by Ann at Holistic Business Advisors
One of the biggest bookkeeping mistakes isn’t doing it incorrectly, it’s waiting until tax season.
By setting aside just 10 minutes once a week, you can stay on top of your finances all year long. Instead of facing a mountain of receipts in March or April, you’ll spend just a few minutes each week keeping everything organized.
Here’s a simple routine that works.
Step 1: Gather your receipts
Throughout the week, keep your receipts in one place.
- Paper receipts can stay in your wallet or a small envelope.
- Email receipts can be saved to a dedicated folder in your inbox.
The goal is making sure everything ends up in one place.
Step 2: Record your expenses
Once a week, open your bookkeeping tool or software and enter each expense.
Common business expenses for acupuncturists include:
- Clinic supplies
- Professional dues and licensing fees
- Continuing education
- Accounting and legal fees
- Website and marketing costs
- Office supplies
Recording expenses while they’re still fresh makes the process much faster than trying to remember purchases months later.
Step 3: Save your receipts
The CRA requires you to keep records that support your business expenses.
A simple approach is to scan or photograph each receipt and save it in a secure folder. Giving each file a clear name (such as 2026-07-15-Clinic Supplies) makes it easy to find later if you ever need it.
Small habits create big results
A consistent weekly routine can save hours at tax time. You’ll have more accurate financial records, be less likely to miss deductible expenses, and you’ll spend far less time sorting through receipts at year-end.
The best bookkeeping system isn’t the most complicated one; it’s the one you’ll actually stick with.
About the Author
Ann is a retired acupuncturist and co-founder of Holistic Business Advisors (HBA). After experiencing the challenges of running a practice firsthand, she created HBA to help acupuncturists feel more confident and supported in managing the financial side of their business.
Book a complimentary consultation at holisticbusinessadvisors.com/acupuncturists