Why I Gave Up DIY Bookkeeping (And My Landscaping Business Is Better for It)

Hi, I’m a small business owner based right here in Bozeman, Montana. I run a growing landscaping company, and like most entrepreneurs, I started out doing pretty much everything myself. Sales? Me. Customer service? Me. Planting trees, leveling dirt, replacing the weed whacker string for the fifth time in a day? Still me.

And then there was QuickBooks.

Ah yes, QuickBooks—the software I once thought I could master after a single YouTube video and two cups of strong coffee. Spoiler alert: I could not.

The Bookkeeping Backlog Begins

When I launched my business, I figured I could keep up with the books just fine. A few transactions here and there, a couple invoices, no big deal. But as the business grew (yay!), so did the financial chaos (not yay!).

Suddenly, I was:

• Managing a growing team of employees

• Juggling project timelines and estimates

• Trying to figure out if that “fuel” expense was from my truck or from Trevor’s questionable gas station burrito

• And yes, still somehow trying to keep QuickBooks updated

Eventually, I found myself spending my evenings—not winding down or hanging out with the family—but trying to match transactions, entering receipts from a glovebox that smelled like fertilizer, and muttering things like “what even is a chart of accounts?”

And let’s be honest—I was doing a mediocre job.

The Moment of Clarity (a.k.a. the Tantrum Over a Reconciliation Report)

One Wednesday night, after attempting to reconcile my business credit card for the third time in a row and discovering yet another duplicate expense, I reached my breaking point. I looked in the mirror (figuratively—because I was elbow-deep in receipts) and said:

“You need help. Professional help. Bookkeeping help.”

I thought about hiring someone in-house. But here’s the thing: my books contain all the sensitive stuff—revenue, customer payments, payroll. I wanted someone I could trust, someone who lives and breathes this stuff—not someone I’d train between landscaping jobs.

So, I started searching for an outsourced bookkeeper.

Enter Blackfin: The Bookkeeper I Didn’t Know I Needed

After chatting with a couple of firms, I stumbled across Blackfin Accounting. Local to Bozeman, professional, and best of all, not afraid of my messy books. They actually liked cleaning up chaos.

Right away, they didn’t just take over the books—they helped me get ahead of them.

• They synced my bank accounts and credit cards so I no longer had to manually enter every transaction like it was 1997.

• They helped set up an online payment portal so clients could pay with a click instead of mailing checks (which, let’s face it, often got "lost" or forgotten).

• They automated customer payment reminders, which meant no more awkward “hey… just checking on that invoice” texts.

• They got my invoices out faster, and payments started coming in way quicker—sometimes even within 24 hours.

Suddenly, I wasn’t chasing paper trails. I was managing projects. Meeting with new clients. Actually doing what I started this business to do.

What I Thought I’d Miss (But Don’t At All)

Initially, I was nervous about letting someone else into the inner financial workings of my business. But you know what I don’t miss?

• The stress of not knowing if my numbers were accurate

• That pile of receipts I kept telling myself I’d organize "this weekend"

• The anxiety of tax season

Now I get monthly reports I actually understand, real-time financial updates, and a bookkeeper who’s on top of things—without me needing to follow up constantly.

Why I Didn’t Hire In-House

Some people ask why I didn’t just bring on a full-time bookkeeper. Simple:

1. It’s sensitive work. My books include private financial data. I needed a trained, experienced professional—not someone I’d have to manage or train on top of everything else.

2. Cost-effective. Outsourcing with Blackfin turned out to be more affordable than hiring someone full-time—and I got a whole team’s worth of expertise.

3. Expertise. This is what they do all day, every day. I get their best work without micromanaging.

   
   

Final Thoughts: Let the Pros Do What They Do Best

I didn’t start my landscaping company to spend my days reconciling accounts and formatting invoices. I started it because I love working outdoors, creating beautiful spaces, and building something meaningful.

Letting go of the bookkeeping was one of the best business decisions I’ve made. It’s given me back my time, my sanity, and honestly—it’s made my business more profitable and professional.

So, if you’re reading this and your QuickBooks file is starting to resemble a junk drawer full of mystery charges and overdue invoices, hear me out:

📞 Call Blackfin at 406-404-8955. Tell them Tyler from Bozeman (yeah, me) sent you. They’ll help you clean up the books so you can get back to building your business—not your backlog.

Your future self (and your staff, and your clients, and your sleep schedule) will thank you.