It’s helpful not just for understanding where your money goes but for preparing for any fluctuations in demand or unforeseen costs. Besides expenses, you’ll need careful records of all income, all https://www.bookstime.com/ meals served, all time kids are in attendance for each child, and all hours you work in your home total. This includes time with children and time working for them when they are not in care. We even make it easy to connect to other specialty systems such as payroll to make Procare the one-stop hub for everything you need to successfully run your center. Check state government websites for specifics on sales tax waivers along with business license/zoning obligations, employment policies, and daycare regulations.

The “Cash is King” Oversight: Ignoring Accrual-Based Accounting

Sole proprietors aren’t legally required to use a separate account, but it’s highly recommended. In this guide, we’re covering how to manage your bookkeeping and accounting like a pro so you can spend less time in the spreadsheets and more time doing what you love. This book is designed to save you money by reducing your taxable income and ensuring you meet the recordkeeping requirements to satisfy the Internal Revenue Service in the event of an audit. The original book goes into the sometimes challenging world of federal income tax preparation and the process of completing payroll for employees.

Why it’s a problem:

Bookkeeping is the process of tracking and recording daycare bookkeeping a business’s financial transactions. Since bookkeeping is a practice dating back to the 15th century, until recent years bookkeepers have used physical books to keep track of financial transactions. Now, much of bookkeeping is made easier with digital software that helps perform tasks like invoicing, paying bills, and preparing tax returns. Procare Solutions partners with some of the most popular products and services that you use at your center, including Gusto and QuickBooks. Open a dedicated business checking account for transparent tracking of daycare revenues, caregiver payroll draws, vendor payments, and eligible purchases.

• At the close of each month, reconcile your revenue and expense transactions with your accounting records or software.
• Bookkeeping and accounting have similarities, but they’re not the same.
• You can typically send invoices via email, see your business financial statements at a glance and get a better idea of how your day care center is managing financially.
• Higher enrollments and waitlists indicate satisfied families and a strong community reputation.

Simplify billing and get paid on time

Schedule a free strategy call with No Joke Childcare today to discover how we can help streamline your bookkeeping and boost your business. While cash-based accounting might seem simpler, accrual-based methods often provide a clearer picture of your daycare’s financial health. If so, it might make sense to hire a professional accountant or contribution margin tax preparer. They will help you estimate your tax payments, get set up with the right payment method, resolve issues, prepare your tax return, and otherwise make paying your taxes a stress-free process.

The Home Daycare Complete Recordkeeping System Plastic Comb – January 1, 2003

It will help you reap the greatest benefits of bookkeeping—having clear insight into your finances and using that information to make sound financial decisions for your childcare program. In recent years, several key trends in bookkeeping software are helping childcare providers manage their finances more efficiently. Automation is taking center stage, handling repetitive tasks like data entry, bank reconciliations, and invoice processing. Additionally, instant reports and analytics allow for real-time financial monitoring, enabling childcare centers to stay on top of their financial health and make informed decisions promptly.