August Money Moves: Back-to-School & Year-End Prep
August sneaks up fast. One minute it’s summer fun, the next you’re staring at school supply lists and realizing Q4 is just around the corner. For small business owners, that means balancing personal costs with keeping your business finances in check.
A few smart moves now can make August less stressful and set you up for a smoother year-end.
1. Back-to-School Without the Stress
Supplies, clothes, activities, it all adds up fast. Treat your household budget like your business budget:
Set categories (supplies, activities, extras)
Plan what you can spend in each
Track what you actually spend
And whatever you do, keep personal and business money separate. Mixing them makes it hard to know how your business is really doing, one of the biggest red flags I see as a bookkeeper.
2. Keep Business Cash Flow Steady
August can be a slow month…clients are on vacation, invoices get delayed, and sales may dip. A few weekly check-ins can make a big difference:
Review open invoices and follow up promptly
Pause non-essential spending
Track your cash flow so you can see issues before they snowball
For more guidance, check out this cash flow management guide.
3. Start Year-End Prep Now
Don’t wait until December to think about taxes and profit. Early prep means fewer surprises later:
Review your year-to-date profit and expenses
Make sure everything is categorized correctly
Set aside money for taxes (IRS estimated tax guide)
Consider retirement contributions or other year-end strategies
Even small steps now save big stress in the final months of the year.
4. Small Wins Make a Big Difference
You don’t need a major overhaul this month. Simple changes add up:
Cancel subscriptions you don’t use
Separate business and personal accounts if you haven’t already
Schedule a 30-minute monthly check-in with your books
If you’re already behind, my step-by-step guide can help you catch up fast.
Final Thoughts
Back-to-school doesn’t have to mean back-to-stress. By budgeting personal expenses, keeping an eye on business cash flow, and tackling year-end prep now, you’ll head into Q4 confident and ready.
If your books aren’t where you want them, now’s the perfect time to get organized. At Bay State Bookkeeping, I help Massachusetts small business owners stay tax-ready, confident, and stress-free all year.
