Why is Bookkeeping Important for Therapists

What is Bookkeeping?

Bookkeeping is the process of recording financial transactions and summarizing them to prepare financial statements. This process can be done manually or by using a computerized accounting software.

A bookkeeper is someone who is responsible for keeping track of the income and expenses of a business. They are also responsible for preparing reports on the financial status of the business, including profit and loss statements, balance sheets, tax returns, etc.

Bookkeeping is not just about numbers; it’s about understanding how money flows through a business and keeping records of those transactions.

Why is Bookkeeping Important?

Bookkeeping is a vital part of any therapy business. It helps keep track of all income, expenses, and profits that a company has made throughout the year.

This helps to make sure that all taxes are being paid on time and in full. Bookkeeping is important for both small and large therapy practices because it helps them stay organized and reduces their chances for errors or discrepancies in their books.

This process can be done manually or electronically with the help of software like QuickBooks Online or Xero. Choosing a bookkeeping method that will work best for your practice is important because it can help save time, money, and reduce your chances for mistakes!

Common Benefits of Bookkeeping for Therapists

• Have a dedicated person, business or software manage your books
• Get updated reports about business spending and cash flow
• Leave stress about payroll and expenses behind
• Hone in on areas for your business to grow
• Avoid tax mistakes at the end of the year

What are Tax Write Offs and Why Are They Important?

Tax write offs are deductions that decrease your taxes, and they can be both personal or business related. There are many different types of tax write offs, but some of the most common ones include:

● Tax deductions for charitable contributions

● Medical expenses

● Employee business expenses

● Tax credits for education expenses and more.

Decreasing your taxes helps your therapy practice make more money and is another way bookkeeping can help your business. A good bookkeeper will find tax write offs that you may have missed and make sure your business qualifies for them.

Should I Use a Bookkeeper or Bookkeeping Service?

The choice of whether to use a bookkeeper or a bookkeeping service is often determined by the size of your therapy practice. A bookkeeping service is more efficient for small or solo therapy practices, while a bookkeeper might be better suited for larger therapy practices.

A bookkeeping service can handle all the accounting and tax filing work in an affordable way. It's also convenient because they don't need to come to your office and do it in person, so you don't have to worry about scheduling a time to meet in person.

Here are common bookkeeping services therapists use:

• Quickbooks
• 1-800Accountant
• Botkeeper

A bookkeeper like Wellness Fi on the other hand, will have more experience with your type of business and can provide more specialized services. They’ll sometimes need to come into your office, and they will be able to provide better guidance on how you can save money on taxes and improve your cash flow.

When Should I Hire a Bookkeeper or Purchase a Bookkeeping Service?

It's always best to make this decision as soon as you can. The longer you wait to keep track of your expenses and income, the longer it takes to prepare your taxes at the end of the year.

Even if you're stuggling with this type of decision, you can always keep track of income and expenses in a spreadsheet. Doing this helps keep a record that any bookkeeper or bookkeeping service can use to help get your business on track for tax season.

There's no right answer for which type of bookkeeping you should try. Just make sure your books are ready when it's time to file your taxes.