The Ledger · Blog
Plain-English notes on bookkeeping, taxes and running the numbers of a small business.
- What a year-end close actually is"Closing the books" sounds like a ceremony accountants perform. It's really a checklist. Here's the checklist, in the order that makes sense.3 min read
- Leaving QuickBooks: what actually moves overSwitching accounting software sounds like a nightmare. Most of it is a weekend of careful exporting. Here's what comes with you, what doesn't, and how to know nothing got lost.3 min read
- Do I need an accountant, or just better books?Sometimes you need a professional. Sometimes you just need your records in order. Here's how to tell the difference, and how to make the most of an accountant when you do hire one.3 min read
- Cash vs accrual, in plain EnglishTwo ways to decide when money counts. Pick the wrong one for your business and your profit number quietly stops meaning what you think it means.3 min read
- Bookkeeping for online sellersThat deposit from Shopify, Amazon or Etsy isn't your revenue. Here's what's hiding inside it, and how to keep books that tell you whether you're actually making money.3 min read
Get the year-end close checklist
Seven stages and 46 checks, from the last transaction to a locked year. A printable 4-page PDF.