How To Get Started With Your Bookkeeping
- Nancy Bueno
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Are you a solopreneur wearing all the hats in your business? Between juggling clients, creating content, managing operations, and trying to grow, bookkeeping can easily slip to the bottom of your priority list. And when you finally sit down to tackle it… it can feel overwhelming.
The good news? Getting started doesn’t have to be complicated. With a simple system and a consistent process, you can take control of your numbers and reduce the stress that comes with not knowing where your finances stand.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get started.
1. Gather All Your Documents
Before you start entering anything, collect everything related to your financial activity:
Sales receipts
Expense receipts
Bank statements
Credit card statements
Payment processing statements (PayPal, Stripe, Square, etc.)
Having all your documents in one place will streamline your workflow and prevent missing information later.
2. Upload Everything to Digital Folders or Your Bookkeeping Software
Create a digital filing system that makes sense to you—monthly folders, income vs. expenses, or a combination.If you're using a bookkeeping software like QuickBooks, Wave, or Xero, upload receipts and supporting documents directly into the platform.
The goal is simple: keep everything organized so nothing gets lost.
3. Enter All Your Sales Receipts
This is the income that flowed into your business. Make sure each sale is entered correctly and assigned to the proper income category.If you collect deposits or partial payments, track those as well to avoid overstating income.
4. Enter All Your Expenses
Next, enter every business purchase or payment—whether you used a card, cash, or a payment processor.
Categorizing your expenses correctly helps you understand your spending and makes tax time much easier.
5. Record Credit Card Payments Properly
How you enter credit card payments matters:
Using QuickBooks? Record them as a “Pay Down Credit Card” transaction.
Using a spreadsheet? Record them as a transfer—not an expense—so you don’t double count.
This step alone can prevent one of the most common bookkeeping mistakes: recording credit card payments as expenses twice.
6. Enter Your Payment Processing Fees
Stripe, PayPal, Square, and similar platforms charge fees every time they process a transaction.Make sure you record these fees so your income is accurate and your expenses aren’t understated.
7. Match Transactions in Your Software
If you’re using bookkeeping software, you’ll see bank feeds where your transactions automatically appear.Match them to the entries you’ve already created to avoid duplicates and keep your records clean.
8. Reconcile All Your Accounts
This is one of the most important steps.
Reconciling compares your bookkeeping records to your actual bank and credit card statements. It ensures:
Nothing is missing
Nothing is duplicated
All balances match
Your financial reports are accurate
Reconciliation is where you’ll usually catch any mistakes.
Your Process May Be Unique — Document It
Every business runs differently, and bookkeeping isn’t one-size-fits-all. As you work through your process, write down each step you take.
Why?
Because weeks or months may pass before you do your bookkeeping again, and having a checklist saves you time, stress, and confusion later.
Plus, documenting your process makes it easier to hand off your bookkeeping when you’re ready.
You Don’t Have to Do It Alone
Bookkeeping doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right system, you can stay organized, confident, and in control of your business finances.
And if you ever feel stuck—or just want the peace of mind of knowing it’s handled correctly—I'm here to help. Reach out if you’d like support or want to work together.
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