What’s the Difference Between a Bookkeeper and a Financial Coach? Which Financial Professional(s) Do I Need?
You’re feeling overwhelmed with all things money in your life, and you know you need help — but you aren’t sure who you should be looking for. When you do start Googling solutions, you find recommendations for accountants, bookkeepers, financial coaches, and financial advisors, but seeing all the options is adding to your overwhelm. 😫
Figuring out who does what when it comes to your business and personal finances can be confusing. Bookkeeper, accountant, financial coach, financial advisor… who’s supposed to help with what, and when do you actually need them?
If you’re a service-based entrepreneur (especially one with ADHD), it’s easy to avoid all of them because you’re not even sure where to start. So, let’s break it down in plain language.
What Does a Bookkeeper Do?
A bookkeeper keeps track of what’s coming in and going out of your business. They keep things like your receipts organized and reconcile your bank accounts to make sure your transactions match your bank and credit card statements.
If you’ve ever opened your business bank account and thought, “Where the hell did all my money go?” this is where a bookkeeper steps in. They don’t make spending decisions for you, but they make sure the financial data you’re looking at actually makes sense to you.
👉 Consider hiring a bookkeeper when:
Your business income and expenses are getting messy.
You’re spending hours tracking transactions (or not tracking them at all).
You want accurate numbers at tax time without adding stress or hours of work.
Bookkeepers don’t usually tell you what to do with your money, although some may make recommendations. They just make sure you’re ready for tax time — and can often save you money because your accountant isn’t sorting through your receipts, and you know things were tracked all year long!
Getting started with a bookkeeper can often begin with a clean-up of any past bookkeeping. Learn more about what a bookkeeper does and doesn’t do here!
What Does an Accountant Do?
An accountant makes sure your business plays by the rules. They’re the ones handling your tax filings and ensuring your books are CRA/IRS-ready.
Most entrepreneurs think of accountants only at tax time, but a good one can also help you plan ahead — like deciding if you should incorporate, or how to structure your income for tax efficiency.
👉 You need an accountant when:
It’s tax season and you want to make sure you’re compliant.
You’re considering incorporating or changing your business structure.
You want to understand how your business decisions affect your taxes.
They’re your go-to for compliance and tax strategy, not for helping you figure out how to stop overspending or build a money system that actually works for you.
What Does a Financial Coach Do?
A financial coach helps you with the human side of money — the habits, behaviours, and emotions that affect how you manage it — and supports you in building plans that align with what’s important in your life. If you constantly avoid looking at your personal and business accounts, feel guilty about your spending, aren’t sure where all your money is going, or can’t seem to save even when you know you “should,” this is where a coach comes in. Coaches are the connection between the numbers and everything else, because money is less about the numbers than you think.
As a financial coach, I help clients understand what’s really happening with their money and build ADHD-friendly systems that support how their brain works. It’s not about never spending, trying to “stick to” rigid rules, or having a one-size-fits-all budget. It’s about creating strategies that help you put your money where you want it to go and feel confident in how you’re managing it — instead of feeling overwhelmed and ashamed.
👉 You need a financial coach when:
You want to understand your money, not just track it.
You want support for your full financial picture, not just the business side.
You keep falling into the same money habits or stress cycles.
You want systems that support your goals and your brain.
A coach won’t file your taxes or reconcile your business accounts, but we’ll help you finally feel confident about managing money, create a plan that works for you, and work through any financial challenges that pop up along the way.
What Does a Financial Advisor Do?
A financial advisor focuses on building and protecting your long-term wealth. They help you figure out where to invest, how to save for retirement, and which insurance products make sense for your situation.
They’re all about the future — growing your money and planning ahead for things like retirement or buying property.
👉 You need a financial advisor when:
You’re ready to start investing or growing your wealth.
You want advice on how to best use different investment account types to maximize your returns.
You need help creating a long-term financial plan.
They usually work with people who already have some stability in their finances, so if you’re still trying to get consistent with cash flow or paying off debt, starting with a financial coach can help you get there faster.
So… Who Do You Actually Need?
Many of my clients have all four financial professionals helping them with different areas of their finances. I might be a little biased about where I think you should start, but if you’re a service-based entrepreneur with ADHD, here’s my take:
Start with a financial coach if you want to build a better relationship with money and create systems that finally stick. Because we look at the business and personal finance sides, we help you see and understand the big picture. To explore working together, let’s connect for a free 30-min chat.
Hire a bookkeeper once you’re bringing in consistent income and your transactions are too much to manage manually. Starting with a spreadsheet is a great place to begin, but it gets challenging to manage as your business grows. Adding a bookkeeper and a system like QuickBooks will save you time and stress.
Work with an accountant to file taxes, handle compliance, and plan ahead for growth.
Add a financial advisor when you’re ready to invest and build long-term wealth.
Each plays a different role, and the magic really happens when they work together.
Because when you’ve got your books organized, your taxes handled, your money mindset in check, and your future goals mapped out? That’s when you can finally stop stressing about money and start actually enjoying the freedom of running your business.
