For most new businesses, accounting is often the last thing on their minds. With so many day-to-day tasks to focus on, it’s easy to become overwhelmed and ignore important accounting needs. The truth is that proper accounting practices are an essential part of any business, especially startups.
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Any business that wants to succeed needs to understand its financials comprehensively. To do this, startups must understand accounting basics and how they should be applied to their business. Here are some key accounting tips for startups:
Know The Law
The first step to excellent accounting is understanding the law. You should be aware of the laws that apply to your business. This includes federal, state, and local tax laws, as well as any other applicable regulations, such as HMRC’s Making tax digital intiative. Being aware of these laws will ensure that you comply with the law and that you are up to date on filing deadlines. You must know the answer to questions such as:
- When do taxes need to be filed?
- Which taxes need to be paid and when?
- Are there regulations specific to my industry that I need to be aware of?
Preparing for the coming tax period is vital to avoid any legal complications.
Get A Cloud-based Accounting Software
Managing financial accounts without cloud-based accounting software is a difficult task. Such software helps in keeping track of accounts, making payments and invoices, budgeting, and forecasting, among other tasks. For a comprehensive solution, consider using the best accounting software for small business. It offers advanced features tailored to startups and small businesses, such as automated tax filing, sales reporting, and invoicing in multiple currencies.
Though many software options are available, it is best to invest in software such as FreshBooks because of its numerous advantages. FreshBooks offers a free online bookkeeping course as well as advanced features such as automated tax filing, sales reporting, and invoicing in multiple currencies.
Keep Accurate Records
This is among the most sensitive accounting needs of any business. Regardless of size or type, businesses must keep accurate records of every transaction and account. This includes sales receipts, invoices, and payroll information. Understanding the difference between an invoice vs receipt is essential for keeping accurate records. During tax periods, it is crucial to maintain these records. In case of any problem or query, you can easily refer to the record to find answers.
Hire A Professional
If you are not yet familiar with accounting, it is a good idea to hire a professional accountant. A professional can help you with all financial tasks and ensure everything is done correctly. Accounting professionals can also offer expert advice and guide you in your financial decisions. If you are planning to hire many in-house accountants, you can always rely on accounting project management software to manage them as well as your finance transaction and documents. Until you’re ready to take on accounting specialists full-time on your time, there are plenty of ways to outsource to accounting firms or even freelancers with a bookkeeping side-hustle.
Separate Personal And Business Expenses
For accurate bookkeeping, it is wise to separate personal and business expenses. This makes it easy to track precisely how much money has been spent and where. It also helps you keep accurate records for tax purposes. If you use the same account for both, it may be challenging to distinguish between purchases for personal use and business expenses.
Set Reminders For Delayed Payments
Every business owner knows that delayed payments disrupt cash flow management. To avoid this, always set reminders for payments that need to be made. When invoicing clients, include a payment due date to ensure that payments are made on time.
Send gentle reminders, and try to know the reason for the delay. If some of your clients are not able to pay you on time, discuss a payment plan with them that will be convenient for both parties.
Conclusion
Giving a good kick start to your small business is a job half done, as the other half lies in keeping it financially stable and growing. Accounting is a crucial part of ensuring that your business succeeds, so it is important to ensure you are doing it right. By following the tips discussed in this article, you can ensure that your startup has effective bookkeeping practices in place, focus on generating new ideas, and take your startup business to the next level.
