Accounting isn’t the fun side of running a business unless you are an accountant, and numbers are indeed what you do for a living. But for the majority of people, accounts are a chore, a necessity, if you will, and sadly, a really important task that, if neglected, can be the downfall of the empire you’re building.
And if you’re one of those people nodding along at your absolute detest of running the numbers, fear not. It doesn’t need to be something you dread. There are a handful of tools you can utilise that can make life easier and take over the hard work for you, saving you time, money, and stress.
Accounting Software
Let’s start with the big one. Accounting software can be a lifesaver. Moving from that box of recipes to a digital system that actually makes sense will revolutionise your life. It can keep track of income, expenses, invoices, tax – pretty much everything you likely hate about running your business, all in one nice, neat place. And the bonus – if you pick something that is already compatible with the new making tax digital rules, then you’re ahead of the curve when the government rolls this out starting April 2026.
Receipt Scanners
We’ve all been there. One minute, you had the receipt in your hand; the next, it vanished into thin air. And with so many hiding places, hunting them down can be an absolute nightmare if you’re not the most organised of people. What you need to do is turn your phone into a digital receipt scanner, thanks to handy apps that can snap your receipt and store it, meaning no more rifling through your glove box looking for your last petrol station receipt or having to read through the smear of jam on the invoice from your suppliers because you’re eating lunch, aka a jam doughnut, in the car between meetings.
Expense Trackers
It’s those little spends that sneak up on you, and no, that jam doughnut probably won’t be counted as expenses if we’re being honest, that’s just wishful thinking. But it’s your coffees for your client meetings, travel, supplies, and another software subscription you forgot to cancel again. It all adds up, and using an expenses tracker can help you see where the money is going out or coming in, and keep it all visible so you know exactly where you are and what is going on. No more guessing where your money went, you have it all laid out clearly in front of you.
Cloud Storage
Cloud storage isn’t just for your pictures on your phone, so you don’t lose your 35679 dog pics because your memory is full. It’s a safe online space where you can dump all of your financial bits without worrying about where they are. Bank statements, payroll, contracts, etc, you can store them all in one central location, ready for when you need them.
None of these tools will make accounting more fun for you if you hate it, but they will make it easier and chip away at the stress so you’re not there at 11 p.m. on 31 January trying to find everything you need to submit your tax return.
