Happy Friday everyone! Before you head into the weekend, I want you to pause for just a moment and ask yourself this: What is ONE small step I can take today to move forward in my bookkeeping journey? It doesn’t have to be big. In fact, the smaller, the better. Maybe it’s: ✔ Logging into QuickBooks and practicing for 15 minutes ✔ Reviewing one lesson you didn’t fully understand ✔ Updating your resume ✔ Applying to just ONE job ✔ Reaching out to a potential client Here’s the truth most people don’t realize: 👉 Confidence doesn’t come first… action does. Every small step you take builds momentum. And momentum is what turns “I’m learning” into “I’m doing.” 💬 Drop your ONE action in the comments before the end of today. Let’s hold each other accountable and finish the week strong! — Terry

🐶 Can You Write Off Your Dog as a Business Expense? I saw an article floating around recently claiming you can deduct your dog if you work from home and they “guard” your office… Let’s clear this up 👇 ❌ In most cases — NO, you cannot write off your dog. Even if your dog: - Barks when someone comes to the door - Alerts you to activity - Stays near you while you work The IRS still considers your dog a personal pet, not a business expense. --- ✅ When could an animal be deductible? - Trained guard dog for a business property (not your personal home) - Farm or ranch working animals - Animals used primarily and specifically for business purposes --- ⚠️ There is a gray area… If you create content (YouTube, social media, etc.) and your pets are part of your brand, you may be able to deduct some expenses related to content production. But it must be: - Directly tied to income-producing content - Reasonable - Well documented --- 💡 The safest rule to follow: If it’s something you would pay for even if you didn’t have the business… it’s probably not deductible. --- ❤️ Real talk: It’s always better to be safe and accurate than to take risky deductions that could come back later. That’s how you build a business that lasts. --- 👇 I’m curious… Have you ever heard of a “creative” write-off like this before? — Terry

If you’re in that “I know some things… but not everything yet” stage—this is for you 👇 Step 1: Pick ONE service to start with Don’t try to offer everything. Start simple: ✔️ Monthly bookkeeping ✔️ Cleanup (last 2–3 months) ✔️ Bank/credit card reconciliations 👉 Clarity builds confidence. Step 2: Practice just enough (not forever) Use QuickBooks sample company or create your own mock client. Focus on: ✔️ Categorizing transactions ✔️ Reconciling accounts ✔️ Running basic reports (P&L, Balance Sheet) 👉 You don’t need perfection—you need familiarity. Step 3: Set a beginner-friendly price Give yourself permission to start simple: ✔️ $150–$300/month (small clients) ✔️ OR a one-time cleanup price 👉 You can raise prices as your confidence grows. Step 4: Start telling people (this is where it clicks) You don’t need a website yet. Start here: ✔️ Post on Facebook ✔️ Tell friends/family ✔️ Reach out to small business owners Simple message: “I’m taking on a few bookkeeping clients as I grow my business—if you or someone you know needs help, I’d love to connect!” Step 5: Get your first client → THEN grow Your first client is not about being perfect. It’s about: ✔️ Learning in real life ✔️ Building confidence ✔️ Creating momentum 👉 That first client changes everything. Step 6: Lean on support (you’re not alone) If you get stuck: ✔️ Ask questions here in SKOOL ✔️ Rewatch lessons ✔️ Google + learn as you go 👉 Real bookkeepers look things up ALL the time. 💬 Truth: Confidence comes after action, not before it.

Hi everyone! I realized it’s been a little while since I’ve posted in here, and I wanted to take a moment to check in with all of you. Behind the scenes I’ve been working on new classroom material and building out more resources to help you on your bookkeeping journey. It’s been exciting seeing members moving through the lessons and starting to apply what they’re learning. But the best part of this community is hearing where YOU are in your journey right now. So let’s do a quick check-in 👇 Where are you currently in your bookkeeping journey? 1️⃣ Just starting and learning the basics 2️⃣ Working through the course lessons 3️⃣ Practicing and building confidence 4️⃣ Starting to look for clients or jobs 5️⃣ Already working with clients Drop the number that fits you best in the comments. No matter where you are right now, remember this: every step forward counts. The skills you’re building today are the foundation for the opportunities that come later. Looking forward to hearing where everyone is! — Terry

📝 Summary: What do you do when a client pays before you even have an invoice? This quick lesson walks you through the correct, professional way to handle it in QuickBooks Online — without messing up your revenue or Accounts Receivable. You’ll learn:✔ Why deposits should be recorded as a liability (not income)✔ How to keep your A/R clean and accurate✔ The simple step to apply the deposit once the invoice is entered 👉 Simple rule:Cash before invoice = liabilityInvoice entered = revenue This is one of those small shifts that separates basic bookkeeping from true financial confidence.