How to Do Your Own Bookkeeping as a Small Business Owner?
- JAFA Accountancy
- Apr 4
- 3 min read
Doing your own bookkeeping can feel like one more hat you didn’t ask to wear, but it doesn’t have to be confusing, time-consuming, or overwhelming. This article will help you do your own books as a self-employed or small business owner.
What You Need to Track (And Why It Matters)
Keeping your records in order isn’t just about staying compliant - it also helps you make smarter business decisions and stay in control of your cash flow. Here’s what to track as part of your manual bookkeeping for small business:
Income – Log every payment you receive from customers or clients. This gives you a clear picture of how much your business is earning and helps with your Self Assessment tax return.
Expenses – Track everything you spend for your business - things like software, travel, stock, or your phone bill. These can often be claimed as allowable expenses to lower your tax bill.
Receipts & Invoices – Keep copies of all receipts and issue invoices for every sale. If HMRC ever asks for proof, this is what they’ll want to see.
Bank & Card Transactions – Regularly check your business bank and credit card statements to make sure they match your records. It helps you spot errors and stay accurate.
VAT & Payroll (if applicable) – If you’re VAT-registered or have employees, you’ll also need to keep extra records to meet HMRC requirements like VAT returns and PAYE info.
Simple Weekly and Monthly Bookkeeping Tasks
Bookkeeping doesn’t need to be complicated - just a small, consistent routine you can actually stick to. If you understand the bookkeeping basics, you can avoid letting things pile up and stay ahead with just a little effort each week. Here’s what to do and when:
Weekly Tasks (15–30 mins)
Record income and expenses
Log all payments received and anything you’ve spent for your business (even small things like coffee with a client). You can also look at some bookkeeping examples for a better understanding.
Send invoices
If you’ve completed work or made a sale, send the invoice now - the sooner you send it, the sooner you get paid.
Check your bank feed
Match your bank transactions to what you’ve recorded. It helps you stay accurate and catch any surprises early.
Monthly Tasks (30–60 mins)
Reconcile bank and card statements
Make sure everything lines up with your records. If something’s missing or doesn’t look right, now’s the time to fix it.
Follow up on unpaid invoices
Check who still owes you money and give them a polite nudge. Chasing payments regularly keeps cash flowing.
Review your numbers
Look at what you earned and what you spent this month. This gives you a clear picture of where your business stands.
RECOMMENDED READING: 5 Must-Know Bookkeeping Tips for Small Business
What We Think
Bookkeeping often feels like one more chore on an already packed to-do list, and for many small business owners, it’s one of the most stressful. But it doesn’t need to be complicated or overwhelming.
We believe that once you understand what to track and follow a simple routine, bookkeeping becomes less of a burden and more of a tool to help your business thrive. It gives you control, clarity, and fewer surprises at tax time.
Too often, we see business owners avoid it until it piles up or overthink every detail trying to get it perfect. But perfection isn’t the goal. Consistency is.
You don’t need to be a finance expert. You just need a system that fits your workflow and keeps things ticking along.
How JAFA Can Help
If doing your own bookkeeping feels like too much or just something you don’t want to get wrong, JAFA is here to make it easier.
We automate the time-consuming parts like tracking income, categorising expenses, and reconciling transactions, so you don’t have to spend hours staring at spreadsheets.
You’ll still stay in control of your business finances, but without the stress of doing it all by hand. With real-time insights, automatic reminders, and clean, accurate records, JAFA helps you make better decisions without second-guessing the numbers.
Contact our expert accountants based in Birmingham, UK, either by booking a FREE discovery call or calling us on +44 121 227 6277.
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