Girl Let's Talk Business Money

Girl, your customer paid you $200 through Stripe, but only $191 showed up in your bank account.

So you opened QuickBooks, saw that $191 deposit, categorized it as income, and kept it moving.

Books are caught up, right?

Girl... not exactly.

Because your business actually made $200 in revenue. Stripe took $9 in processing fees, and the remaining $191 landed in your bank account.

And if you've been recording only what hits your bank account, there's a good chance your books aren't telling the whole story.

In this episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, we're breaking down how to correctly record Stripe, PayPal, Square, and other payment processor transactions so your revenue, expenses, and bank deposits actually make sense.

We're talking about why your bank deposits aren't always the same as your revenue, how processing fees can disappear from your financial reports, and why trying to fix the problem incorrectly can lead to double-counting your income.

Because girl, just because everything in QuickBooks is categorized doesn't mean it's recorded correctly.

And those little $9 mistakes?

They can add up to thousands of dollars in misstated revenue and missing expenses over time.

Let's get those books telling the WHOLE story.

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

- Why the amount Stripe, PayPal, or Square deposits into your bank account isn't necessarily your actual revenue

- The difference between gross sales, payment processing fees, and net bank deposits

- How to correctly understand a $200 customer payment with a $9 processing fee and a $191 bank deposit

- Why categorizing net deposits as income can understate your business revenue

- How payment processing fees can go missing from your financial statements

- Why small processing fees can add up to significant amounts over an entire year

- How properly recording processing fees helps you understand the actual cost of collecting customer payments

- Why accurate payment processing expenses can help you evaluate pricing and payment methods

- How attempting to correct processing fees can accidentally result in double-counted revenue

- Why your payment processor reports matter when reconciling deposits to your bookkeeping records

- Why the correct bookkeeping process can depend on your payment processor, accounting software, and existing integrations

- How to review your current books to identify potentially incorrect Stripe, PayPal, or Square transactions

- Why having categorized transactions doesn't automatically mean your bookkeeping is accurate

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Girl Let Me See Your Books Strategy Session

Girl, just because your books look organized doesn't mean everything is being recorded correctly.

Maybe you've been categorizing your Stripe and PayPal deposits as income without accounting for the processing fees.

Maybe your revenue doesn't match what your payment processor reports show.

Or maybe you're looking at QuickBooks thinking, "Everything is categorized, so why don't these numbers make sense?"

That's exactly the kind of thing we can start uncovering during my Girl Let Me See Your Books Strategy Session.

For $175, we'll spend 45 minutes looking at what's happening in your business books, talking through the concerns you're having, and identifying what needs your attention next.

Because I don't just want your books to look clean.

I want the numbers to actually tell us what's happening in your business so you can make better financial decisions.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Episode Timestamps

[INSERT TIMESTAMPS AFTER FINAL AUDIO EDIT]

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

Girl, imagine spending almost $40,000 starting a business before you've made your FIRST sale.

Inventory. Product samples. A professional photoshoot. A warehouse.

And not one paying customer yet.

Sis, we need to talk.

Because I absolutely want you to build the business you've been dreaming about. But do we really need to spend money building the Year Five version of your business when we're still in Month One?

In this episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, we're getting into whether borrowing money to start a business is actually a smart financial move, why looking like an established business isn't the same as having one, and three questions I want you asking BEFORE taking on business debt.

We're talking about testing your business idea before making major investments, recognizing when you're spending money to feel like a CEO instead of meeting an actual business need, and what happens when you personally guarantee debt your business can't repay.

Because girl, just because somebody is willing to lend you $40,000 doesn't mean your business can afford to borrow it.

And if the business doesn't grow the way you expected?

That payment is STILL due.

I want you to have the warehouse, the inventory, the beautiful branding, and all the things you've envisioned for your business.

But first, let's make sure the numbers actually support the move.

