{"id":17584,"date":"2024-12-07T23:15:06","date_gmt":"2024-12-07T23:15:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heyerinc.com\/2024\/12\/07\/a-year-end-accounting-checklist-for-your-southeastern-fl-business\/"},"modified":"2024-12-07T23:15:06","modified_gmt":"2024-12-07T23:15:06","slug":"a-year-end-accounting-checklist-for-your-southeastern-fl-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/07\/a-year-end-accounting-checklist-for-your-southeastern-fl-business\/","title":{"rendered":"A Year-End Accounting Checklist for Your Southeastern FL Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"pme-content\">\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">Black Friday may be for big corporations but small business Saturday might be for your Southeastern FL business. Are you taking advantage of it?&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">I think in this environment of so much broken trust, a small business &#8212; like yours perhaps? &#8212; can steal market share by being authentic and full of integrity. So you have a true opportunity.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">But we can ride the Black Friday coattails and remember that customers will absolutely look for deals this time of year. After all, everything is a lot more expensive than before (despite the Fed saying inflation is cooling).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><i>But deals and discounts aren&#8217;t everything.<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">People ARE willing to invest in businesses they believe in, but they can\u2019t if they never find out about you.&nbsp;<strong>Do Southeastern FL people know what you\u2019re all about?&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">If not, that\u2019s something you want to&nbsp;<i>prioritize<\/i>.&nbsp;<u>There\u2019s still time this week to do it.<\/u> The U.S. Chamber of Commerce even has this&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uschamber.com\/toolkit\/shop-small-business\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;\"><u>\u201ctoolkit\u201d<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"> to help you get started.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">Because doing even just a little promotion and talking about it on socials, in email blasts, and even by word of mouth will put it on people\u2019s radar. While you can\u2019t make the \u201chorses drink\u201d you can lead them to the good water (aka your business). If you don\u2019t, they\u2019ll find the closest watering hole every time.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">We\u2019ve got more to say about that if you want some outside insight. Or if you just want some professional guidance on bookkeeping, accounting, or any other business financial decision, don\u2019t hesitate to reach out:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting\">calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">But, with regard to your books, I\u2019d like to start that conversation right here today. We\u2019re in the last month of 2024 and there are year-end accounting things to get done before it\u2019s over. Let me show you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><\/span><span class=\"text-huge\" style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;\"><strong>A Year-End Accounting Checklist for Your Southeastern FL Business<\/strong><\/span><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/span><br \/><span class=\"text-small\" style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><i>\u201cOpportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.\u201d&nbsp; \u2013Thomas Edison<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">EOY is closing in quickly \u2013 which means you\u2019re probably juggling too many year-end priorities for your business. Hopefully, bookkeeping is somewhere near the top of your list.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Because even seemingly minor bookkeeping mistakes from this year that sneak into 2025 unnoticed can mean&nbsp;<i>significant<\/i> tax penalties when filing season arrives and can result in skewed budgeting and cash flow problems.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">You want to close the books in 2024 with a clear conscience, and a solid grasp of your business\u2019s financial standing \u2013 so you\u2019re in the best position to have a financially healthy 2025.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">So, here\u2019s a short bookkeeping checklist to help you during your year-end accounting process:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><strong><u>1. Gather Your Financial Records<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">You\u2019ll want to start with the big three \u2013 your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Overall, you\u2019re checking for the accuracy of your records by 1) making sure all income streams match your invoices and are properly categorized, 2) making sure expenses are categorized correctly and are supported by receipts or documentation, and 3) identifying any overlooked deductions (like mileage or equipment depreciation, for instance).&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><strong><u>2. Reconcile Your Bank Accounts<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Start by gathering your bank statements for all your business accounts (including credit cards and loans) for the year. Then pull out your general ledger or bookkeeping software for comparison.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">You\u2019ll want to check that\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Your opening and closing balances for the year match.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Every deposit, withdrawal, and transfer matches your records.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Items to be reconciled (outstanding checks or deposits) are clear in the next statement period.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Any duplicate or missing entries, or transposed numbers, are adjusted in your records in the correct category. (Or, if it\u2019s a problem on the bank\u2019s side, give them a ring as soon as you can.)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><strong><u>3. Get Payroll Records in Order<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Make sure everything is squared away with your payroll records by comparing them with your general ledger and bank statements. Check that wages, taxes withheld, and benefits all match up (and that all payroll tax deposits have been reported, either on&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-941\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u>Form 941<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> for quarterly or<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-944\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u> Form 944<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> for annual).