How Hiring a Bookkeeper Took My Business to New Heights!

Why I Decided to Hire a Bookkeeper: A Pre-Bookkeeper Perspective on my Business

Before I became a bookkeeper, I was running a flying business—more specifically, a small flight school for the adventure seeker. Flying has always been my passion, and starting my own business was a dream come true. But, as anyone in the aviation industry knows, there’s a lot more to running a business than just flying planes. The reality of managing day-to-day operations, handling customer bookings, and maintaining aircraft logs is one thing. But when it came to managing the financial side of things, I quickly realized I was in over my head.

At first, I was determined to handle everything on my own. After all, I was good at math and had a basic understanding of finances. But as my business started to grow, so did the complexity of managing my finances. What seemed like a simple task soon became overwhelming. And before long, the decision to hire a bookkeeper became clear.

The Growing Complexity of the Business

Running a flight school is no small feat. Between scheduling lessons, maintaining aircraft, paying instructors, managing fuel expenses, and tracking customer payments, I found myself buried in paperwork. The logistics of managing student flight hours, fuel costs, and equipment maintenance alone were complex, and then there was the issue of ensuring everything was accurately accounted for at the end of the month.

For the first few months, I kept track of everything in a spreadsheet. It seemed simple enough at the time, but as I added more students and flights, I quickly realized that my makeshift system wasn’t cutting it. I started missing important details, misclassifying expenses, and, worst of all, I began to lose track of critical tax deadlines. I started to wonder: Is this really how I want to spend my time, or should I be focused on flying and helping my clients achieve their own aviation goals?

The Stress of Financial Uncertainty

There’s always been a lot of excitement in flying but managing the finances of my flying business was a source of constant stress. I was always worried about making mistakes with tax filings, payroll, and expenses. When you’re in a regulated industry like aviation, the last thing you want is to find out that you missed a deadline or filed something incorrectly—it can cause a lot of issues, not to mention potential fines.

I remember being up late at night, stressing over receipts, trying to balance the books. I knew there had to be a better way. The more I tried to do it myself, the more I realized that my time was being consumed by these tedious tasks—time that should have been spent making my business stronger and, frankly, more enjoyable for me as the owner.

The Realization: My Business Deserved Better

The turning point came when I was preparing for tax season and realized just how much stress I was under. As an entrepreneur in the aviation industry, I didn’t have the luxury of simply focusing on one aspect of the business. From handling pilot certifications to managing aircraft maintenance schedules, I had a lot on my plate. At some point, I had to ask myself, Can I continue managing everything, or do I need help to ensure everything is done right?

I knew that my business deserved more attention than I was able to give it. I wanted to focus on what I loved—flying, teaching students, and offering exceptional services—not on tracking down missing receipts or figuring out which category to classify an expense under. So, after much deliberation, I made the decision to hire a bookkeeper.

The Benefits of Hiring a Bookkeeper

The moment I hired a bookkeeper, everything changed. The first thing I noticed was the peace of mind that came with knowing my finances were in professional hands. My bookkeeper set up a proper accounting system that helped me categorize everything correctly, track expenses in real time, and most importantly, gave me clear financial reports.

Now, I could focus on growing my flying business and improving customer experiences, knowing that the financial side of things was being handled by someone with expertise. Not only did it free up time for me to fly and work with clients, but it also allowed me to make smarter financial decisions, thanks to the accurate and timely information I was now receiving.

I didn’t realize it at the time, but hiring a bookkeeper was a game changer for my business. It helped me manage cash flow more effectively, stay compliant with aviation regulations, and make better, more informed decisions about how I could grow the business.

Looking Back: Why It Was the Right Move

Looking back, hiring a bookkeeper was one of the best decisions I made for my flying business. It wasn’t just about accuracy—it was about the freedom to do what I loved without the constant stress of managing finances. The financial clarity I gained allowed me to make more confident decisions and plan for the future with a clearer vision.

As I continue to grow in my career as a bookkeeper today, I reflect on that experience and realize how valuable it was to have a professional by my side when it came to managing finances. Becoming a bookkeeper myself has given me a deeper appreciation for the role I played in the success of my own business—and it’s something I wish I’d discovered sooner.

If you’re in a similar situation, whether in aviation or any other industry, I can’t stress enough how much of a difference it makes to have the right financial help. It’s one of the best investments I’ve made for my business, and it’s a decision I’m grateful for every day.