The book of numbers

This is about more than recording history, or zeros and ones. Most bookkeeping is naturally focused on what's behind you, but the inherent problem is that you can't hit a target you can't see. There are three ways of doing this. First, there's the do-it-yourself or low-cost bookkeeper, which is only data entry and reconciling accounts; most businesses begin here and it's perfectly fine until you literally outgrow it. Second, there's the certified bookkeeper or public accountant, which is better than the first, but may still be limited in scope (e.g., they don't file taxes or provide advice). Third, there's tax advisory, where we reveal what you can do based on your numbers.

All strategy depends on precise data. If there's commingling of business and personal transactions, you've opened yourself to tax scrutiny and legal liability. If your business's books aren't "clean," then you're making financial decisions based on outdated or potentially erroneous information. You could be spending too much valuable time trying to reconstruct what already happened, when you should be planning what happens next. Furthermore, you're way overpaying taxes because your books aren't clean enough to justify certain tax strategies. Your business and finances deserve more than conjecture.