Do I Really Need a Bookkeeper? A Therapist’s Guide to Knowing When It’s Time

When you opened your private practice, your goal wasn’t to become a spreadsheet expert—it was to help people heal. But as your practice has grown, the money side of your business has become harder to ignore.

If you’ve been asking yourself, “Do I really need a bookkeeper?” — you’re not alone.

Let’s walk through the signs it might be time to stop DIY-ing your books and what support could look like (without committing to a full-time accountant or big firm).

🤔 What Does a Bookkeeper Actually Do?

A bookkeeper tracks the day-to-day financial activity of your business—things like:

• Categorizing income and expenses

• Reconciling bank and credit card accounts

• Keeping your books up to date for tax prep

• Helping you understand what’s really going on in your business financially

But a great bookkeeper also does something more:
They bring calm to the chaos. They give you clarity in your business. And they help you plan instead of panic.

🚩 Signs You’re Ready to Hire a Bookkeeper

Still not sure? If any of the following feel familiar, it might be time to get support:

✅ You’re avoiding looking at your numbers
✅ You’re not sure if you’re actually profitable
✅ You scramble every year at tax time
✅ You’re behind on bookkeeping (even by a few months)
✅ You’ve started making more money, but feel less in control
✅ You’re using software (like QuickBooks or Xero) but don’t really understand it
✅ You want to grow, hire, or save—but don’t know where to start

If you said “yes” to more than one of these, you don’t just need a bookkeeper—you need one that understands you.

👩‍💼 Why Therapists Need Niche Support

Therapists don’t run typical small businesses. Your income may be seasonal. You deal with insurance reimbursements and no-shows. You balance emotional labor with clinical hours and paperwork.

And let’s be honest—money stuff can bring up all kinds of emotional baggage.

That’s why working with someone who understands your world makes such a difference. As a bookkeeper who works exclusively with therapists, I help private practice owners:

• Make sense of their income (even if it’s inconsistent)

• Separate personal and business finances

• Stop avoiding their books—and start planning ahead

• Get caught up, cleaned up, and back in control

💡 What If I’m Not Quite Ready?

Not everyone needs monthly bookkeeping right away. If you’re still early in your practice or figuring things out, you can still get support through:

• A one-time clean-up or QuickBooks setup

• A 20-minute Accounting Discovery call

• A DIY checklist to get started (like my [Therapist Finance Checklist])

• A plug-and-play chart of accounts setup, tailored for therapists

Think of it like therapy: sometimes you just need a few sessions. Sometimes you need ongoing care.

🧘 You Deserve Financial Clarity—Without the Shame

Hiring a bookkeeper isn’t about being “bad at money.” It’s about making a smart decision to free up your energy, time, and mental space so you can focus on what matters most: your clients and your peace of mind.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. And you don’t have to do it perfectly to start.

🎯 Ready to See If This Is the Right Fit?

Let’s take the pressure off. Here are a few next steps you can take, no strings attached:

🧾 Download: Therapist Finance Checklist
💬 Book: A 30-minute Accounting Discovery Call
📦 Try: My QBO Setup for Therapists

Wherever you are right now—I’ll meet you there.

🖤
Lorin
Founder, Open Books Accounting for Therapists