is still keeping receipts and manually uploading them? 👀

You know the ones…

🧾 Receipts stuffed in a drawer
📩 Invoices hiding in your inbox
📱 Photos of receipts sitting in your camera roll
…and then a big job of uploading everything at the end of the month! 😂

There are much easier ways to keep on top of your bookkeeping and you don’t need to be a tech expert to use them.

If you’re still spending your evenings sorting receipts, it might be time to make life a little easier 🙌

Want to know my top suggestions drop me a message! 📩

💷 Think accountants don’t have business expenses? Think again! 😂

Running a business comes with plenty of outgoings, and mine are no different.

From software and subscriptions to professional costs, insurance, marketing and all those little expenses that seem to add up every month… it all needs keeping track of.

I thought I’d share some of my own business outgoings to give you a little behind-the-scenes look at what it actually costs to run an accountancy business. 👀

Because yes… even accountants have bills! 😂

What’s your biggest business expense? 👇

Did you know xero has a free little helper called Hubdoc? 👀

If you use Xero, there’s a good chance you already have access to Hubdoc and you might not even be using it!

So, what does it actually do? 🤔

📸 Take a photo of a receipt
Snap it on your phone and Hubdoc can capture the details for you.

📧 Forward your invoices
Send documents straight into Hubdoc instead of leaving them buried in your inbox.

📁 Keep everything in one place
Your receipts and invoices can be stored digitally, making them much easier to find when you need them.

🔄 Connect it to Xero
Documents can flow through to Xero, helping reduce the amount of manual data entry.

Basically… less paper, less chasing receipts and hopefully less of a *“where did I put that invoice?!”* moment. 😂

And the best bit? Hubdoc is included with Xero’s UK plans when connected to your Xero subscription.**

If you’re a Xero user and you’re not using Hubdoc, it might be worth asking your accountant how to get started! 👀

🗓️ Plan your week, don’t just survive it.

A little intentional planning on a Sunday (or Monday morning) can make a BIG difference to how your week feels.

Here are a few simple things to try:

🎨 Colour code your planner

Use different colours for clients, admin, personal time and deadlines. It makes your week much easier to see at a glance.

⏰ Time block your day
Instead of writing a never ending to do list, give important tasks a specific time slot.

🎯 Choose your priorities
Pick your 3 most important tasks for the week. Everything else is a bonus!

🧘‍♀️ Schedule breathing space
Don’t fill every minute. Leave room for the unexpected because running a business rarely goes exactly to plan!

💡 Plan with intention, not perfection.

Take 15 minutes to look at the week ahead and decide where your time actually needs to go.

Your future self will thank you! 🙌

😂 If you know, you know

The receipts are *definitely* somewhere.
The bookkeeping will *definitely* get done this weekend.
And the spreadsheet is *definitely* under control. 👀

We’ve heard it all before and honestly, I am here for it! 😂

If your bookkeeping is living rent free in the back of your mind, maybe it’s time to let someone else take care of it. 📊☕

Tag a business owner who can relate! 👇

More sales ≠ more cash

One of the biggest mistakes business owners make is assuming that increasing sales will automatically fix cash flow.

But if customers pay late, expenses go out before income comes in, or you’re not keeping a close eye on what’s coming in and going out, you can have a busy business that still feels constantly short of cash. 💷

Good cash flow management can make a huge difference to how confidently you run your business.

Sales bring money in. Cash flow keeps your business moving. 👏

Need help understanding where your cash is going? Drop me a message. 📩

💷 Are you claiming everything you’re entitled to?

It’s easy to overlook everyday business expenses, but those small costs can quickly add up.

Swipe through 👉 to see 5 expenses businesses often forget to claim.

Not sure what you can claim? I am here to help. 📩