In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davis break down the 8 most common QuickBooks mistakes they see business owners make every week—and how to fix them so your books stay clean and accurate all year long.

If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing something wrong in QuickBooks… but I’m not sure what,” this episode will give you clarity fast. You’ll learn why these mistakes create messy reports and stressful cleanups, and what simple habits and workflows keep QuickBooks working the way it’s meant to.

1. Reconciling monthly is your first line of defense—skip it and nothing else is reliable.
2. The bank feed is a tool, not a bookkeeper—match first, don’t add blindly.
3. Undeposited Funds errors can make income look wildly wrong.
4. Owner pay must be categorized based on how the business is structured.
5. Return checks need a proper workflow so income isn’t distorted.
6. Vehicles/equipment financed purchases must be set up as assets + loans (not expensed).
7. Monthly reports help you catch problems early—before decisions are made blindly.

1. Which of these 8 mistakes have I made in the last 90 days?
2. If my reports were wrong right now, would I know?
3. Do I have a monthly routine that keeps QuickBooks clean—or am I reacting at tax time?

Send Us Your Questions: support@leedavisandcompany.com

(Your question may be featured in a future episode.)

00:55.000 – Episode 13 intro: “I think I’m doing something wrong in QuickBooks…”

02:20.257 – Mistake #1: Not reconciling every single month

05:43.108 – “If reconciliation isn’t done, nothing else is accurate.”

05:53.303 – Mistake #2: Misusing Ask My Accountant / Uncategorized

08:33.000 – “It’s like your inbox—you should never let it pile up.”

08:42.455 – Mistake #3: Not using the bank feed correctly

11:25.000 – “Match, don’t add.”

12:28.000 – “The bank feed is a tool, not your bookkeeper.”

12:41.347 – Mistake #4: Not using Undeposited Funds correctly

15:00.000 – “This mistake makes people think they made $200K more or less.”

15:09.853 – Mistake #5: Incorrectly categorizing owner’s pay

17:08.000 – “This is one of the fastest ways to make your P&L misleading.”

18:06.000 – Mistake #6: Invoicing mistakes (return checks)

19:32.000 – “Clean invoicing equals faster money.”

19:57.054 – Mistake #7: Vehicle/equipment purchases and loans

22:47.000

In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davis explain why learning QuickBooks the right way can transform how you run your business. They share why self-teaching often leads to frustration and costly mistakes, and how hands-on, personalized training helps business owners gain confidence and control.

You’ll learn what quality training looks like, how to choose the right trainer, and why understanding your numbers is one of the most important investments you can make in your business.

Listeners will gain clarity, encouragement, and practical strategies they can begin using right away.

1. Proper QuickBooks training saves time, money, and frustration
2. Hands-on learning builds confidence in your financial reports
3. Accurate data leads to better business decisions
4. Training reduces dependence on outside help
5. Good trainers focus on real-world application, not memorization

1. Am I confident that my QuickBooks setup is correct?
2. Do I understand where my numbers come from?
3. What mistakes might I be making without realizing it?

Free 3-Part Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with QuickBooks

Download at: www.leedavisandcompany.com

Send Us Your Questions:

support@leedavisandcompany.com

00:02 - Introduction to QuickBooks Mastery01:57 - The Importance of QuickBooks Training

11:05 - Real World Benefits of QuickBooks Training

14:49 - Choosing the Right Training for QuickBooks

20:57 - The Importance of Training in QuickBooks

If you enjoyed this episode, hit subscribe and stay connected with us at leedavisandcompany.com.

Download our free 3-Part Quick Start Guide to get started with QuickBooks the right way.

Have a QuickBooks question? Send it to support@leedavisandcompany.com — your question may be featured in a future episode.

Getting ready for your accountant doesn’t have to be stressful. In this episode of QuickBooks Mastery for Small Business Success, father-daughter team Erica Northrup and Lee Davis share the simple steps to prepare your books before tax season (or a quarterly review) so you can save time, money, and frustration.

They explain why being prepared helps your accountant work faster (and helps you avoid missed deductions), then walk through a practical checklist you can use to get everything ready: reconciling accounts, clearing uncategorized transactions, organizing receipts, prepping payroll and loan documents, pulling key reports, updating invoices and bills, tracking major purchases and mileage, and making sure your personal tax documents are in order.

They also cover how to communicate with your accountant—what to ask for, what deadlines to confirm, and what not to send—so you can have a smoother process and fewer surprises.

1. Preparation reduces stress, prevents missed deductions, and saves money on cleanup work.
2. Reconcile bank and credit card accounts and keep personal and business transactions separate.
3. Clear uncategorized transactions and organize receipts/documents (ideally attached inside QuickBooks).
4. Pull key year-end/quarterly reports and review A/R and A/P—especially old balances that may become bad debt.
5. Communicate early: confirm deadlines, ask what format they prefer, and summarize major changes in writing.

1. If my accountant received my file today, what would they flag as “missing” or “messy”?
2. Do I consistently keep personal and business transactions separate—and what needs to change if not?
3. What are 3 business changes this year that my accountant should know in advance?

Free QuickBooks Prep Checklist (PDF): Download Check list here

Free 3-Part Quick Start Guide to Getting Started with QuickBooks: www.leedavisandcompany.com

Send Us Your Questions: support@leedavisandcompany.com

1. Schedule C- Click here to check it out

00:02.080 - Episode 11: Preparing for Your Accountant

03:20.110 – Why preparation matters (save stress, time, money, deductions)

07:42.000 – The checklist: what you should have ready

09:38.315 – Reconcile bank + credit cards (and keep personal/business separate)

10:25.143 – Categorize everything (clear “uncategorized” + clean coding)

12:52.724 – Organize receipts, documents, payroll + loan statements

15:06.329 – Pull/export key reports + update invoices/bills (A/R + A/P)

17:29.313 – Major purchases + mileage/home office/personal business expenses

21:14.000 –...