Other accounting services small businesses may use include bookkeeping, strategic finance, and tax accounting. You can use an accounts receivable aging report for a quick view of outstanding customer payments. The beginning of the month is a good time to send overdue reminder statements to customers, clients, and anyone else who owes you money. Annual reports include an overview of business activity during the year, including cash flow reports, income statements, and balance sheets. To help SMBs embark on this journey, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide on maintaining your books. This article covers the basic daily, weekly, and monthly accounting tasks to help keep SMBs on top of their finances.
No assurance is given that the information is comprehensive in its coverage or that it is suitable in dealing with a customer’s particular situation. Intuit accounting equation definition Inc. does not have any responsibility for updating or revising any information presented herein. Accordingly, the information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research. Intuit Inc. does not warrant that the material contained herein will continue to be accurate nor that it is completely free of errors when published. Yes, you’ll need to determine how you want to manage your books, such as the do-it-yourself route, such as Excel spreadsheets, or use accounting software like QuickBooks. Alternatively, you can outsource your bookkeeping or hire a part-time bookkeeper.
Step 1. Receive year-end statements from client
This checklist points you to all the different factors you need to take into consideration when compiling your business tax return. It’s geared toward US companies but has a broad enough scope to assist businesses internationally. It’s geared to work for companies with both partnership and corporation structures. It is there to how to stop procrastinating right now report the total amounts of money a company has earned and spent over a specified period of time.
Annual bookkeeping to-do’s
Finally, you’ll need to file your annual tax returns for yourself and your business. For example, you’ll use your personal tax return, Form 1040, to report business income and expenses on Schedule C if you’re a sole proprietor. We hope this accounting processes checklist pack helps your business succeed. This requires investigating the cash payments, cash receipts, and cash net change across the operating, financing, and investing activities of a business over a particular timeframe. A lot of accounting work is knowing what the necessary process is and being able to follow it effectively. The processes we have listed here range from onboarding accounting staff to invoicing clients, to bank reconciliation and end of year reporting.
Document and file receipts
Completing these tasks throughout the year can help keep your business on the right path. An expense management software can be invaluable here, as it keeps all your financial data organized and easily accessible. It can also categorize expenses according to tax codes, making it easier government contracting terminologies to claim deductions and reduce your tax liability. Software tools can simplify this process by providing real-time insights into your cash flow trends, helping you make informed decisions about spending, saving, and investing.
- However, you should still review them for accuracy before they get filed.
- So, put on your accounting cap and get ready to dive into the heaviest of heavy financial management.
- Businesses carry out numerous financial transactions throughout the year, including sales, purchases, payroll, and expenses.
- However, failing to record these expenses can accumulate over time, causing inaccurate year-end financial statements.
This includes recording revenue such as product sales and expenses like purchasing supplies. The annual financial report is your detailed proof that you and your team did a great job and a way of communicating the company’s strategy for the year ahead. Fortunately, this checklist guides you through the process and explains what you need to do to create your balance sheet. Plus, we try to make sure you understand it along the way, with an explanation of key terms and concepts.
This process not only brings in industry tips on how to best ensure you receive the payment you’re due, but it allows you to keep your business going while waiting on those payments. Whether you’re a seasoned business owner or an up-and-coming entrepreneur, maintaining a bookkeeping checklist can make or break your venture. Our tool is simple to use, so you don’t need in-depth accounting knowledge.