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

- Why spending thousands of dollars before making your first sale can create unnecessary financial risk

- The difference between investing in your business and financing the image of a successful business

- Why you don't need to build the Year Five version of your business in Month One

- How to test customer demand before making major financial commitments

- Ways to start smaller through preorders, pop-ups, vending events, limited inventory, and local sales

- Why actual customer purchases matter more than people saying they love your business idea

- How borrowing money can make purchases feel affordable even when the business can't support them

- Why getting approved for business financing doesn't automatically mean taking on the debt is a good decision

- How debt payments can affect your cash flow and the decisions you make as your business grows

- What a personal guarantee means when you're borrowing money for your business

- Why your personal financial situation matters when you're personally responsible for business debt

- How to evaluate what happens if sales are lower than expected or the business takes longer to become profitable

- Three questions to ask before borrowing money to start or grow your business

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

5 Money Strategies Every Woman Entrepreneur Needs Before Her Next Move

You don't need to become an accountant to run a successful business, sis. But you DO need to understand enough about your money to make good decisions with it.

In this free guide, we're talking through five money decisions every woman entrepreneur should think about before making her next move: hiring, paying yourself, preparing for taxes, planning for retirement, and understanding how much of your revenue you're actually keeping.

And you're not getting a PDF tossed at you with a “good luck, girl.” I've included audio teaching to walk you through it, too.

Grab your free copy:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/5-money-strategies-cmc

Episode Timestamps

[INSERT TIMESTAMPS AFTER FINAL AUDIO EDIT]

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

Girl, just because your business crossed $50,000, $75,000, or even $100,000 in revenue doesn't automatically mean it's time to become an S Corp.

I know somebody on the internet probably told you otherwise.

But sis, can we look at the BOOKS first?

Because you might be making good money, but if your books haven't been updated, your taxes are behind, and you're still mixing personal and business expenses, we have some things to talk about before adding another layer to your business.

In this episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, we're getting into why revenue alone isn't enough to determine whether an S Corp election makes sense, the financial responsibilities that come with becoming an S Corp, and three things I want you to evaluate BEFORE making that decision.

We're also talking about something that doesn't get nearly enough attention.

The cost of maintaining an S Corp.

Because yes, an S Corp election can potentially save you money in taxes. But what happens when you haven't set up payroll, your business tax returns aren't filed, and now you're paying thousands of dollars to clean up a strategy you weren't prepared to maintain?

Girl, that's what we're trying to avoid.

Sometimes the smartest financial move isn't saying no to a strategy.

It's knowing when to say, "Not yet. Let's get you ready."

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

- Why reaching a certain revenue number doesn't automatically mean your business is ready for an S Corp election

- The difference between business revenue and profit, and why that distinction matters when evaluating S Corp tax savings

- Why accurate, up-to-date bookkeeping should come before making major tax decisions

- How missing business expenses and mixed personal transactions can distort your financial picture

- Why being behind on tax filings should make you evaluate your current compliance responsibilities before adding new ones

- What changes when you elect S Corp taxation, including payroll, reasonable compensation, separate tax filings, and owner distributions

- The ongoing costs of maintaining an S Corp, including bookkeeping, payroll, tax preparation, and professional support

- How missed filings, incorrect payroll, and neglected bookkeeping can turn a potential tax-saving strategy into an expensive cleanup project

- Why a strategy that could save you money isn't automatically the right strategy for your business today

- Three questions to ask before making an S Corp election: Do I know my actual profit? Am I keeping up with my current responsibilities? Can I afford and maintain the additional requirements?

- Why making financial decisions based on your actual numbers is more important than following generic business advice online

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Girl Let Me See Your Books Strategy Session

Girl, before you make another big financial decision because somebody online told you it was time, let's actually look at what's happening in YOUR business.

Your business might be making enough money for an S Corp election to make sense, but that doesn't automatically mean your financial foundation is ready for it.

That's where my Girl Let Me See Your Books Strategy Session comes in.

For $175, we'll spend 45 minutes looking at your business money, talking through what you're trying to accomplish, and identifying what needs your attention before you make your next move.

Maybe you're ready for that S Corp conversation.

Maybe we need to get your books cleaned up, address outstanding tax filings, or put better systems in place first.

Either way, I want you making decisions based on what your business actually needs, not just a revenue number somebody threw out on the internet.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Episode Timestamps

[INSERT TIMESTAMPS AFTER FINAL AUDIO EDIT]

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

Girl, I want you to make six figures. Have those $20K months. Get the clients. Grow the business.

