Bookkeeping 101: What It Is and Why It Matters for Small Businesses – Ep. 231
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Release Date: 07/15/2025
4 Balance Sheet Red Flags - The Risk of not Understanding your Balance Sheet
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Cash is the number one reason small businesses fail, and it usually happens quietly. In this episode of Business By The Books, I walk you through four balance sheet red flags I see business owners ignore all the time, even when revenue and profit look strong. We talk about why the income statement alone can create a false sense of security, how debt and owner draws quietly drain cash, and what warning signs to watch for before financial stress takes over. My goal is to help you understand what your balance sheet is actually telling you so you can take action with clarity and confidence as a...
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11 Lessons in 11 Years
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
After 11 years in business, I’ve learned this: becoming a CEO isn’t a finish line. It’s a practice. The lessons that shape you most don’t come from perfect plans or polished systems. They come from starting before you feel ready, trusting yourself through uncertainty, asking for help, navigating loneliness, and continuing to grow even when leadership feels heavy. In this episode, I’m reflecting on the lessons that mattered most and how they’ve shaped the way I lead today. This episode is for business owners who are learning as they go and want to lead with more clarity and...
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Reasonable Compensation for S Corp Owners
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Paying yourself incorrectly as an S Corp owner creates quiet IRS risk, cash stress, and year-end cleanup that many business owners don’t see coming. In this episode of Business By The Books, Danielle explains what reasonable compensation actually means, why payroll must come before owner draws, and how setting this up early can save you stress later in the year. You’ll learn: What reasonable compensation means for S Corp owners Why underpaying yourself through payroll creates future tax problems The IRS rule that requires payroll before owner draws How paying yourself through...
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Sunk Costs: The Silent Trap Sabotaging Your Goals (And How to Break Free)
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Every January, business owners set big, impressive goals for the new year… but drag last year’s mistakes, sunk costs, and emotional baggage with them. It’s no wonder most of these exciting goals fade away by February. But it doesn’t have to be that way! In this episode, we break down what sunk costs are, why they quietly sabotage your decisions, and how to finally break free from them. You’ll learn how to identify old contractors, software, offers, and spending that no longer serve you, so you can protect your business, gain financial clarity, and make smarter, forward-focused...
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I'm Not Setting Goals This Year — And Why You Shouldn’t Either
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Why do most small business owners never achieve their goals? It’s rarely a lack of ambition. It’s usually a lack of systems, habits, and financial leadership. This episode is about why goals alone don’t create results and how a proven, repeatable financial framework builds CEO confidence. I share a five-part monthly financial system designed to help you shift from an owner mindset to thinking like a CEO. I also talk about why bookkeeping for small businesses isn’t about doing the work yourself, and why understanding your numbers matters most when money anxiety and cash flow problems...
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How to Use AI Without Creating Financial or Operational Risk
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
AI isn’t going anywhere. But for small business owners, using it the wrong way can create financial blind spots, bad decisions, and long-term risk. This episode is about what happens when AI replaces judgment instead of supporting it, especially when it comes to your numbers. I’m joined by Carol Cox, founder of Speaking Your Brand and an early adopter of AI with a background in software development. We break down how small business owners can use AI to save time and reduce overwhelm without outsourcing financial leadership or losing clarity in decision-making. Carol explains: 04:39...
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Beyond the Budget: The Hidden Psychology of How Entrepreneurs Think About Money – Ep. 254
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
If you’ve ever delayed looking at your numbers, dreaded a bookkeeping meeting, or felt a pit in your stomach when someone says “Let’s review your finances,” this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. In this conversation, Danielle sits down with financial advisor and partner at Brad Cunningham for an honest look at why entrepreneurs struggle with money clarity and why confidence doesn’t come from spreadsheets. It comes from understanding your numbers and applying that knowledge to your life and your business. Key Takeaways: Money Avoidance Is Emotional, Not...
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The Year-End Reflection Framework: The Truth About How Real CEOs Grow – Ep. 253
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Most entrepreneurs skip reflection altogether. They’re busy, tired, and ready for a fresh start. But if you don’t pause to reflect, you repeat the same mistakes. You carry old habits into a new season. You build goals on top of unclear patterns. Reflection is where leadership starts. It’s where clarity lives. It’s simple, but not easy. In this episode, Danielle walks you step-by-step through the Year-End Reflection Framework built into the Kickstart system. It’s the tool that helps you understand what worked, what didn’t, and where you can step more fully into your CEO role next...
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Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Stuck (and the Framework That Fixes It) – Ep. 252
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
Most entrepreneurs stay stuck for one simple reason: they do bookkeeping for taxes, not for leadership. They record their numbers, send them to the accountant, hope the IRS is happy… and then cross their fingers the rest of the year. But, you can’t lead a business with guesses, gut feelings, or your bank balance alone. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., covers the same systems she used as a corporate CFO in boardrooms with top executives and brings them to entrepreneurs through Kickstart’s 3-step framework, so you can...
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AI Won’t Tell You the Truth About Your Numbers—But I Will: The Dark Side of Bad Bookkeeping – Ep. 251
Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden
If you’ve ever thought, “My books are fine,” because you’re using QuickBooks’ automations or have uploaded your QuickBooks file into ChatGPT for analysis, this episode is your wake-up call (delivered with love!). Bad bookkeeping covered up by pretty software dashboards or people-pleasing AI chatbots hides real problems. This week, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., gets honest about one of the biggest dangers facing entrepreneurs today: the false sense of confidence created by messy books, automation, and AI “insights” built on inaccurate...
info_outlineWhat exactly is bookkeeping and why does it matter so much for your business?
In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., breaks down the basics of bookkeeping, explains how it supports your growth, and shares the real-life benefits of staying on top of your numbers. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, this is foundational knowledge every business owner needs.
Key Takeaways:
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Bookkeeping Is Your Business’s Financial Foundation: It’s all about recording and organizing every transaction—sales, expenses, and everything in between—so you can make smart, informed decisions.
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Cash-Basis Accounting Is Usually the Right Fit for Small Businesses: Unlike big corporations, most small business owners don’t need complex systems. Recording transactions when cash hits or leaves your bank account keeps things simple and clear.
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Timely Bookkeeping Saves You Time, Money, and Stress: When your books are current, you can avoid overpaying in taxes, make better business decisions, and skip the last-minute scramble at tax time.
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Accurate Books Protect You in Audits and Increase Your Business’s Value: Clean records mean you're IRS audit-ready, and if you ever need to sell or get a valuation, your bookkeeping can directly impact your bottom line.
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As the CEO, You’re Still Responsible: Even with a bookkeeper, it’s your job to communicate business changes and review your reports regularly. That’s how you turn numbers into growth.
Special Note for S-Corp Owners: You must have accurate financials to file correctly and stay compliant. That means both income statements and balance sheets—don’t skip this step!
Topics Discussed:
(00:29 – 01:33) What is Bookkeeping and Why Does It Matter?
(01:34 – 03:59) The Difference Between Small Business and Corporate Bookkeeping
(04:00 – 08:26) The Benefits of Accurate, Up-to-Date Bookkeeping
(08:27 – 09:09) Why Cash Balance Is Not the Full Financial Picture
(09:09 – 09:43) Special Considerations for S-Corp Owners
(10:19 – 12:37) The Importance of Taking Responsibility for Tracking Your Numbers as a Business Owner
Book a Call with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:
https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/book-a-call/
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