How to Tell When It’s Time to Hire a Bookkeeper

Running a small business means juggling a lot. You wear every hat — sales, customer service, marketing, and somewhere in there, bookkeeping. For a while, doing it all might work. Then one day, the numbers stop making sense, or you’re avoiding QuickBooks altogether. That’s usually the sign. It’s time for help.

Signs You’re Ready to Bring in a Bookkeeper

• You’re more than a month behind on your books.

• Bank feeds are connected, but nothing is categorized.

• You hesitate to open QuickBooks because you know it’s a mess.

• Receipts are scattered in emails and screenshots.

• Your CPA asks for reports you can’t pull.

• Cash feels tight even when sales are good.

• You spend hours each week trying to catch up.

• Tax time gives you instant stress.

If a few of these hit home, that’s your cue it's time to look for some support.

What a Good Bookkeeper Handles for You

• Weekly categorizing and reconciliations.

• Tracking income, expenses, and receipts.

• Customer invoicing and payment matching.

• Payroll coordination and sales tax tracking.

• Monthly financial reports that make sense.

• Cleanup when things have fallen behind.

A bookkeeper doesn’t just organize — they help you breathe easier.

Why Waiting Costs You

When your books are behind, it’s not only about stress. It’s about money.

• Late fees and missed payments start stacking up.

• Tax write-offs slip through the cracks.

• You make decisions without clear numbers.

• Profit hides in forgotten subscriptions or unused tools.

Time spent untangling those mistakes is time not spent growing your business.

How to Make the Switch Smooth

Hiring a bookkeeper isn’t complicated, but you’ll want to make it easy for both of you.

• Invite them to QuickBooks Online.

• Share the last six months of bank statements.

• Send over payroll reports and tax filings.

• Pick one weekly update day and one monthly review day.

That’s it. A good bookkeeper does the rest.

When Ongoing Support Makes Sense

• You want steady books every week.

• You want to stop dreading tax time.

• You want better clarity on cash flow.

• You want someone keeping an eye on the numbers while you run your business.

When you’re ready for calm, consistency, and confidence — ongoing support gives you all three.

Next Step

If you’re ready to get back on track, schedule a short call. We’ll look at what’s working, what’s not, and where to start. Pacific Rise Financials helps small businesses in Oregon and Washington keep their books clean, clear, and under control.