Guide to Bookkeeping for new business owners

If you’re in the midst of starting a new business, then the bookkeeping requirements are unlikely to be at the forefront of your mind. At this stage there can be far more pressing things for you to think about.

However, once your business is taking shape, you will need to start thinking about keeping up-to-date and accurate accounting records of your income and expenses. More than just a legal requirement, basic bookkeeping is an essential part of your ability to manage your business effectively.

But what kind of details are you going to need?

Every year, you will need to submit your company accounts to Companies House, and your bookkeeping records will form the basis of these statutory financial statements. They should include information relating to your sales, your expenses, salaries of you and any employees, along with other bank transactions.

It might sound complicated, but take it one step at a time and it’s actually quite manageable. If you’re really struggling to stay on top of it all, there are plenty of small business accountants out there who will be happy to help. So, even if you’re terrified of numbers, there’s a solution out there for you.

Should you do your own small business bookkeeping?

That really is up to you. In the early days, when your bookkeeping requirements are relatively simple and there isn’t the money to outsource the work to an accountant, you may choose to take on this task yourself.

This can be a worthwhile decision because in the process of ‘doing the books’ you can learn an awful lot about the business. It’ll also help you save every penny to grow your business.

There are also some drawbacks associated with doing your own bookkeeping – what would take a qualified accountant half an hour could take you the best part of an afternoon.

At some point the decision about whether to outsource this task will boil down to a simple time and cost comparison between the time it takes you to do the job, and the cost of hiring a specialist. After all, your time does have a value, and three or four hours away from your business every week is a high price to pay.

Another disadvantage of maintaining your own financial records is the risk of failing to meet all your legal obligations, simply because you are unaware of what is expected. Then there are the potential costs of missing out on tax deductions you didn’t realise were available.

Basic bookkeeping for your small business

If you do decide to go it alone, the bookkeeping requirements for sole traders and limited companies are quite different, particularly when it comes to your year end accounts.

However, this small business bookkeeping checklist can serve as a guide to the daily, weekly, monthly and annual tasks you need to complete to keep your business on track. Cover all these bases and this will help keep your business’s financials in good shape:

Daily bookkeeping tasks

Check your cash position – Do you have enough cash in the business to cover outgoing payments?

Weekly bookkeeping tasks

Prepare and send invoices – This can be a time consuming process but it’s one you need to complete to keep a steady flow of cash coming into the business.

Record your transactions – Keep a record of each transaction, whether it’s in an Excel spreadsheet or using specialist software. This should include money coming in from customers and payments made to employees, suppliers, HMRC etc.

File documents and receipts – Keep a hard copy of all the invoices you have sent during the week and receipts for all the cash payments you have made.

Pay suppliers – Review the ‘payment due’ dates on invoices from any unpaid suppliers and make the payments to avoid any late payment penalties. You may also choose to take advantage of early payment discounts if available.

Review your cash-flow – Check your cash-flow position to make sure you have enough cash in the business for the coming weeks and months.

Monthly bookkeeping tasks

Run your payroll and make the necessary payments to HMRC – You’ll have to report your employees’ payments and deductions to HMRC and pay HMRC based on your reports.