I inherited my dad's bookkeeping business, these are the changes I made.

BreeAndrews

Free Member
  • Sep 5, 2026
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    I didn’t want to overhaul everything, but I saw a few areas to simplify. Here are the 5 changes I’ve made:

    1. Moved bookkeeping to Xero: Previously, tasks were done manually or in spreadsheets. Using Xero centralises everything and cuts down on repetitive work.

    2. Improved bank data process: This was a major time drain. I chose Finexer with Xero to minimise manual bank data handling.

    3. Standardised client onboarding: Each client was handled differently before. Now, a basic checklist for access, bank connections, bookkeeping, and documents ensures consistency and reduces chaos.

    4. Documented processes: Much of the knowledge was in my dad’s head. I’m creating checklists and process notes to avoid relying on one person’s memory.

    5. Viewed the business from the client’s perspective: This is the biggest shift. Instead of just checking if the books are up to date, I’m focusing on what clients need and how quickly they can get it. I’m still figuring it out.

    For those who’ve taken over an established bookkeeping/accounting business — what change made the biggest difference for you? And was there anything you changed that turned out to be unnecessary?
     
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    Noticeably absent is any mention of taking on the role of Anti Money Laundering Reporting Officer. I trust there is no blissful ignorance and you have it all in hand.

    This one is necessary!
     
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    I didn’t want to overhaul everything, but I saw a few areas to simplify. Here are the 5 changes I’ve made:

    1. Moved bookkeeping to Xero: Previously, tasks were done manually or in spreadsheets. Using Xero centralises everything and cuts down on repetitive work.

    2. Improved bank data process: This was a major time drain. I chose Finexer with Xero to minimise manual bank data handling.

    3. Standardised client onboarding: Each client was handled differently before. Now, a basic checklist for access, bank connections, bookkeeping, and documents ensures consistency and reduces chaos.

    4. Documented processes: Much of the knowledge was in my dad’s head. I’m creating checklists and process notes to avoid relying on one person’s memory.

    5. Viewed the business from the client’s perspective: This is the biggest shift. Instead of just checking if the books are up to date, I’m focusing on what clients need and how quickly they can get it. I’m still figuring it out.

    For those who’ve taken over an established bookkeeping/accounting business — what change made the biggest difference for you? And was there anything you changed that turned out to be unnecessary?
    XERO???
     
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    Noticeably absent is any mention of taking on the role of Anti Money Laundering Reporting Officer. I trust there is no blissful ignorance and you have it all in hand.

    This one is necessary!
    It's definitely not something I've missed. Since I was concentrating more on the daily procedures, I neglected to include AML compliance in the five operational improvements, even though it was one of the first things I looked at when I took over.
    I appreciate you bringing it up because I still have a lot to learn about compliance.
     
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    The business had been utilizing spreadsheets and manual processes before and getting everything set up properly in Xero has been one of the larger changes I have made. It’s definitely helped to keep on top of things. They had been working with a lot of old, recurring clients, so I figured it's time to get some new clientele too.
     
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    Makes sense, you seemed to know a lot of OB apis when you gave me some usual insights on my post. Good luck with your business!
    Thank you, I've been doing my research for a few months now and only now have I been feeling confident enough to make the changes, so I thought I'd list them down for anyone who would want to know.
     
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