When Should You Stop DIYing Your Books? (Or Just Get Some Help)

The Bookkeeping Crossroads: Do It Yourself or Get Help?

When you’re growing a small business, bookkeeping usually starts as one of those things you just figure out as you go. You sign up for QuickBooks, maybe grab a spreadsheet template, and do your best to keep things organized. And at first, that works. But then you get busy. More sales come in, you hire help, maybe add inventory or attend trade shows. And suddenly, bookkeeping is no longer a quick task—it’s that thing you avoid until tax time rolls around.

So how do you know when it’s time to stop managing your books yourself—or at least stop doing it alone?

Let’s break it down.

---

 When DIY Still Makes Sense

• Your business is brand new

  If you’re still getting off the ground with just a few transactions each month, it’s totally fine to keep your bookkeeping in-house. There’s no need to outsource before you need to. But even early on, it’s worth having your setup reviewed so you’re starting with clean systems.

• You like numbers and you’re organized

  Some business owners genuinely enjoy the process of tracking income and expenses. If that’s you—and you’re reconciling accounts, reviewing reports, and keeping your files tidy—great! Just make sure you’re staying consistent.

• You’ve had a proper setup

  The difference between “doing your own books” and “winging it” is huge. If someone helped you set things up right—your Chart of Accounts, sales tax tracking, payroll, etc.—you’re already ahead of the game. Many of my clients start this way, then bring me in for monthly check-ins or annual cleanups.

• You’ve got time to do it right

  It’s not just about doing the books—it’s about doing them regularly. If you have time each week or month to stay on top of it, DIY might still be working for you. Just watch out for the slippery slope of “I’ll get to it next week…”

• You know what your numbers are telling you

  The real reason to keep tidy books isn’t just tax time—it’s to understand how your business is doing. If your bookkeeping helps you answer questions like: “Am I making money on this?” or “Can I afford to hire?”, then you’re doing something right.

---

 But It Might Be Time to Get Help When…

• You’re behind and trying to play catch-up

  If you’re sorting through three months (or more) of receipts, guessing at transactions, or avoiding logging in altogether... it’s time. The longer you put it off, the more expensive and stressful it becomes to fix.

• Your business has outgrown basic systems

  Are you selling online? Using Shopify or Etsy? Managing inventory? Running payroll or working with subcontractors? These layers add complexity—and bookkeeping that used to take 30 minutes a week might now take hours.

• You’re unsure about sales tax or compliance

  Sales tax rules vary by location, product, and sales platform. If you’re not confident that you’re collecting and remitting the right amount—or you’re not sure what’s taxable at all—it’s smart to bring in a pro.

• Your books don’t match reality

  Maybe your Profit & Loss report says you made $20K last month, but your bank account tells a different story. Or maybe you’re invoicing but not tracking payments. If your reports don’t match what’s actually happening, your books aren’t helping you.

• You’re not confident in your numbers

  You need to be able to trust your financial data—especially when you’re making decisions about hiring, pricing, or investing in new inventory. Guessing (or hoping) isn't good enough.

• Your tax prep is costing more than it should

  Accountants can spot messy books a mile away. If they have to clean things up every year before filing, you’re likely paying extra—and missing deductions in the process.

  
  

 “Do I Have to Hand It All Over?”

Not at all. That’s one of the biggest myths about working with a bookkeeper.

Some clients want full-service support so they never have to think about it again (and that’s fine!). Others just want a second set of eyes, or someone to do quarterly reviews to make sure nothing's gone sideways.

You can start small, and build from there.

---

Let’s Make Your Books Work for You

Bookkeeping doesn’t have to be a source of stress or confusion. Whether you want help setting up systems so you can DIY confidently, or you’re ready to offload it completely, I’ve got you covered.

At LedgerSavvy Solutions, I help small business owners clean up, catch up, and stay current—without judgment or overwhelm.

Here's how I help, depending on what you need:

• Initial setup and cleanup if your books need structure or attention

• Training for you or a team member to manage things confidently

• Monthly check-ins or quarterly reviews if you want to stay involved

• Full-service bookkeeping when you're ready to hand it off completely

  
  

It doesn’t have to be all or nothing—we build it around what makes sense for you.

Want to talk through where you’re at? Book a free consult here https://www.ledgersavvysolutions.com/ or reach out directly at info@ledgersavvysolutions.com. 

Let’s get your books working for your business—not against it.