5 Biggest Bookkeeping Mistakes in Year 3 of Business (for Creatives)

By year three, your creative business is growing — more clients, more projects, more income. But with growth comes complexity, and messy books can stall your momentum.

Here are the 5 most common mistakes creative entrepreneurs make in year 3:

1. Still Treating Your Finances Like a Side Hustle

By now, this is a business — not a hobby. But many creatives still manage money like it’s year one.
✅ Upgrade to QuickBooks Online and get serious about tracking income, expenses, and project profitability.

2. Not Separating Income Streams

Selling digital products, taking freelance gigs, and offering workshops? Great — but are you tracking each income stream separately?
✅ Proper categorization helps you see what’s most profitable and scale smart.

3. Skipping Monthly Reconciliation

If you’re not reconciling bank and PayPal accounts monthly, you’re leaving room for errors.
✅ Regular checks keep your books clean — and your taxes easier.

4. Avoiding Financial Reports

Creative brains avoid spreadsheets — but financial reports are your business GPS.
✅ Review your Profit & Loss statement every month to stay on course.

5. Waiting Too Long to Get Help

DIY bookkeeping works… until it doesn’t. Year 3 is often when creative burnout hits hard.
✅ Bring in a pro to help clean up your QuickBooks and set you up for long-term success.

🎯 Book a Free Creative-Focused Call

Need help untangling your QBO and finally understanding your numbers?
Book a free call with Dr. Bryan Raya, QuickBooks ProAdvisor:
👉 https://calendly.com/dbr_bookkeeping/book-a-free-call-with-dbr

Let’s start Doing Business Right.
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