{"id":1514,"date":"2024-05-17T11:04:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-17T10:04:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/accountants247glasgowsouth.co.uk\/?p=1514"},"modified":"2024-05-17T11:04:41","modified_gmt":"2024-05-17T10:04:41","slug":"5-common-accounting-mistakes-and-how-to-avoid-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/accountants247glasgowsouth.co.uk\/?p=1514","title":{"rendered":"5 common accounting mistakes (and how to avoid them)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Starting a business can be a challenging experience, especially when it comes to managing your numbers and staying on top of your financial management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unless you\u2019ve got some experience in finance, the bookkeeping and accounting requirements can be quite daunting. And even with today\u2019s helpful cloud accounting platforms and fintech apps, there\u2019s always the possibility of making a simple accounting mistake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, what are the most common accounting mistakes made by business owners? And what can you do to avoid these pitfalls and keep your finances looking healthy and shipshape?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The top five accounting mistakes to avoid<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Doing the books\u2019 is unlikely to be your favourite part of running a small business. But the better your accounting know-how and skills, the more oversight you have over the financial path (and future success) of your company. It really is that simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there are plenty of traps that a newbie owner can fall into \u2013 and even a few hurdles that the more experienced business owner may trip over from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s take a look at the five most common accounting mistakes:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Mixing your personal and business finances \u2013 when you don\u2019t separate your personal and business transactions, this blurs the lines and makes it difficult to track your income and expenses accurately. It can also lead to personal spending being counted as business deductions, causing tax issues later on.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Solution: Open separate business and personal bank accounts and keep them entirely separate and distinct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Skipping the record-keeping process \u2013 if you fail to keep receipts, log your invoices and keep proper records this can be a major problem further down the road. Detailed records are crucial for tax filing, budgeting and identifying spending trends.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Solution: keep digital copies of all receipts and be sure to keep your bookkeeping up to date and well-managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Miscategorising your expenses \u2013 throwing all your expenses under \u2018miscellaneous\u2019 makes it far harder to analyse your spending and cashflow. With every item of expenditure logged under a specific code from your Chart of Accounts, you can quickly run reports, review your spending and look at ways to improve budgets and cashflow.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Solution: Categorise your expenses properly (rent, marketing, supplies etc.) to understand where your money goes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Winging it when filing your taxes \u2013 Taxation is complicated and it\u2019s easy to make costly mistakes if you\u2019re not prepared and organised. Don\u2019t wait until tax season to sort everything out and make sure you\u2019re aware of all your business tax liabilities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          Solution: Set aside funds for taxes throughout the year, and consider consulting an accountant or tax adviser to ensure you\u2019re filing correctly and taking advantage of all potential government deductions and tax incentives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Failing to get proper accounting advice \u2013 if managing your finances becomes overwhelming, don\u2019t be a hero. Cloud accounting software can automate some of the key tasks, and a bookkeeper can handle day-to-day record-keeping.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Solution: think about outsourcing and partnering with an experienced accounting firm to get real peace of mind and improved financial management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Talk to the Accountants247 team in Glasgow\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0about outsourcing your key accounting tasks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            You didn\u2019t start your business to spend hours working on your bookkeeping and accounts. Why not outsource your key accounting tasks to us, and put those hours back into your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            As your accounting partner, we can:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n