A reminder to all business owners to make sure you have received completed W9s from your vendors, contractors, and other applicable parties, etc by the end of December. If 1099s are needed, here are the deadlines for filing those, for the 2025 tax year.
The 1099 filing deadlines for 2026 are as follows:
January 31, 2026: Deadline for Form 1099-NEC (Non-Employee Compensation) to be mailed to recipients.
February 2, 2026: Deadline for recipients to receive Form 1099-MISC and the true postmark deadline for mailing forms to recipients.
February 17, 2026: Due date for furnishing statements to recipients for Forms 1099-B, 1099-DA, 1099-S, and 1099-MISC (if amounts are reported in boxes 8 or 10).
February 28, 2026: Deadline for filing Form 1099-MISC with the IRS if filed on paper.
These dates are crucial for ensuring compliance with IRS regulations.

As a business owner, are you handling your own bookkeeping? Are you confident that you are recording your bookkeeping records correctly? Is this a pain point for you? How much of your time does this take away from you focusing on regular business activities or just spending time with your family? How much more money could your business make if you used this time to focus on regular business activities? If errors are made in your bookkeeping, you could be missing out on deductions and be paying more in taxes. All of these problems could be solved by having a good bookkeeper and in turn your business can become more profitable and you will have more time to put into the business or spend with family!
If any of this describes you, please reach out, and we can discuss how I can help you with your bookkeeping needs!

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What do bookkeepers and Santa’s elves have in common?

They’re the backbone to the world around them! Without your bookkeeper, your company’s finances would be a huge unknown at all times. Without elves, there wouldn’t be any presents and Santa would have nothing to deliver. But, what is it about bookkeepers and elves that make them the backbone? 

Consistency. 

Every single day, they are working to maintain the day-to-day ins and outs. Without maintaining records (of finances or gifts), there would be chaos and inaccuracy across the board. Consistency is key to maintaining the daily records of a company, as well as the production of toys on the North Pole. 

Care. 

Both bookkeepers and elves take the time to review their work. They’re careful to catch any mistakes before moving on, ensuring detail and accuracy. They don’t rush or brush mistakes under the rug until later. Accuracy is a must when it comes to your bookkeeping and even toy making. 

Dedication.
It’s not always glamorous working behind-the-scenes. Although you keep the gears moving, not everyone sees that. That’s why it’s so important for both bookkeepers and elves to be dedicated to what they do. Although they may not be the most glamorous, their dedication is essential to both their role and the bigger picture itself. 

Reflection. 

Both bookkeepers and elves must reflect on their work to suggest a sound game plan for moving forward. Bookkeepers will run reports, like a Profit & Loss Statement or Balance Sheet, and review for a better idea of where the company stands and the direction they’re potentially headed for the future. Similarly, elves must report back to Santa with toy production and inventory numbers, which will determine if they’re on the right track for delivering toys on Christmas night. 

Happy Holidays to all!

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I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas! With Christmas now over and the new year less than a week away, tax time will be here before you know it. If you need a bookkeeper to help get your 2025 books in order and/or also keep your books current on a monthly basis, going forward, please reach out. I can help!

Your Accountant/CPA will also appreciate it and may even charge you a little less for tax prep, for not having to clean it up themselves.

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What a Bookkeeper Actually Does (and Why It Saves You Money):

Many business owners think a bookkeeper just “tracks expenses.” In reality, a good bookkeeper protects your money and helps you make better decisions.

Here’s what a bookkeeper actually does:

-Records and categorizes every transaction correctly

-Reconciles bank and credit card accounts so nothing is missed

-Keeps your financials clean, accurate, and up to date

-Tracks cash flow so you know what you can actually spend

-Prepares reports that show profit, not just revenue

-Works with your accountant to avoid tax-time surprises

And here’s how that saves you money:

-Prevents costly errors and missed deductions

-Avoids late fees, penalties, and compliance issues -Helps you spot unnecessary spending

-Gives you real numbers so you don’t overpay in taxes

-Saves your time so you can focus on growing your business

📌 Clean books = smarter decisions + less stress

👉 If your finances feel confusing, overwhelming, or always behind, it may be time to hand them off.

Please reach out to me to see if bookkeeping support is right for you!!

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1 common bookkeeping mistake that business owners make is mixing business and personal expenses.

Mixing business and personal expenses might feel convenient, but it can cause serious problems—especially for bookkeeping, taxes, and legal protection.

Here’s why it’s best to keep them separate:

1. It Creates Bookkeeping Confusion When expenses are mixed, it’s harder to know: How much your business is actually earning Which expenses are tax-deductible This often leads to messy books and extra cleanup time (and cost).

2. Tax Time Becomes Risky Personal expenses claimed as business deductions can: Trigger tax errors Increase the chance of audits Lead to penalties or fines Clear separation makes tax filing faster and safer.

3. You Lose Financial Clarity If money is mixed, you can’t accurately: Track profit and loss Set budgets Make smart business decisions Clean records = better decisions.

