The Boutique Bookkeeper Show | Know Your Numbers & Prepare For Taxes
Are you making sales in your boutique but still wondering where all your money is going? Do you panic at tax time because your books are a mess—or worse, nonexistent? Are you tired of feeling like you should understand your numbers, but no one ever taught you how? If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or straight-up anxious about the money side of your boutique business, you are not alone. Running a retail business—especially online through platforms like Shopify—is no small feat. You’re juggling inventory, marketing, customer service, and social media… and somehow, you’re also supposed to be your own bookkeeper? Let’s be real: finances can feel intimidating. Maybe you’ve tried spreadsheets, downloaded bookkeeping software, or even hired someone—only to still feel totally in the dark. You just want to understand your business’s money and feel confident making decisions. You want freedom, not fear. I get it—because I’ve been there. Hi, I’m Megan Schmitke, host of The Boutique Bookkeeper Show. I have my Bachelor’s in Accounting and spent over seven years working in corporate accounting. But when I became a mom, I knew I wanted more flexibility—and I still had a passion for helping others with their finances. That’s when I started Finding Freedom Financial Services. What I discovered? So many boutique owners were struggling with their numbers—not because they didn’t care, but because no one had ever taught them how to manage their books. And while plenty of bookkeepers will do your bookkeeping for you, almost none will take the time to teach you how to do it yourself. That’s where this podcast comes in. The Boutique Bookkeeper Show is your go-to resource for breaking down the money side of your boutique in a way that actually makes sense. In each episode, you’ll get real-world, easy-to-digest education on topics like: ⭐ Understanding your Shopify reports ⭐ What numbers really matter in your business ⭐ How to stay organized month after month ⭐ How to prepare for tax season without the stress ⭐ And how to create systems that actually give you freedom—not more to do Whether you want to DIY your bookkeeping with confidence or just want to finally understand what your numbers are telling you, you’re in the right place. Let’s take the confusion out of your finances so you can step into the CEO role your boutique needs. 👉 Ready to connect and take the next step? Follow me on Instagram @findingfreedomfinancial for tips, behind-the-scenes looks, and updates on new episodes. Want to dive deeper or work together? Visit www.findingfreedomfinancial.com to learn more about how I help boutique owners just like you find financial clarity and peace of mind. Hit subscribe and let’s turn your confusion into confidence—one episode at a time.
Episodes
I just spent three days at my very first mastermind, and I walked in convinced I'd be the dumbest person in the room. The sessions were amazing, but the conversations in the hallways, over supper, and in the hotel lobby taught me just as much. In this episode, I'm sharing the three biggest lessons I brought home: why you need to get in the right room (even when it scares you), why you should grow into your next step in...
Wondering how to learn bookkeeping without feeling completely lost? In this episode, I'm walking you through the exact 5-stage Success Path every member of Bookkeeping Made Simple for Boutiques follows, from setting up QuickBooks the right way to finally being able to read your own financial reports with confidence.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Register for my Free Masterclass, Make Your Money Make Sense! Where you'...
There are two common bookkeeping mistakes I see boutique owners make over and over when it comes to recording their sales data, and both of them can quietly throw off your entire financial picture. In this episode, I'm breaking down exactly what each mistake looks like, how to check if you're making one of them yourself, and I'm sharing the story of how fixing this exact issue helped one of my clients uncover $21,453.08 she didn't ...
QuickBooks vs Excel spreadsheet, which one should you actually be using for your boutique's bookkeeping? In this episode I'm breaking down the real pros and cons of both, so you can stop guessing and start making an informed decision about how you track your numbers.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Register for my Free Masterclass, Make Your Money Make Sense! Where you'll learn how to understand where your money is goi...
Ready to shift your mindset about your bookkeeping? In this episode I'm breaking down 3 common beliefs I hear from boutique owners right before they finally get started: not knowing where to begin, having tried QuickBooks before and had it not click, and worrying a real system will mean more work. We're tackling all three, and I'm giving you a real, tactical starting point to begin today.
Ready to take your learning a step further...
Feeling behind on your bookkeeping and not sure how to get out of that cycle? In this episode I'm recapping a conversation from the Inventory Genius podcast between my friend Ciara Stockeland and Rebecca, a former student of mine, where Rebecca shares the exact framework that can help you finally know your numbers and break free from the shame and avoidance that comes with running a business. We're breaking down her 3 words: courag...
