Hi Mamas,
Welcome back!
Being a mom is exhausting. I’m sure many of you feel the same way. As a kid, I never understood why all the moms seemed tired or short-tempered. Or why they didn’t love our dogs as much as we did. I get it now.
Then you add what you’re passionate about: your business, your side hustle, your creative project. Suddenly you’re juggling a different kind of baby. Both are fulfilling. Both are overwhelming.
And bookkeeping? Let’s be real. Managing your numbers as a busy mom and small business owner can feel impossible. But keeping track of your income and expenses is one of the most powerful ways to find peace of mind and grow your business.
The fact that you even opened this post means you’re already taking a small but powerful step toward financial clarity.
The Wake-Up Call
Knowing your numbers is one of the most important things you can do in your business, and in your personal life too. Without tracking them, you are just guessing. And those guesses can cost you more than you think.
And I get it. Even with my background in accounting and my husband being a CPA, we had blind spots. We thought we were doing fine. Our bank account balance went up every month, and that felt like enough.
Until we found out we were pregnant with our first child and decided to actually look at how much we were spending. We were shocked at how much money was going towards eating out (and that was just one line item!). Now we spend less on eating out as a family of four than we did when it was just the two of us!
The Tracker That Changed Everything
So we started tracking. Not in some fancy app. Just a simple spreadsheet.
It wasn’t perfect, but it was exactly what we needed at that stage in our life. It gave us clarity, accountability, and a new way to look at what “enough” actually meant.
The version I use today has changed a lot since then, but the heart of it is the same. It’s what inspired the tracker I’m sharing with you now, created to help other mamas find that same sense of clarity and confidence with their money in both personal and professional finances.
Introducing the Cash Flow Pro Tracker
This spreadsheet is yours forever. Whether you use it for personal finances, business transactions, or both, this tracker will help you:
- Set your income and expense categories
- Record and review your monthly spending
- Understand where your money is actually going
💡 Ready to feel more organized? Grab the tracker here
Mama, I know you’re running your household like a CEO. Now it’s time to run your business like one too, and that starts with knowing your numbers.
The bookkeeper in me would love for you to take advantage of all the time-saving tools QuickBooks offers, or better yet, work with a professional bookkeeper to make sure your numbers are accurate and up to date.
But I also know there’s a time and place for that, and a time and place for a simple spreadsheet. If you’re not ready to invest in software or support just yet, this tracker is the perfect way to start. It gives you the same foundation of clarity and confidence until you’re ready to level up.
If you’re already using QuickBooks Online, it’s an incredible way to automate and simplify your bookkeeping (that’s what I use with my clients at Oak and Ledger, my bookkeeping firm for small business owners).
Ready to scale your accounting software system? As a QuickBooks ProAdvisor, I can help you save through ProAdvisor Preferred Pricing.
From Guessing to Clarity
When tax season comes, you won’t be scrambling to figure out what that charge from twelve months ago was. You’ll already have it all laid out and your CPA or future bookkeeper will thank you. Not to mention, you’ll spend less on cleanup or catch-up fees.
💡 Money Moment: You don’t a CPA to keep your bookkeeping records.
The Mama Ask: Just Once a Month
I know we tend to put a lot on ourselves. “If I just did this every week…” But life happens. So instead of aiming for weekly, I’m simply asking you to do one thing. Set aside time once a month.
Review your transactions. Categorize them. See where you stand.
This one habit can:
- Help you identify spending patterns
- Plan for profit and growth
- Spot fraudulent charges before it is too late (you would be amazed at some of the things I have seen regarding this topic in itself!)
Please mama, once a month. I’m begging.
💡 Mama Takeaway: Bookkeeping doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be consistent.
Mama Resource Roundup
🧾 The Cash Flow Pro Tracker – for financial freedom and clarity
📋 Free DIY Bookkeeping Checklist – the system I followed before I ever had software
🎤 Thrive 2026: The Business Breakthrough Summit – inspiration and strategy (use code JESSIE for exclusive savings)
🤝 The Mompreneur Community – for local meetups and collaborations
🌱 BNI (Business Network International) – for structured networking and referral growth
📚 Oak and Ledger – when you’re ready to take bookkeeping off your plate
Until Next Time
Bookkeeping doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t even have to be fancy.
It just has to be done. One small step at a time.
✨ Reflection Prompt: What’s one spending habit that surprised you last month? How can you use that awareness to plan better this month?
With gratitude,
Jessie