Tips

How Often Should a Micro Business Do Bookkeeping?

A micro business should do bookkeeping often enough to stay accurate, but not so often that it becomes a burden. For most one-person businesses, a short weekly or fortnightly routine is ideal.

Bookkeeping is not about frequency for its own sake. It’s about keeping information current so you always know where the business stands. When records are updated regularly, there is no need for stressful catch-ups at BAS or tax time.

For most micro businesses, bookkeeping works best when it includes:

• entering income and expenses consistently

• attaching receipts as transactions occur

• reviewing totals by month or quarter

• checking GST figures before BAS is due

This approach keeps records reliable without turning bookkeeping into a daily chore.

Why Doing Bookkeeping Too Infrequently Causes Problems

Leaving bookkeeping until quarterly or yearly catch-ups often leads to:

• forgotten expenses

• missing receipts

• incorrect GST figures

• poor cashflow visibility

By the time records are updated, it’s harder to remember what each transaction was for, increasing the risk of errors and missed deductions.

Why Doing It Too Often Isn’t Helpful Either

Daily bookkeeping is rarely necessary for micro businesses and can quickly feel like admin overload. Unless the business has high transaction volumes, daily entry usually adds effort without improving accuracy.

The goal is balance — frequent enough to stay clear, but simple enough to maintain.

A Practical Bookkeeping Rhythm

For most one-person businesses, a good rhythm is:

• quick updates once a week or fortnight

• a short monthly review

• a GST check before BAS deadlines

This keeps numbers current and avoids last-minute stress.

Common Question

Can I do bookkeeping only at BAS time?
You can, but it increases the risk of errors and missed claims. Regular small updates are far more effective than large catch-ups.

Consistency matters more than intensity.

Learn more at www.ecashbooks.com — simple bookkeeping for micro and one-person businesses.