This week, I'm digging into why Shopify accounting isn't something most CPAs are trained for, and why that's not actually a knock on them. I share some of my own accounting background (including a confession about my own tax returns), and walk through why you don't need your CPA to explain your numbers to you. You can understand them yourself, and even be the one answering THEIR questions at tax time.
Ready to take your learning a...
This week, I'm getting personal about why you started your business in the first place, and how that ties into the real mission behind Finding Freedom Financial. I share my own story, from the name I picked back in 2017 to the Bible verse this business is built on, and reframe bookkeeping as the tool that protects your freedom, not a test you have to pass perfectly.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Register for my Free ...
This week, Megan shares the real story behind a scary business decision she sat on for months this year, scaling back her client list and letting go of her employees. More than the decision itself, she walks through what actually helped her move forward with clarity instead of fear: knowing her numbers.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Register for my Free Masterclass, Make Your Money Make Sense! Where you'll learn how ...
This week's episode looks a little different. Instead of a typical bookkeeping walkthrough, I'm celebrating 5 years in business by sharing 5 business lessons that apply directly to boutique owners, no matter what season your shop is in. From learning to pivot, to embracing AI tools, to finding your niche and knowing your why, these are the lessons that have shaped Finding Freedom Financial over the last half-decade.
Ready to take ...
Ever feel like you're making plenty of sales but you still can't say whether your boutique is actually profitable? In this episode, I'm walking you through how to find the break-even point for your boutique, which is the exact number of net product sales you need to cover all your costs. Then I show you how to turn that number into a SMART sales goal built on YOUR real numbers, including one extra step most boutique owners miss whe...
Starting your boutique and not sure what bookkeeping even means? Welcome to bookkeeping for beginners! In this episode, we are walking through exactly what bookkeeping is (and what it is not), plus the few simple things every brand new boutique owner should set up right from the start. You will learn why separating your business and personal finances matters so much, how to pick a system you can stick with, and the one weekly habit...
Most boutique owners don't avoid their bookkeeping because they're lazy. They avoid it because nobody ever handed them a roadmap. In this episode, I'm walking you through six free bookkeeping resources that meet you wherever you're stuck right now, in the exact order you'd actually use them. We start with the most common bookkeeping questions answered in plain English, move into knowing what you can deduct on your taxes, avoiding t...
Hiring a bookkeeper for your boutique is a big decision, and most boutique owners go into that conversation without knowing what to ask. In this episode, I’m walking you through 8 specific questions to ask when hiring a bookkeeper, what a good answer looks like for each one, and the red flags that should send you running before you hand over access to your financial accounts.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Regis...
Whether you should be hiring a bookkeeper or doing your own bookkeeping is one of the biggest decisions you'll make as a boutique owner. In this episode, Megan breaks down both sides honestly so you can figure out what's actually right for your business right now. Spoiler: hiring a bookkeeper isn't always the magic fix you think it is.
In this episode, we’re breaking down the 7 types of transactions in your boutique and why not all of them are expenses. If you’ve ever recorded everything that leaves your bank account as an expense, this episode will show you exactly why that’s a problem, and how to get each type of transaction categorized correctly in QuickBooks Online so your books actually reflect what’s happening in your business.
Read...
If you’ve been recording your Shopify deposits in Quickbooks Online as straight sales, your financial reports aren’t as accurate as they could be. In this episode, we’re covering the simple system for recording Shopify deposits correctly in QBO so your books are clean, your reports are trustworthy, and you’re not overpaying in taxes.
Ready to take your learning a step further?
Register for my Free Mastercla...
Your Shopify payouts aren’t just one number - they’re actually made up of 6 separate components. In this episode, I’m breaking down exactly what’s inside every Shopify payout, why recording them correctly gives you a much clearer picture of your boutique finances, and how one simple habit could be causing you to overstate your income and pay more in taxes than you actually owe.
Ready to take your learning a...
Ever paid for a business expense with your personal card and had no idea how to get it into your books? Recording business expenses paid with personal funds is something almost every boutique owner runs into, and in this episode I'm walking you through exactly what to do. Whether you paid for things out of pocket before you had a business bank account, or you just accidentally swiped the wrong card, those expenses still belong in y...
Are you tracking your inventory and COGS correctly in your boutique bookkeeping? If you’ve been expensing your inventory when you buy it, your profit and loss report is NOT giving you an accurate picture of your business. In this episode, we’re breaking down the difference between inventory and cost of goods sold, why it matters for your boutique finances, and exactly what to do if you’ve been doing it wrong.
Rea...
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