A simple Daily Bookkeeping Routine for Your Small Business
Daily Bookkeeping Routine for Small Business Owners
Stay organized and avoid financial chaos with this 15–20 minute daily routine:
Table of Contents

1. Record All Transactions
- Log every sale, expense, and payment made.
- Use your accounting software (e.g., QuickBooks, Wave, Xero) or a spreadsheet.
- Be specific: include date, vendor/customer, amount, and category.
2. Save Receipts & Invoices
- Digitally upload receipts using a scanner app or photo.
- Organize them by date and category in cloud storage or within your accounting tool.
3. Match Transactions to Bank Feeds
- If your accounting software syncs with your bank, review and match new transactions.
- Correctly categorize each expense or deposit.
4. Check for Outstanding Payments
- Review invoices you’ve sent—mark paid or follow up on overdue items.
- Look for any unpaid bills or vendor payments that need attention.
5. Update Cash Flow or Spending Tracker
- Quickly review how much money came in vs. went out.
- Note any unexpected spikes or drops to investigate further.
6. Backup Your Data
- If using spreadsheets, save a copy to the cloud.
- Set up automatic backups if possible for peace of mind.
Optional: End-of-Day Review (5 min)
- Glance at your financial dashboard to see the day’s totals.
- Prep any receipts or notes for tomorrow’s tasks.
Pro Tip: Pick the same time each day (like the end of your workday) and treat it like brushing your teeth—small daily habits prevent big messes later.
Extra Pro Tip: Save receipts as you go, it makes it so much easier to track as you go.
If I pay something online or from my phone I always save the receipt as a PDF with the date and vendor name in the file name. Keeping a digital backup makes it easier to locate the receipts if you need them later.
Resources
How to Set Up a Simple Bookkeeping System — Even If You Hate Numbers
Think Tax Write-Offs Give You Money Back? Not Quite—Understanding the Difference Matters!
10 Easy Bookkeeping Tips Every Small Business Owner Should Know