Today, I want to talk about something that might be a bit of an unpopular opinion: reasons to do your own, or DIY your bookkeeping—at least for a season in your business.
You don’t often hear people encouraging business owners to handle their own books. In fact, the advice you hear most often is the opposite—“Leave it to the experts!” or “You don’t want to mess it up!” And while there’s truth in wanting things done correctly, I also think messages like that can create a lot of unnecessary fear.
So let’s flip the script a little and talk about why I believe managing your own bookkeeping, even just for a while, is actually a smart move.
Reason #1: You gain a real understanding of your business finances.
If you immediately hand over your bookkeeping to someone else, you miss the opportunity to understand what actually goes into managing your finances. You don’t get to learn how your money moves—how income flows in, how expenses go out, or what kind of systems work best for you.
By doing it yourself (even temporarily), you get to create rhythms and routines that make sense for your business. You begin to recognize where your money is going, how often you’re spending, and what systems feel natural to maintain. That way, even if you choose to outsource later, you’ll have a solid foundation and can clearly communicate what you need—and spot if something seems off.
Reason #2: You learn to make smarter financial decisions.
When you’re connected to your numbers, you’re in a better position to ask smart questions:
- Do I really need this subscription or expense?
- Is this investment (like a course or a new team member) giving me a solid return?
- Do I have the funds for this, or should I wait?
Instead of automatically relying on someone else’s recommendation, you develop your own financial confidence—and that’s a game changer for long-term business success.
When you do your own bookkeeping—when you’re really in your numbers—you’re able to make clear, informed decisions. Now, down the road, you might choose to hire someone to manage your books and simply hand you the reports. That’s great! Because by then, you’ll know how to interpret the data and make decisions based on the numbers. But that clarity often comes from first getting into the weeds—being in the details and asking:
“Can I actually afford this right now?”
Reason #3 to do your own bookkeeping?
To stop saying, “I’m just not good with money,” and handing it off without really understanding what’s happening.
I’ve seen this too many times. Business owners—especially women and especially people pleasers—assume the expert knows best. They take advice without question because they don’t feel confident in their own financial knowledge. But here’s the thing: just because someone sounds like they know what they’re doing doesn’t mean they’re the right fit—or even doing things correctly.
I don’t want that for you.
Instead, take time to work through some of those deeper money mindset blocks. If this resonates with you, I highly recommend tuning into my episode with Claudia McDevitt, a mindset coach who shares powerful questions to help you unpack limiting beliefs around money. Because if you’re always telling yourself “I’m not good with money,” that belief will hold you back—especially as a business owner.
And here’s what I truly believe: Everyone is capable of understanding the financial basics of running a business.
Yes, there are complex accounting principles, but the day-to-day things? You can absolutely learn them. And once you do, you’ll feel so much more confident making financial decisions and advocating for your business.
Reason #4: So you don’t outsource to the wrong person.
I’m all for outsourcing when the time is right—you can’t (and shouldn’t) do all the things forever. But if you haven’t taken time to understand your own books first, how will you know if the person you hire is doing it right? You need that base knowledge to hire confidently, ask smart questions, and avoid getting taken advantage of.
You may get to a point where you want to outsource your bookkeeping—and that’s totally fine. But here’s the thing: there are a lot of bookkeepers out there, and their levels of training, experience, and services vary a ton. So when it comes time to hire, you really want to know what to ask and what you’re looking for.
Are you simply looking for someone to enter transactions? Or do you want someone who can analyze the reports, explain what’s going on, and guide you with financial advice? Do you want a bookkeeper who acts more like a coach—someone who teaches you what the numbers mean?
Those are very different services—and they come at very different price points.
But here’s the beauty of doing your own bookkeeping first: You learn what you need, what you don’t need, and who you can trust. You’re not going in blind.
One of my clients actually hired a bookkeeper, realized it wasn’t the right fit, and ended up letting her go. Now she has an assistant handle the data entry, and she and I review her reports together each month to make sure everything looks good. It’s a setup that works better for her—and she wouldn’t have known that if she hadn’t taken the time to understand her books first.
That’s why I want to help you avoid wasting money on the wrong person or hiring for services you don’t actually need.
Reason #5 to do your own bookkeeping: it’s cheaper.
Plain and simple—doing it yourself will save you money. Like I mentioned earlier, with such a wide range of experience levels, you’ll also see a wide range of pricing. But if you create a simple, easy bookkeeping routine—and that’s exactly what I teach—a lot of my clients find they can knock it out in under an hour a month.
At that point, it’s often not even worth outsourcing. You can put that money toward something else in your business instead.
And Reason #6 (this might not apply to everyone—but if it does, you’ll know): You’re a bit of a control freak. 😅
Or maybe, you just don’t want too many people in the financial details of your business. And honestly? That is completely valid. It’s your business. You get to decide who sees what. You get to keep your money decisions private and on your terms. If that means learning the basics so you can stay in control, then that’s a great reason to do your own bookkeeping.
And this is where I say—hey, maybe you are a bit of a control freak. You don’t really want a bunch of people all up in your business finances—and honestly, that’s totally fine. That’s your right as a business owner.
But if that’s you—if you’re someone who doesn’t feel comfortable handing over the financial keys—you can’t also stay in the dark about what’s going on.
You can’t keep people out and not understand it yourself.
So if you feel hesitant about letting others in, the next step is: educate yourself. Learn the basics. Ask questions. Figure out:
- What do I need to know about bookkeeping?
- What do I need to understand about taxes?
- What decisions do I need to feel confident making?
Because you deserve to make informed decisions—not decisions based on fear or avoidance.
And if you need support with that? If you want someone to walk you through it, explain it in plain language, and give you just enough expertise to feel empowered—I’d love to help.
Visit my website erikamillard.com. That’s where you’ll find more info on how I can support you, whether it’s through coaching, courses, or resources.
This is what I love to do—helping entrepreneurs like you understand your money just enough to feel confident and in control.
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