Real World Bookkeeping Tips from a MESHER

Bookkeeping is not just about tracking numbers; it is about understanding your business, making informed decisions, and staying prepared for growth. In this article, Kivaya, a fellow MESHER, shares practical tips that have worked for him, drawn from real experiences, not theory.

Whether you are a freelancer, side hustler, or small shop owner, these strategies can help you stay organized and financially confident.

Hii ukuwa the first rule na yenye ukuwa most ignored. Kuchanganya doh ya biz na personal ni ka’ kumix salt na shuge. Mistake moja tu! na kila kitu ina get messy.

● Fungua a separate bank account ama M-PESA line ya biz.

● Hii nayo itumie only for biz income na expenses.

Ukiradisha hii design, inafanya tracking kuwa easier, especially ile time unadai ku’calculate profit ama ku’file taxes.

Hio rwabe ume-spent on airtime for your online biz? Ina count. Hio thao mbili deposit from a customer on a deal pale WhatsApp? Hio pia.

● Tumia a folder ama envelope ku-collect receipts weekly.

● Take photos ama store them in a Google Drive ama Dropbox folder.

● Try apps kama Expensify ama hata Notes kwa phone yako.

Usitegee hadi end month, juu definitely utasahau.

Bookkeeping u’work best ukiifanya kuwa habit. Just 10 minutes kwa siku inaeza ku-save hours of confusion later.

● Create a daily ama weekly check-in routine, after kutinga biz ama before kukaokota.

● Log your sales, expenses, na pending payments.

Juu nayo consistency ni noma kuliko perfection.

Click Here ku-download MESH App on play store. Ni 2MB!

Sareana na complicated systems. Wewe anza tu vi’simple.

● Notebook ama Ledger Book - Hii nayo ukuwa old school, but effective

● Google Sheets ama Excel - Zo’ ukuwa free, na unaeza zi’customize design unadai

● Apps kama QuickBooks, Wave, ama BuuPass Books - Ka biz kakijipa hizi ukuwa useful vinoma

Chagua what feels natural kwako na hu’stick nayo.

Sio kila income ni the same. Pia sio kila expenses ni equal.

● Income: Cash sales, M-PESA payments, Online payments

● Expenses: Inventory, Transport, Marketing, Rent, Data, Airtime

Hii itakusaidia kuona vile una make doh na areas zenye una spend sana.

Ushawahi feel like doh yako ime "vanish"? Hii sasa ndio ukuwa a bookkeeping gap.

● Kila mwezi, wewe compare records zako na your bank/M-PESA statements.

● Make sure kila kitu ina match.

If not, utaradisha the errors, kuchezwa kabaya, ama pia a forgotten payments mapema.

A short monthly review inachange kila kitu. Unaeza pia jiuliza hizi maswali:

● Niliunda doh ngapi?

● Nilispend ngapi?

● Profit ilikuwa ngapi?

● Nani anakudai na nani unamdai?

Ukiwa na hii information, itakusaidai sana ku’plan better na ku’avoid surprises.

Hau’need kuwa an accountant, but ni fiti sana kujua the basics.

Hizi ni a few za kuku’get started:

● Revenue – Ile doh yote umeunda kabla ya kutoa expenses

● Profit – Revenue ukituanisha sasa expenses

● Assets – Zile vitu biz ina own (both equipment na cash)

● Liabilities – Vitu biashara inadaiwa (loans, credit)

● Equity – Net worth yako kwa biz

Unaeza check hii article kujifunza more terms za biz.

Ukiona imeanza kukulemea na biz yako ina grow - saka help. Hire a part-time bookkeeper, ama beste mwenye ako fiti na numbers, ama pia unaeza take a short online course.

Bookkeeping ni one of those things where a small investment inaeza ku-save a lot of money na headaches later.

Bookkeeping ni more than just balancing numbers. Ni vile una take control ya story ya biz yako. Anza small, kuwa consistent, na usikuwe afraid ku-tweak system yako as you grow.

Juu at the end of the day, what you don’t track hauwezi manage. Kuna hizi article ziko na more details juu ya hii riba.

1️⃣ Bookkeeping basics: A s...

2️⃣ 10 Tips for Better Smal...

3️⃣ Small Business Bookkeep...

By Kivaya Josiah