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Overdrafted and Overwhelmed - A Bookkeeper's Tale

bookkeeper Jul 01, 2025
Woman sitting at a table overwhelmed with bills - A Bookkeeper's Tale

Edward runs a small printing shop. Custom orders, quick turnarounds, solid craftsmanship. He’s been in business just over a year and hustles hard to keep clients happy. When we first met, he told me, “I’ve got the numbers all in my head. I don’t need a budget, I just stay on top of things.”

But saying he was staying on top of things versus reality hit him when his business started having exponential growth. He over drafted seven times in one month due to cash flow issues. One of his checks bounced to a supplier because forgot about it the moment he mailed it off. And then his electric bills sat unopened and totally missed, causing him to have to pay late fees and penalties to get it turned back on.

Edward wasn’t careless, he was overwhelmed. In his mind, everything looked okay. But in reality, cash flow was slipping through the cracks he couldn’t see because he didn't have everything written down.

His business wasn’t failing. But the his credibility was starting to take a hit.

Keeping your budget in your head isn’t a strategy, it’s a liability. Your brain wasn’t built to be your CFO and there is really no reason to operate like that.

We scheduled 30 minutes each week for Edward to do a quick review of his budget. Once a month he calculated his budget using the EPI™ formula. Within a month, he stopped over drafting. Two months in, he knew exactly what his bills were and when his cash flow could handle paying them. With numbers in front of him, he felt clear, in control, and surprisingly calm.

If your brain is carrying your budget, it’s carrying too much. Clarity comes when the numbers are visible, trackable, and working for you. Start scheduling your own weekly budgeting meeting for your business. If you want to have sit down consult with me - feel free to reach out: [email protected]

Lub you,

Crystal 🦄

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