We recently moved, and as you can imagine, we had some furniture that needed to be assembled. Which brings me to the age-old question—especially for married couples: Are you someone who reads the instructions before putting things together? Or do you just wing it and figure it out as you go, without any help or directions? I feel like, in most marriages, these two personality types are married to each other. So… can you guess which one I am and which one my husband is?
We’re diving into why it’s important to get proper training on QuickBooks—or really, whatever bookkeeping platform you use. I’ll be speaking specifically about QuickBooks because it’s my favorite and the one I know best. But even if you’re not a QuickBooks user, don’t tune me out just yet—there’s still a lot of value here for you.
Just a heads-up: I’m not going to cover whether QuickBooks is the right bookkeeping system. But if that’s something you’re wondering about, I do have other blogs where I talk about that in detail.
So, if you guessed that I’m the person who reads the instructions first—you’re right. Whether it’s putting together furniture or learning a new board game, I almost always read the directions in advance. But I also know that many of the people I work with are the opposite. They like to jump right in, get their hands on things, and figure it out as they go—sometimes never looking at the instructions at all.
Today, I want to convince you that bookkeeping—especially with a system like QuickBooks—is not something you want to wing. You’re going to want proper QuickBooks training before diving in.
The first reason I’m so passionate about this is because it’s important to have a base knowledge of bookkeeping in general.
In a previous blog, I share several reasons why I think every business owner should DIY their bookkeeping for at least a season. In fact, I mentioned that two clients had money stolen from them by bookkeepers they trusted.
Now, I’m not saying this to bash bookkeepers—there are a lot of great ones out there. But it’s crucial that you, as the business owner, understand what’s going on in your books. I’ve had multiple clients come to me saying, “I don’t think my bookkeeper knows what they’re doing… but I don’t know enough to be sure.” That uncertainty is exactly what I want to help you avoid.
Bookkeeping can feel overwhelming, but it really is simple enough that the average business owner can understand it. Yes, there are some more complex principles, but the foundational pieces are totally doable. And I hope every time you listen to this show, you walk away believing that.
The first reason to get some training is simple—because it’s really important.But let’s go deeper.
The second reason comes from working with several clients who have all shared a common experience: a nagging feeling that they’re not doing something right.
There’s no peace of mind—just overwhelm and anxiety. Thoughts like “Am I doing this correctly?” or “Am I going to mess something up?” are incredibly common. And those doubts can be paralyzing. They stop you from actually sitting down and doing your own bookkeeping because you’re afraid of doing it wrong. Training helps eliminate that fear and equips you with the knowledge you need to move forward with confidence.
The third reason builds on that: to avoid paralysis.
This is something I see a lot, especially in the early stages. People often start out motivated. Maybe you saw something encouraging on Instagram or Facebook about getting your finances in order or developing a strong money mindset. You feel fired up… until you actually open the bookkeeping software. And suddenly, it’s like a deer-in-the-headlights moment. You freeze. You end up paying for a subscription you never use, avoiding the system entirely, and feeling more anxious as time goes on. I don’t want that for you. I want you to feel fully equipped to complete the tasks you need to complete and to do them quickly and simply. Training is key to preventing that cycle of paralysis, procrastination, and wasted money.
The fourth reason why training is essential is because it’s so much easier to set things up correctly from the beginning than to clean up a mess later.
Now, I don’t want you to panic if you’ve already started and feel like things aren’t perfect—that’s okay. QuickBooks can absolutely get messy, but it’s always fixable. That’s something I hope you take away from this: yes, mistakes happen, but they can be corrected. Still, if you’re in the early stages of using QuickBooks or any bookkeeping platform, it will save you a lot of time, stress, and money to get proper training upfront. It’s much more cost-effective to invest in learning how to use the system correctly than to hire someone like me or another bookkeeper later on to clean up mistakes.
And if you’ve already been using QuickBooks but aren’t quite sure if you’ve been doing things right—don’t worry. You’re not too far gone. Don’t let anything I’ve said make you feel behind or discouraged. We can absolutely fix what’s already happened. But if you’re new, take this as your sign to get some training sooner rather than later. It’ll make all the difference.
The fifth reason training is so important is simple: in business, we get trained on all kinds of systems—and bookkeeping is no different.
If you’re a business owner, this is just part of the deal. I want to encourage you to think about how you can build some training into your budget. I see so many people waste hours digging through YouTube or sitting on hold with QuickBooks support, hoping for answers. The truth is, if you had the right training from the start, you wouldn’t be wasting all that time. You’d be able to focus on what really matters and get the help you need in a way that actually moves you forward.
One of the biggest issues with relying on free videos or online forums is that they’re often long and scattered. You end up sitting through an hour-long tutorial to find the one minute that answers your specific question. That’s frustrating—and a major time suck. So if you’re looking for training, make sure it’s direct, helpful, and tailored to what you actually need. The goal is not just to watch content—it’s to save time and get results.
Now, the sixth and final reason—my favorite—is the confidence and empowerment that training brings.
And don’t just take my word for it—let me share a few things clients have said after getting proper training on QuickBooks. One client told me she finally felt competent with her numbers and finances. Before working with me, she felt totally overwhelmed. But now? She has the tools she needs to grow her profit because her finances are finally clear.
Another client admitted she felt buried at first—just overwhelmed from getting behind. But now, she says she feels relieved and back in control. And one of my favorite pieces of feedback came from a client who said, “There was so much stress because of a lack of understanding. I now feel confident that we have a well-rounded, responsible system that is working for us.” I love that.
All of these stories have a common thread: they started from a place of confusion, chaos, and stress—and through training, they got clarity and confidence. That’s the power of learning how to use your bookkeeping system in a way that works for you, not against you.
So, if you’ve been wondering why I’m talking so much about training, it’s because I have a great program that walks you through exactly how to use the system—without all the fluff. I respect your time, and I know how valuable it is. That’s why I focus on giving you the specific steps you need to feel confident, organized, and in control. My goal is to help you get your bookkeeping done in an hour or less each month. That way you can skip the stress and skip hiring a bookkeeper if you don’t need one.
Check out the link in the show notes for more information. To recap, here are the six reasons why training is so important when it comes to using QuickBooks or any other bookkeeping system:
- It’s essential to have the foundational knowledge.
- It helps eliminate those nagging thoughts about whether you’re doing it right.
- It prevents that paralysis that keeps you from using the system you’re paying for.
- It’s much easier—and cheaper—to get it right from the beginning than to fix it later.
- Business owners need training for every system they use, and this is no different.
- Most importantly, it gives you the confidence and empowerment to use your bookkeeping tool the way it was meant to be used.
You’ve got this—and I’m here to help make QuickBooks training & bookkeeping simple.
Listen to this episode!