4. It Can Weaken Legal Protection For registered businesses (like LLCs or corporations), mixing funds can: Blur the line between you and your business Put your personal assets at risk if legal issues arise This is often called “piercing the corporate veil.”

5. It Looks Unprofessional Separate accounts show: Better financial discipline Credibility to banks, investors, and partners This matters when applying for loans or growth opportunities.

6. It Costs More to Fix Later Untangling mixed expenses later takes more time and money than doing it right from the start.

✅ Best Practice

Open a separate business bank account

Use a dedicated business card

Pay yourself through owner’s draw or payroll

Happy New Year!

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📊 Bookkeeping vs Accounting – What’s the Difference?

These two often get mixed up, but they serve different purposes 👇

📘 Bookkeeping
• Records daily transactions
• Categorizes income & expenses
• Keeps financial data organized
• Focuses on accuracy & consistency

📈 Accounting
• Analyzes financial data
• Prepares financial statements
• Handles tax strategy & compliance
• Helps with big-picture decisions

💡 Think of it this way:
Bookkeeping = the foundation
Accounting = the strategy

You need both to run a healthy business.
📩 Not sure what your business needs right now? Contact me and let’s talk.

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Behind the Scenes: A Day in the Life of a Bookkeeper

While clients focus on running their businesses, a bookkeeper is quietly keeping everything on track behind the scenes.

A typical day includes:-Reviewing bank and credit card transactions for accuracy
-Categorizing income and expenses correctly-Reconciling accounts to ensure nothing is missing
-Following up on discrepancies or questions
-Preparing clear financial reports
-Making sure everything is organized and up to date

It’s detailed work that requires consistency, organization, and trust—but it’s what gives business owners peace of mind and confidence in their numbers.

Good bookkeeping isn’t just data entry—it’s the foundation of smart financial decisions!

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Behind every successful business is clean & accurate bookkeeping. Bookkeepers help business owners stay organized, avoid surprises, and make confident financial decisions—one reconciled account at a time.

Ready for stress-free books? Reach out and we can discuss how I can help you!

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Why Monthly Bookkeeping Is Better Than “Once-a-Year Panic”

Waiting until tax time to deal with your books often leads to stress, errors, and missed opportunities. Monthly bookkeeping keeps your business in control all year long.

Here’s why monthly bookkeeping wins:

1. No More Tax-Time Stress

Instead of scrambling to find receipts and fix mistakes, your books are already clean and organized when tax season arrives.

2. Better Cash Flow Control

Monthly bookkeeping shows where your money is coming from and where it’s going—so you’re never surprised by low cash or unpaid invoices.

3. Fewer Costly Errors

The longer you wait, the easier it is to forget transactions. Monthly reviews catch mistakes early before they become expensive problems.

4. Smarter Business Decisions

Up-to-date financials help you price services correctly, manage expenses, and decide when to invest or grow.

5. Lower Accounting Fees

Accountants charge more to clean up a year of messy books. Monthly bookkeeping keeps costs predictable and lower.

6. Peace of Mind All Year

Instead of panic once a year, you get confidence every month knowing your numbers are accurate.

Bottom line:

Monthly bookkeeping turns your finances into a tool for growth—not a once-a-year headache.

If you need help getting your 2025 books in order for taxes, there's still time to get them ready for your Tax Pro/CPA/Accountant. Please reach out and we can discuss how I can help. We can also put together a plan to maintain your books monthly for 2026 and beyond, so you will no longer have to go through a once a year panic, again!

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As a business owner, do you know your monthly profit?

Bookkeeping helps business owners clearly identify their monthly profits by creating an accurate, organized picture of where money comes from and where it goes. Here’s how it makes that clarity possible:
1. Tracks all income and expenses
Bookkeeping records every sale, payment, and expense. When income and costs are consistently tracked, owners can easily calculate profit by comparing total revenue to total expenses for the month.
2. Separates business and personal finances
Proper bookkeeping ensures only business transactions are included in financial reports. This prevents confusion and gives a true picture of how profitable the business actually is.
3. Provides monthly financial reports
Bookkeeping produces key reports such as the Profit and Loss (P&L) statement. This report summarizes monthly revenue, expenses, and net profit in one place, making performance easy to understand at a glance.
4. Identifies cost trends and problem areas
By categorizing expenses, bookkeeping shows where money is being spent each month. Owners can quickly spot rising costs, unnecessary expenses, or areas that need better control, protecting profit margins.
5. Ensures accuracy through reconciliation
Regularly reconciling bank and credit card statements catches errors, missing transactions, or duplicate entries. Accurate data leads to reliable profit calculations.
6. Supports better decision-making
When monthly profits are clear, owners can confidently decide whether to reinvest, cut costs, raise prices, or expand operations.
7. Enables cash flow and tax planning
Clear profit figures help businesses plan for taxes and manage cash flow, avoiding surprises and ensuring enough funds are available when needed.

In short, bookkeeping turns raw financial activity into clear, reliable monthly profit insights—giving business owners control, confidence, and the ability to make smarter financial decisions.

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