Handsome Fluke

09/22/2026

Autumn equinox is on Tuesday. Fluke feels like kicking back until spring, but remember it's never too early to get those financial numbers sorted out before the end of the t year rush.

09/18/2026

Fluke took the morning off from bookkeeping to celebrate his 4th birthday. But a couple hours later he was busy helping classify bank transactions for a new client who need to catch up on her taxes.

09/14/2026

Nonprofit folks. This is your chance to connect with Portland area professionals, get your questions answered, and hobnob with others in nonprofit community. I'll be there to answer bookkeeping questions, but there will be people covering technology, insurance, legal, marketing, grant writing, HR, and more.

📍 Place To B (1661 SE 3rd Ave, Portland, OR 97214)
📅 Tuesday, September 22
⏰ 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
🎟️ Free to attend; RSVP required
Register for free 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g7aPHpAt

09/11/2026

Woo hoo! After hours of avoiding and taking some bureaucratic tests from Intuit, I have achieved Gold Level QuickBooks Online ProAdvisor certified status. I've been working with QBO for years now, but it's nice to have the official certification. If you're so inclined, look for me in zip code 97266 and post a review. That will make the post easier for others to find. Plus Fluke got to pose for the official headshot.

09/07/2026

Fluke is very busy this Labor Day. Here he is demonstrating how to celebrate all the hard work people do.

(Tomorrow, back to the bookkeeping grind.)

08/31/2026

When you want to build something, there are a lot of details to consider. Fluke is inspecting the grains of sand, used for sandcastles, here. But to start a new business (say dog grooming), there are four things to think about:

1. Pick a good, unique name
2. Register it with your state and get a ID number from them
3. Open a bank account under that name and number
4. Start tracking your expenses, even if it's just a spreadsheet

This keep you organized as your business grows, and you won't scramble when it comes time to pay your taxes. Skipping these steps is like watching the tide come in and ruin what you've built.

08/27/2026

Puppy Fluke always respects the timelines. Now we are celebrating the closing of a client’s accounts for their fiscal year. For many nonprofits, the year runs from July 1 to June 30. This means tax forms are due in November instead of April, and often the numbers are so disorganized that the organization files for a six month extension. Not this year! They can get taxes in well before the deadline and save folks the extra paperwork. Fluke likes that!

If you need help getting organized before your tax deadline comes, give me a call. It’s never too early to start.

08/26/2026

Today is International Dog Day. Richard suggests donating to a shelter or adopting a new family friend. Fluke thinks it's a great day to get a pup cup.

08/04/2026

Thanks Green Dog Pet Supply. Fluke is happy we won the prize. He plans on sharing the little dog food cans with our neighbor chiweenies. He is especially happy about his favorite kind of ball.

08/03/2026

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗼𝗴-𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗻’𝘁 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗰𝘀:

𝗣𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲
Spend a little time searching the Internet for a name no one else is using. Pick something that stands out. You will need this name to register your business with the state.

𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
In Oregon, it costs $50 to register an assumed business name or $100 to register an LLC. Either way, the state issues you a number which you’ll need to open a bank account. Also check with your city & county to see if you need a business license. In Portland, this is free.

𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗮 𝘀𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
The most common mistake I’ve seen with new businesses is using a personal bank account for business income and expenses. Don’t do this! Instead, open an account under your business name and put a little startup money into it. Use that money to buy any supplies or marketing materials you might need. Come tax time, you’ll be glad you did this.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆
If you don’t want to spend money on accounting software, create a simple spreadsheet to record things. Stick to money going into and out of your business – no personal expenses. Eventually, you’ll want to invest in software like QuickBooks Online, but at first a simple spreadsheet can work if you’re on a tight budget.

𝙉𝙚𝙚𝙙 𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙧 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙩? 𝘿𝙧𝙤𝙥 𝙢𝙚 𝙖 𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚.

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