The One Bookkeeping Habit That’ll Save You Hours at Tax Time
It’s not glamorous—but it beats a tax-time panic attack
Let’s talk about one of the most underrated, time-saving habits in small business bookkeeping: monthly reconciliation.
Yeah, we get it. “Reconciling” sounds like something financial wizards or accountants do in a tower somewhere. But the truth is—it’s a simple habit that can save you hours of stress, confusion, and panic at the end of the year.
So what is reconciliation?
It’s the process of matching your bank and credit card statements to your bookkeeping records. In QuickBooks, this takes just a few clicks, and when done monthly, it keeps your books clean, accurate, and audit-ready.
Here's what happens when you don’t reconcile monthly:
You miss transactions (like income you forgot to record)
You overlook duplicate expenses
You spend 12 straight hours in March trying to clean up a mess from last July
You send your tax pro a spreadsheet titled “Final_Final_ActualThisTime_v3”
On the flip side, when you reconcile monthly:
✅ You catch errors early
✅ You never miss a deduction
✅ Your reports actually reflect your real financial health
✅ Tax season becomes... dare we say, chill?
It’s like changing the oil in your business. Not flashy, not fun—but absolutely essential if you want to avoid a financial breakdown.
I’m Dr. Bryan Raya, QuickBooks ProAdvisor and founder of DBR Bookkeeping. We help small business owners implement smart, simple habits like this one—so they can spend less time stressing over their numbers and more time actually growing their business.
👉 Want support putting systems like this in place?
Join the DBR Bookkeeping Online Community:
https://www.skool.com/dbr-bookkeeping-8561/about
📅 Or schedule a free 30-minute call with me:
https://calendly.com/dbr_bookkeeping/30-minute-zoom-consultation-call
Let’s stop the chaos—and start Doing Business Right!
💬 FAQ: Monthly Reconciliation for Small Business Owners
What does it mean to reconcile an account in bookkeeping?
Reconciliation means matching your bank or credit card statements to your accounting records to ensure accuracy.
How often should I reconcile my accounts?
At least once a month—ideally right after your bank statement is available.
Why is reconciliation important for small businesses?
It helps prevent errors, identify missing transactions, and keeps your books clean for tax filing or audits.
Can I reconcile manually without QuickBooks?
Yes, but software like QuickBooks Online automates the process and saves time—especially if you’re not a numbers person.