Elevated Edge: Spreadsheet Shenanigans

Ahhh, post-tax season. That magical time of year when bookkeepers emerge from their caffeine-fueled caves, blinking into the sunlight like nocturnal creatures who’ve just filed their last return. The receipts have been conquered, the deductions claimed, and the spreadsheets—oh, the spreadsheets—are finally quiet. But just when you think you can kick back and enjoy a celebratory snack that isn’t eaten over your keyboard... BAM! It hits you. “What if next year is just as chaotic?!” Don’t worry, dear business owner. As a seasoned bookkeeper, I’ve seen it all—from shoeboxes overflowing with crumpled receipts to someone trying to claim their cat as an office security guard. (Nice try, but the CRA isn’t buying it.) So, here’s your Post-Tax Season Survival Guide to avoid future financial fiascos and keep next year’s tax season as smooth as your favorite spreadsheet formula. 📂 1. Shoeboxes Are So Last Season— Go Digital ! Look, I get it. Stuffing receipts into a shoebox f...

Hey there, fellow number crunchers! Buckle up for a laugh-filled journey into the world of bookkeeping blunders. As your resident accountant, I've seen it all – from misplaced decimals to expenses disguised as charitable donations (wink, wink). Let's dive into the most common bookkeeping mistakes that can turn your financial statements into a comedy of errors. 1. The "Missing Receipt" Mystery: Remember that amazing coffee you treated yourself to? Or the business lunch that turned into a three-hour networking session? Well, those receipts have a funny way of disappearing into thin air. Don't worry, I've been there too! Just remember, without those receipts, those expenses might as well be a ghost in the machine. 2. The "Categorization Chaos": Let's talk about the art of categorization. Is that new office plant a "furniture expense" or a "motivational investment"? And what about that questionable "entertainment" ...

  Ah, the break room — where productivity goes to die and time gets sucked into a vortex of microwave beeping and questionable small talk. You know the drill. Bob from accounting strolls in for a “quick coffee refill” and 45 minutes later, he’s somehow deep in a philosophical debate about whether pineapple belongs on pizza. (Spoiler: It doesn’t, Bob. It just doesn’t.) Meanwhile, your top employee went to “check on the printer” and mysteriously ended up eating their third donut while watching a YouTube deep dive on ancient aliens. 🚨 Signs Your Break Room is a Black Hole: ✅ The microwave has reheated the same sad lunch three times before anyone claims it. ✅ Employees mysteriously disappear for “ just 5 minutes ” and come back 30 minutes later, suspiciously full. ✅ The vending machine has more foot traffic than your actual business. ⏰ Time Theft: It’s Real, and It’s Snack-Powered Time theft isn’t just someone clocking in late — it’s those “quick breaks” that stretc...

Hey there, hardworking business owner! Let me guess—bookkeeping is your absolute favorite part of running a business, right? No? You’d rather wrestle an alligator while juggling chainsaws? Thought so. Here’s the deal: you didn’t start your business because you have a deep, passionate love for reconciling bank statements or categorizing expenses . (And if you did, you should probably come work for us.) You started your business because you’re great at what you do—whether it’s building things, fixing things, or creating jaw-dropping tattoos, or making awesome food, selling amazing products....etc...I think you get the hint. But now, numbers are haunting your dreams. Invoices pile up faster than dirty dishes. And tax season? That’s just a horror movie with a sequel every year. Why Outsourcing Your Bookkeeping is the Smartest Move Since Sliced Bread (Which was also probably invented by someone who didn’t have to do their own bookkeeping.) 1. You Get to Do What You Actually Love ...

Ah, the noble bookkeeper! The unsung hero of the financial world, tirelessly balancing ledgers and reconciling accounts. But even heroes have their kryptonite, and for many bookkeepers, the daunting task of setting up accounting software can feel like navigating a maze filled with mischievous gremlins. Buckle up, accounting adventurers; let’s embark on a hilarious journey through the frustrations of this digital age quest! Chapter 1: The Promise of Efficiency Picture this: You’re sipping your coffee, scrolling through your favorite accounting software advertisements, and reading phrases like "easy setup" and "one-click integration." Your heart races with excitement! Finally, a solution that promises to eradicate your endless Excel spreadsheets and endless paper trails. After all, the dream of effortless bookkeeping is just a download away, right? Chapter 2: Enter the Digital Labyrinth Fast forward to the installation phase. You feel like a modern-day Ind...

Ah, the glamorous life of a stay-at-home bookkeeper. Visions of meticulously organized ledgers, serene quiet, and the gentle click-clack of a well-loved mechanical keyboard, right? Wrong. So very, very wrong. Let's dispel the myths, shall we? Here's a glimpse into the chaotic, caffeine-fueled, and surprisingly hilarious world of yours truly: 8:00 AM: The Battle for the Desk My "office" is a corner of the bedoom. It's a prime location, strategically positioned between the bookshelf (coffee!) and the living room (potential for mid-morning cat cuddles from my roommate's cat). However, it's also a battleground. My opponent? Also the cat. He believes my keyboard is a musical instrument, my mouse is a chew toy, and my calculator is a seat. 8:30 AM: Coffee and Chaos Armed with a vat of coffee (because, let's be honest, we're not fooling anyone with a dainty mug), I attempt to reconcile bank statements. This involves deciphering cryptic descrip...

  Alright, folks, gather 'round! Your friendly neighbourhood bookkeeper's here, and today we're ditching the spreadsheets for a hot minute to talk about something almost as exciting as a perfectly balanced ledger: social media managers! Now, I know what you're thinking. "A bookkeeper talking about social media? What's next, unicorns filing tax returns?" But trust me, as someone who sees the actual numbers of your business, I can tell you why a social media wiz is worth their weight in (digital) gold. From Red Ink to Rainbow Emojis: Why Your Small Biz Needs a Social Media Sidekick! Let's face it. You started your small business because you're passionate about what you do. You're a baker, a plumber, a handcrafted widget wizard! You're not a professional meme creator or a hashtag ninja. But in today's world, that online presence is crucial. And trying to juggle it all while running your business? Honey, that's a recipe for burnout. ...

  Alright, folks, gather 'round! Let's talk about something that can make or break your shiny new business: Cash Flow! (Cue dramatic music... but make it funky.)

As a bookkeeper, you know that the world of technology is constantly changing. New software and tools are being released all the time, and it can be hard to keep up. But don't worry, I'm here to help! In this blog post, I'm going to share some of the latest and greatest technology and software that's available to bookkeepers. Cloud Accounting Software One of the biggest trends in bookkeeping right now is cloud accounting software. This type of software allows you to access your client's data from anywhere in the world, as long as you have an internet connection. This can be a major time-saver, especially if you're working with clients who are located in different time zones. Some of the most popular cloud accounting software programs include Xero, QuickBooks Online, and FreshBooks. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Another trend that's starting to gain traction in the bookkeeping world is artificial intelligence (AI). AI can be used to automate a numb...