But can we talk about what happens AFTER the money comes in?

Because if you struggle to manage $100, making $100,000 in your business isn't magically going to make you better with money.

And here's the part nobody talks about enough.

Being bad with money doesn't always mean you're spending too much. Sometimes it looks like having $50,000 sitting in your business checking account because you're terrified to touch it.

In this episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, we're getting into why more revenue doesn't automatically mean better financial management, how your personal money habits can follow you into your business, and why knowing when to ask for help can save you from some expensive mistakes.

We're also talking about the difference between keeping money because you have a plan and keeping money because you're scared to make a move.

Because girl, I don't just want you celebrating how much your business made.

I want you asking what that money actually DID for you.

Did it build your savings? Help you prepare for taxes? Fund retirement? Put you in a better financial position?

Because making more money is great. But knowing what to DO with it?

That's where things start changing.

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

- Why making more revenue doesn't automatically make you better at managing money

- How your personal money habits can follow you into your business, even when your accounts are separate

- Why earning $30,000 a month can create bigger financial problems if you're still managing money the same way you did at $3,000

- Why revenue alone doesn't tell you whether your business is financially healthy

- How spending based on your bank balance can leave you unprepared for taxes, payroll, and other obligations

- Why “I don't know what I don't know” can become expensive as your business grows

- How to recognize when it's time to bring in an accountant, tax professional, attorney, or financial professional

- Why poor money management doesn't always look like overspending

- How fear can lead you to hold too much cash in your business without a clear purpose

- The difference between building an intentional cash reserve and keeping money because you're afraid to use it

- Why every dollar in your business should have a purpose, whether that's taxes, operating expenses, owner pay, retirement, or future growth

- The three money habits to rethink before you focus on making even more revenue

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

5 Money Strategies Every Woman Entrepreneur Needs Before Her Next Move

You don't need to become an accountant to run a successful business, sis. But you DO need to understand enough about your money to make good decisions with it.

In this free guide, we're talking through five money decisions every woman entrepreneur should think about before making her next move: hiring, paying yourself, preparing for taxes, planning for retirement, and understanding how much of your revenue you're actually keeping.

And you're not getting a PDF tossed at you with a “good luck, girl.” I've included audio teaching to walk you through it, too.

Grab your free copy:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/5-money-strategies-cmc

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

Girl, remember when you got that first client payment and it went straight into your personal checking account?

Because at the time, you weren't thinking about business bank accounts, bookkeeping software, or keeping everything separate.

You were just excited somebody PAID YOU.

But now you've formed your LLC, you're bringing in real money, and somehow your groceries are still sitting right beside your business expenses.

Girl, we need to fix that.

In this episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, we're talking about what happens when you mix personal and business expenses, why separating your money matters, and three things you can do right now to start cleaning things up.

And no, you don't need to throw away legitimate business expenses just because you paid for them personally.

We're getting into how to handle those expenses, why connecting your personal bank account to QuickBooks might create an even bigger mess, and how to start treating your business money like the business you're building.

Because girl, forming the LLC was one thing. Now we need the MONEY to catch up.

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

- Why so many women entrepreneurs start by accepting business payments into their personal accounts

- Why forming an LLC means it's time to get serious about separating your business and personal finances

- How mixing personal and business money can complicate your bookkeeping and potentially affect your LLC's legal protection

- Why you should open a business bank account once that first client payment clears

- What happens when you use personal money to pay legitimate business expenses

- Why personally funded business expenses shouldn't automatically be left out of your books

- What to document when you're paying for business purchases with personal funds

- Why connecting your personal checking account to QuickBooks or Xero can create unnecessary bookkeeping problems

- How owner's contributions help account for business expenses you personally funded, and why the proper treatment depends on your business structure

- Three steps to start separating your money without losing track of what you've already invested in your business

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

5 Money Strategies Every Woman Entrepreneur Needs Before Her Next Move

You don't need to become an accountant to run a successful business, sis. But you DO need to understand enough about your money to make good decisions with it.

In this free guide, we're talking through five money decisions every woman entrepreneur should think about before making her next move: hiring, paying yourself, preparing for taxes, planning for retirement, and understanding how much of your revenue you're actually keeping.

