4 Accounting Mistakes to Avoid for Your Business

Everyone makes mistakes from time to time, but you should try not to do anything that can have serious consequences for your business. For example, clerical errors in accounting can put your bottom line in jeopardy if they are left unchecked. The emergence of online accounting tools has made it easier to keep accurate records, but such tools won’t prevent you from making mistakes with your accounting.  

How can you avoid these business mistakes?

Become more aware of common pitfalls and nipping problems in the bud. Not only will this save your business time and money, but streamlining your operations also gives you a competitive edge. In this article, we've made a list of the most common accounting errors and the best ways to avoid them.

#1 - Failing to Follow Accounting Procedures

Businesses of all types and scales are required to strictly follow a formal, documented, and detailed accounting procedure to ensure all tasks are performed accurately and consistently. After all, accounting goes beyond crunching numbers for your company. It also involves gathering valuable data from vendors, contractors, and customers. One way to maintain procedures is by developing standardized forms and checklists, which should include the vendor or customer's name, address, telephone number, insurance certificates, signed contracts, and Business Number (BN). This will enable your business to run smoothly and process payments with minimal oversight. 

#2 - Forgetting to Record Small Transactions

It's easy to overlook petty cash transactions, but you need to take all of your expenditures into account no matter how insignificant they may seem. Even the smallest mistake can lead to an inaccurate conclusion, which will affect your company's overall accounting records. Staying on top of all transactions makes it easier to manage big ones and leaves little room for miscalculations.

#3 - Failing to Categorize Income and Expenses Properly

It's crucial to know where cash is coming from and how it is spent to show financial transparency and maximize profitability. Categorizing a company's income and expenses is a tried and tested way of having a clear overview of all transactions, including rent, utilities, wages, office supplies, and more. Separating a company's income from its expenses enables business owners to set up a budget. It will also allow for the creation of accurate financial records, which are needed for tax purposes. Such records will also help you determine where you can cut back on your spending.

#4 - Failing to Reconcile Books with Bank Accounts

This step is the one that most business owners fail to complete. Entering transactions is one thing, but actually reconciling your bank and credit card accounts is another. What you're doing when reconciling is confirming that what was entered into your books matches what went through your accounts. This is important because it catches any errors that may have occurred while you were completing the bookkeeping.

Knowing about these 4 mistakes will help ensure your bookkeeping is accurate and usable each month, quarter, and year-end.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you with your bookkeeping.