Bookkeeping - Keeping on top of your company accounts

Accurate bookkeeping is a necessary evil when you run your own business.

There are three reasons you need to be on top of the money coming in and going out. HMRC will need information from you at some point (whether you are a sole trader or run a limited company); you need to know if you have enough cash to get you through the month (cash flow); and finally it’s good to know whether or not you are actually making a profit!

Here are your essential bookkeeping do’s and don’ts:

DO

Keep simple records of earnings and expenditure

Bookkeeping can be quite a basic system, where you record money in and money out. In a spreadsheet or even just a book, keep a record of money received in one column, and money paid in another column. You will need to break down how you spent and earned the money (i.e. rent, wages, invoice numbers) to get the information the taxman needs.

Get into the habit

Put aside a regular time each week or month to do your bookkeeping. Many owners of small businesses do it in the evenings or weekends.

Keep your paperwork safe

If your receipts are all over the place, it will make your bookkeeping an even harder task. Have a box that every receipt and paid invoice goes in. If you work from home, try to keep business paperwork away from personal paperwork… and remember that children + jam = sticky paperwork. Keep cheque book stubs and other irreplaceable documents in a fire proof safe.

Give each invoice a unique number

Set up a simple system and stick to it. For example issue invoice 58, then 59, then 60. Not many new businesses want to start with invoice number 1 – it’s OK to start at invoice 50, as long as you have a note in your files to explain it.

Keep petty cash receipts

It’s easy to dip into the petty cash without recording it. Get into the habit of writing down what you spend petty cash on, and ensuring you get a receipt for everything.

Monitor turnover

If your taxable turnover for the last 12 months is over the VAT threshold, or could go over the threshold in the next month, you will have to register for VAT. The threshold is currently £68,000 (from 1/5/2009 - previously it was £67,000). You can learn more about taxable turnover and how to register here.

Check your bank statements

Your statements should match your bookkeeping records. If they don’t then either you or the bank has made a mistake.

Invest in accounting software

While it’s easy to use a simple spreadsheet, investing in proper accounts software will help you get more information out of your figures. Plus it could save you money, as it prepares information in a format preferred by your accountant. The most popular option here is Sage.

Hire a professional bookkeeper

A qualified bookkeeper could be one of the best investments you ever make. They will help keep your company’s finances on track and give you the financial information you need, while you focus on what you do best.

To find a book-keeper, ask other business owners in your area to recommend one, or contact the Institute of Certified Book-keepers - thousands of qualified bookkeepers are members - and they can put you in touch with one of its members near you.

DON’T

Make paperwork complicated or look suspicious

Paperwork should be simple. The more difficult you make it, the more it looks like you are trying to hide something. One practice that some new businesses do is “skip” invoice numbers, to make it look like they have more clients than they actually do. This is bad practice, and could leave you open to a tax investigation down the line.

Get behind with your bookkeeping

Leaving great piles of paper lying around waiting to be processed is a sloppy way to run a business. Not only will you not really know what’s happening financially, but the chances of losing paperwork are higher.

Mix personal and business expenditure

This applies if you are a sole trader or run a limited company. Keep personal and business spending clear and separate. You should have different bank accounts, so ensure you are using the correct one. If you do accidentally pay for a business expense from a personal account, that’s OK, just claim the expenses from your business.

Mistake your limited company’s money for “your” money

If you own a limited company, remember that it is a separate legal entity and therefore the money belongs to it, not to you… even if you own it 100%. If you want to spend money belonging to a limited company on something personal, you must first take the money out using one of the main three methods.

Throw anything away

You need to keep all paperwork including invoices and receipts for at least six years. Some accountants advise you keep records for longer than that, in case of any future investigation.