And you're not getting a PDF tossed at you with a “good luck, girl.” I've included audio teaching to walk you through it, too.

Grab your free copy:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/5-money-strategies-cmc

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

From Nursing School to Tax Strategy: Why I’m Talking About Your Business Money

Girl, before I start getting all up in your business money every Thursday, we need to talk about how I even got here.

Because somehow the girl who loved math her entire life went to college for nursing. Then I became an accountant who absolutely HATED taxes. And now? I’m an Enrolled Agent and Chartered Financial Consultant who will happily talk about taxes, business money, and building wealth all day.

Clearly, there were a few plot twists.

In this first episode of Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money, I’m taking you behind the scenes of my journey and, more importantly, sharing why it shaped the way I help women entrepreneurs understand their money today.

We’re talking about the three questions that eventually became the foundation of how I look at business money:

What’s actually happening with your numbers?

How can you legally keep more of what you make?

And how can the money your business is producing today help you build wealth for tomorrow?

Because girl, making money is great. But I want that money to actually DO something for you.

Main Topics Covered in This Episode

How a lifelong love of math somehow led me to nursing school first

The church accounting assignment that brought me back to numbers

Why I refused to advise business owners about money without getting properly educated

Why I hated taxes and what eventually made me become an Enrolled Agent

The difference between simply filing taxes and actually thinking strategically about them

Why accounting and tax strategy eventually stopped feeling like enough

How financial planning changed the way I think about the money women make in their businesses

The three lenses I use when looking at business money: What’s happening with the numbers? How do we minimize the taxes? How do we maximize the wealth?

Why I created The Bunch Accounting Co.

Why I created Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money and what you can expect when you come hang out with me every Thursday

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

5 Money Strategies Every Woman Entrepreneur Needs Before Her Next Move

You don't need to become an accountant to run a successful business, sis. But you DO need to understand enough about your money to make good decisions with it.

In this free guide, we're talking through five money decisions every woman entrepreneur should think about before making her next move: hiring, paying yourself, preparing for taxes, planning for retirement, and understanding how much of your revenue you're actually keeping.

And you're not getting a PDF tossed at you with a “good luck, girl.” I've included audio teaching to walk you through it, too.

Grab your free copy:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/5-money-strategies-cmc

Ready for Me to Look at Your Business Money With You?

If you're listening and thinking, “Okay Mareaka, I don't just need to learn about this. I need somebody to look at MY numbers,” that's where we can start.

At The Bunch Accounting Co. we start with a Girl Let Me See Your Books strategy session so I can see what you're working with, talk through what's happening, and figure out what your next move actually needs to be.

Book your strategy session:

www.bunchaccountingco.com/diwm

Connect with Mareaka

The Bunch Accounting Co. + Girl, Let Me Explain newsletter:

www.bunchaccountingco.com

Come hang out with me on Threads:

threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co

More About Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is the business money podcast for women entrepreneurs who are making money, making moves, and realizing their financial foundation needs to catch up.

Every Thursday, Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, breaks down the accounting, taxes, profit, business decisions, and wealth strategies behind your numbers without making you feel like you need an accounting degree to understand them.

Because you don't need to know everything your accountant knows.

But you DO need to understand what your numbers are actually saying so you can make better decisions with the money you're working this hard to make.

Around here, we're talking business money like girlfriends sitting down together and figuring it out.

New episodes every Thursday.

Making money in your business is one thing. Understanding what your numbers are actually telling you is another.

Girl, Let’s Talk Business Money is for women entrepreneurs who are making money but still have questions about what’s happening behind those numbers.

Hosted by Mareaka Bunch, MAcc, EA, ChFC, we’re talking business money without making it more complicated than it needs to be - from profit and cash flow to taxes, paying yourself, pricing, and the financial decisions that come with growing a business.

Because girl, you don’t need to become an accountant. You just need to understand your numbers well enough to make better decisions with them.

Want a taste of what’s coming in future episodes? Listen to the trailer and let’s talk business money.

Let’s stay connected:

The Bunch Accounting Co. https://www.bunchaccountingco.com

Follow me on Threads @the.bunch.accounting.co

https://www.threads.com/@the.bunch.accounting.co