ADHD Entrepreneurs Guide to Bookkeeping: What Does a Bookkeeper Actually Do? (And What They Don’t)
Guest Blog by Kat Swim (who can help you with your bookkeeping if you’re in the US and a service-based business)
Hey there, neurospicy entrepreneur!
So, you’ve heard people say get a bookkeeper, but you’re wondering, what exactly does a bookkeeper do? And just as importantly, what don’t they do?
Let’s break it down in simple, plain language (no finance-nerd-speak) so you can know exactly how a bookkeeper can save your sanity, your receipts, and your precious brain space.
What a Bookkeeper Does
✅ Keeps track of your business finances
A bookkeeper records all your income and expenses, categorizes them, and makes sure everything lands where it should in your books. Think of me as the person who wrangles the financial chaos into order.
✅ Reconciles bank accounts
I match up what’s in your bank with what’s in your accounting system. (Kind of like double-checking you didn’t get charged twice for that ADHD impulse Amazon haul.)
✅ Manages day-to-day transactions
As your bookkeeper, I keep tabs on all those little money movements: invoices, payments, receipts, and bills. No detail is too small — even that random $3 coffee you charged to the business.
✅ Provides financial reports
I help you see your numbers clearly: what’s coming in, what’s going out, what’s left over. This is gold for ADHD brains who tend to “forget” until overdraft fees show up.
✅ Helps you stay organized for taxes
Bookkeepers don’t do your taxes, but they keep things tidy, so when tax time hits, your CPA doesn’t run screaming.
✅ Saves you TIME
Which, let’s be honest, you need to spend on your creative brilliance (or…you know…hyperfocusing on your next big project).
What a Bookkeeper Doesn’t Do
🚫 They don’t file your taxes
A bookkeeper will prep your numbers, but a CPA or tax professional is the one who actually files with the IRS.
🚫 They don’t offer financial advice
Bookkeepers aren’t financial planners —I’ll keep your books clean, but you’ll still need someone else to help you invest, budget long-term, or plan retirement.
🚫 They don’t make business decisions for you
I’ll show you the numbers, but you’re still the fearless captain of the ship. A bookkeeper isn’t there to decide what expenses to cut or which investments to make.
🚫 They don’t wave a magic wand
Sorry — bookkeepers can’t erase debt or fix a money mess overnight. But I can help you untangle it and build better habits going forward.
Final Thoughts on Bookkeeping for ADHD Entrepreneurs
If your brain is a swirl of receipts, invoices, and a dash of financial panic, a bookkeeper is your lifeline. Think of me as a calm, numbers-savvy partner who helps you keep your business running smoothly while you focus on your passions.
You don’t have to do this alone, and you don’t have to have perfectly organized finances to get started. I am used to messy books (and yes, even random boxes of receipts).
Let me do my thing so you can do yours.
👉 Ready to banish the bookkeeping gremlins? I help ADHD entrepreneurs like you keep the financial monsters under the bed where they belong. Schedule a free 30-minute consult to determine if I can help you tame those gremlins.
Next up in the series: Part 3 - “Why A Bookkeeper Is Your Financial Sidekick”
About Kat and Phantom Financial Services
Kat founded Phantom Financial Services to help ADHD business owners stop feeling haunted by their finances. She recognized that too many entrepreneurs were struggling with messy books, financial confusion, and missing out on the revenue they truly deserved.
With over 20 years of experience in finance and bookkeeping, Kat specializes in helping small business owners organize their systems, simplify their numbers, and finally understand what their books are trying to tell them. Her approach is clear, supportive, and judgment-free — built for brains that don’t fit into traditional boxes.
When she’s not taming financial monsters, Kat travels the country in search of haunted hotels, eerie cemeteries, and abandoned places with a story to tell.
