When Bookkeeping Software Is Enough (And When It’s Not) Micro businesses are constantly told they “need accounting software.” In reality, most don’t. The confusion comes from assuming every business operates like a growing company with staff, inventory and complex reporting needs. One-person and micro businesses operate very differently, and the systems they use shou
How Micro Businesses Can Stay Compliant Without Accounting Software Many micro and one-person businesses believe compliance automatically requires accounting software. This belief usually comes from advisers or software marketing, not from the actual requirements of running a small operation. In reality, compliance is about accurate records, sensible habits, and the ability to produce the ri
How Do I Start the New Year With Clean Bookkeeping? Starting the new year with clean bookkeeping does not mean starting from scratch or changing systems. For most micro and one-person businesses, clean bookkeeping simply means your records are current, understandable, and not hiding any surprises. Many businesses start January feeling behind because December was left messy. Receipts were ign
What Bookkeeping Should I Review Before the New Year? The end of the year is one of the best times for a micro or one-person business to review its bookkeeping. Not to fix everything, not to make it perfect — but to regain clarity before January begins. You don’t need accountant-style reports or complex reconciliations. What you need is a short, practical review that tells you wh
Why Micro Businesses Fall Behind on Bookkeeping (And How to Catch Up Easily) Most micro and one-person businesses don’t fall behind on bookkeeping because they’re careless. They fall behind because bookkeeping slowly becomes harder than it needs to be. It usually starts small. A few transactions don’t get entered. Receipts go into pockets or gloveboxes. You tell yourself yo
How Do I Keep Bookkeeping Simple Over the Holidays? Running a micro or one-person business doesn’t stop just because it’s the holidays. But your bookkeeping doesn’t need to turn into a second job either. The goal over this period isn’t perfection — it’s staying current enough that January doesn’t arrive with a nasty surprise. The simplest way to keep
Simple Bookkeeping Essentials for Micro and One-Person Businesses Keeping books as a micro business shouldn’t feel like using accounting software built for corporate accounting teams. If you’re a one-person operator, you don’t need reconciliation, double-entry accounting or complicated workflows. You need clear income, clear expenses, GST totals and practical tools you can use
Easiest Way to Calculate GST The easiest way to calculate GST is to record GST at the time each transaction occurs, rather than trying to work it out later. For micro and one-person businesses, this means identifying GST on income and expenses as they are entered, so totals are always ready when needed. GST calculation does not require formulas, spreadsheets or complex reports. It simply req
Easiest Way to Track Receipts for Small Business The easiest way to track receipts for a small business is to capture them at the time of purchase and link each receipt directly to the related expense. For micro and one-person businesses, this removes the risk of lost paperwork and end-of-year scrambling. Receipt tracking doesn’t need filing cabinets or complicated systems. It simply n
How Do I Keep Books as a Beginner? As a beginner, keeping books is about recording what comes in, what goes out, and making sure nothing is missed for tax and GST purposes. It does not require accounting knowledge, complex reports or formal bookkeeping qualifications. For micro and one-person businesses, bookkeeping is simply a record-keeping exercise. The goal is clarity and compliance, not