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">If you find something\u2019s amiss, you\u2019ll need to file adjustments with the IRS through&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-941-x\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u>Form 941-X<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> ASAP.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Then, get a head start on prepping employee tax forms (which have to be distributed by January 31). You\u2019ll use&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-w-2\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u>Forms W-2<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> and<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-w-3\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u> W-3<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> for employees, and&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.irs.gov\/forms-pubs\/about-form-1099-nec\"><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#1155cc;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><u>Form 1099-NEC<\/u><\/span><\/a><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"> for contractors or freelancers. (And if all these IRS forms have your head spinning, my door is always open for a chat:&nbsp;<\/span><span style=\"background-color:#ffffff;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting\">calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/span><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\"><strong><u>4. Review Payables and Receivables<\/u><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Now, if you use an accrual accounting system: You need to review your payables (outstanding bills sent to you) and receivables (outstanding invoices you\u2019ve sent out) to see if you need to settle any missing invoices during this year-end accounting process.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">For receivables \u2013 you\u2019ll want to run an aging report (a tool most accounting softwares offer to keep track of invoices and amounts owed) to find overdue invoices. Contact these customers who have yet to pay as soon as possible, because uncollected receivables can still count as taxable income.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">And be sure to cross-check your accounts receivable ledger with your income records for any missing payments.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;font-family:Georgia, serif;\">Then, for payables: Run an aging report to get an overview of your unpaid bills, and figure out which ones you need to pay first to avoid penalties and fees. Check vendor statements to make sure all your bills are recorded, accrue for outstanding expenses (like utilities or services performed), and make sure any recurring payments are recorded for the full year.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">Now, this is just a basic checklist to help you in the midst of the year-end accounting mayhem you\u2019re probably feeling. Believe me \u2013 double-checking your records in these areas will go a long way in setting you up for an easy tax season next year (and helping you achieve your 2025 financial goals).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">Want to talk more about how year-end bookkeeping can start your Miami Metropolitan business off on the right footing next year? Grab a time on my calendar:<\/span><br \/><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting\">calendly.com\/ralfheyer\/30-minute-meeting<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\">To better financial groundwork,<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><strong>Ralf Heyer<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"background-color:transparent;color:#000000;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<style>.pme-content {\n\tfont-size: 1.2em\n}<\/p>\n<p>.text-tiny {\n\tfont-size: .7em\n}<\/p>\n<p>.text-small {\n\tfont-size: .85em\n}<\/p>\n<p>.text-big {\n\tfont-size: 1.4em\n}<\/p>\n<p>.text-huge {\n\tfont-size: 1.8em\n}<\/p>\n<p>.marker-yellow {\n\tbackground-color: #fdfd77\n}<\/p>\n<p>.marker-green {\n\tbackground-color: #63f963\n}<\/p>\n<p>.marker-pink {\n\tbackground-color: #fc7999\n}<\/p>\n<p>.marker-blue {\n\tbackground-color: #72cdfd\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pen-red {\n\tcolor: #e91313\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pen-green,\n.pen-red {\n\tbackground-color: transparent\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pen-green {\n\tcolor: #180\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pme-content blockquote {\n\toverflow: hidden;\n\tpadding-right: 1.5em;\n\tpadding-left: 1.5em;\n\tmargin-left: 0;\n\tfont-style: italic;\n\tborder-left: 5px solid #ccc\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pme-content .image img {\n\tdisplay: block;\n\tmargin: 0 auto;\n\tmax-width: 100%\n}<\/p>\n<p>figure.image {\n    text-align: center;\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pme-content figcaption {\n\tcolor: #333;\n\tbackground-color: #f7f7f7;\n\tpadding: .6em;\n\tfont-size: .75em;\n\toutline-offset: -1px\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pme-content .image-style-align-left {\n\tfloat: left\n}\n.pme-content .image-style-align-right {\n\tfloat: right\n}\n.pme-content .image-style-align-center,\n.pme-content .image-style-align-left,\n.pme-content .image-style-align-right,\n.pme-content .image-style-side {\n\tmax-width: 50%\n}<\/p>\n<p>.pme-content .image {\n\tposition: relative;\n\toverflow: hidden;\n\tclear: both;\n\ttext-align: center\n}<\/style>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Black Friday may be for big corporations but small business Saturday might be for your Southeastern FL business. Are you taking advantage of it?&nbsp; I think in this environment of so much broken trust, a small business &#8212; like yours perhaps? &#8212; can steal market share by being authentic and full of integrity. So you have a true opportunity. But we can ride the Black Friday coattails and remember that&#8230; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/2024\/12\/07\/a-year-end-accounting-checklist-for-your-southeastern-fl-business\/\">Read More<a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":17583,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-17584","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-uncategorized","8":"entry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=17584"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17584\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=17584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=17584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.heyerinc.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=17584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}