Heyy Reader,

I've been working behind-the-scenes to get the inside scoop from other business owners on the work they do and how it would benefit my clients and my audience if we were to talk about their services and my services combined.

And that led me to interviewing several different people so that I could share information and resources with you from the best out there.

Today, our newsletter is a little different from normal and you can expect the next few emails to be similar to this one. I am going to share interviews I've done with other service providers that offer services complimentary to mine that you (or someone else in my audience) has asked for more information about in the last 6 months.

For this interview, I partnered with bookkeeper, Aneisha Velazquez to talk about bookkeeping and how her services grow online businesses so that you don't have to sacrifice what's important to you.

See our interview below.

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Hey, Aneisha! Can you tell me a little about you and the work you do?

I’m Aneisha, a financial detangler and clarity guide for different-brained business owners, and a thought partner for anyone rethinking their relationship with money, systems, and possibility.

With a background in communication and a knack for making the complex feel approachable, I help clients untangle financial messes, soften shame, and take the next step with more calm and confidence.

Or to put it more plainly: I do bookkeeping for neurodivergent and introverted business owners, especially ones running independent retail shops or service-based businesses, who want their numbers to make sense and support the way they actually work.

What’s the difference between a bookkeeper, accountant, and CPA — and where does a bookkeeper’s work begin and end?

I see bookkeepers, accountants, and CPAs as filling different roles within a business.

To make it easier, I like to break it down into two main categories:

1. Day-to-day financial tracking

This includes invoicing, bill pay, tracking expenses and cash flow, organizing receipts, and keeping your records clean so you can find what you need when you need it. Basically: keeping the financial engine running smoothly.

2. Taxes and planning

Businesses have to deal with all kinds of taxes: income tax, sales tax, payroll tax, and the owner’s personal tax situation (which is often tied to the business). Planning ahead to be more proactive at tax time is where tax strategy comes in.

A bookkeeper usually focuses on the first category: keeping the day-to-day numbers accurate, timely, and organized.

An accountant or tax professional usually focuses on the second: filing taxes, giving advice, and helping you plan for what’s coming.

But the lines are blurry now.

Some accountants do bookkeeping. Some bookkeepers are trained in tax prep. Not all accountants do taxes at all.

You might also work with an Enrolled Agent (EA) — a federally certified tax expert — instead of a CPA.

And speaking of CPAs (Certified Public Accountants), that designation is most relevant for publicly traded companies or high-regulation industries. You don’t need a CPA to file your small business taxes.

What you do need is a team that works together and communicates well, even if that’s just you, your bookkeeper, and your tax pro.

Quick recap:

• Bookkeeper = your go-to for day-to-day financial tracking and organization
• Accountant / EA / trained bookkeeper = tax preparation and planning

The key is knowing what you need and knowing who’s actually doing what.

What does the process of working with a bookkeeper look like?

For most business owners, the first time you work with a bookkeeper, it’s to get caught up and organized. And honestly, that’s usually the most overwhelming part.

I’ve seen the shame about being “behind,” the panic about taxes, the stress of not even knowing where to start. If that’s you, you’re not alone. I keep the process simple and clear, so you can move from tangled to organized without burning out.

Here’s what it looks like:

1. Onboarding

We start with a call where I walk you through what I need, how to send it securely, and what to expect. I use a secure client portal for document uploads and messages, so you don’t have to hop on a call every time I need something.

This stage requires heavy client involvement but I’m here to guide you through it.

2. Catch-Up

Once I have what I need, I start the catchup part. I go through your financial records, organize income and expenses, and start putting together the full picture.

This stage can take about 4-6 weeks, depending on how far behind things are and how complex your business is. I’ll ask a lot of questions — not because you did anything wrong, but because I’m piecing together a story from past activity. That detective work is part of the process.

3. Ongoing Maintenance

Once things are caught up and clean, we move into monthly maintenance. I’ll handle the ongoing bookkeeping, and your input becomes lighter — just answering occasional questions and sending documents if needed.

Throughout the year, if questions come up, you can reach out. I keep communication flexible:

• Quick questions get an email
• More complex ones come with a Loom video
• And we can always hop on a monthly call if you prefer live conversations or need deeper support

My goal is to make this feel manageable and not like another stressful item on your to-do list.

What are the first signs a business owner should look for that indicate they might need a bookkeeper?

Top 3 signs you might need a bookkeeper:

• You’re stressed every tax season and filing an extension, not because of a tax strategy, but because you need more time to pull your numbers together.
• You haven’t opened your QuickBooks / Xero / Wave account in months and you keep mentally rescheduling that task to a future time that never comes.
• Your accountant keeps asking for things you don’t understand and the back-and-forth is frustrating or just makes you feel like you’re doing it wrong.

And even if none of that’s true?

Maybe you just want tax season to go more smoothly. Maybe you want your business to feel less chaotic. Or maybe you’re ready to look ahead and make some bigger plans.

If that’s true, you need a bookkeeper.

Bookkeeping is the foundation of your finances. If you want clarity and calm in your business money stuff, this is where to start.

In your experience, do business owners ever try to give bookkeeping tasks to an OBM or VA when they really need a professional bookkeeper?

Yes, I see this all the time, especially in online business communities. A solopreneur is finally ready to get help and thinks, “Maybe I can just hand this off to a VA.”

And honestly? A VA can be super helpful when it comes to supporting your bookkeeping: collecting receipts, uploading documents, or sending over monthly info so we’re not waiting on the business owner’s schedule.

But handing over all your bookkeeping to someone who isn’t trained in it? That’s where things can go wrong. You don’t want someone guessing how to categorize expenses or trying to figure out the difference between a liability and equity account in QuickBooks.

If your VA has a bookkeeping background, that’s great! Most don’t. So the best setup I’ve seen is this: partner with a professional bookkeeper, and have your VA support the process. That way things get done right the first time.

How do you explain to clients why bookkeeping should be handled by someone trained in it rather than just someone on the team?

Honestly? I usually let experience speak for itself.

Some parts of bookkeeping can absolutely be handled by someone on your team — like uploading receipts or sending invoices. But the actual accounting work? That’s where training matters, especially because it ties directly to your taxes.

The truth is, the best teacher is learning the hard way. If you want to test whether your team member can catch every tax deduction and keep your business compliant, you can try it.

Most of my best clients did. They DIY’d it for a while or handed it off to someone who meant well but wasn’t trained — and then came to me when things got tangled or stressful.

How can OBMs/VAs work with you to magnify your work?

A great VA makes my job easier because I know they’ll get me exactly what I need, on time, without us having to add more to the business owner’s tasks unless absolutely necessary.

Same goes for a business that’s running smoothly. When operations are already working well, it makes bookkeeping smoother too.

For example, a lot of my clients use platforms like Square, Stripe, or HoneyBook to get paid. But if those aren’t set up correctly, the bookkeeping side gets messy. And eventually, most business owners want to dig into what’s working in the business, like what offers are selling the most. But if the payment tools weren’t set up right, the books can’t give you those answers easily.

That’s where a good OBM or VA makes a big difference. If they’re on top of those systems and making sure things are set up properly, everything runs more smoothly for everyone.

Can you share an example of a time that you worked alongside a VA, OBM, or other team member to meet the needs of a client?

A few of my clients have assistants who handle daily invoicing, deposits, and follow-up questions about expenses, which makes my job a lot easier.

For one bookkeeping catchup last year, the assistant scanned and uploaded all of the owner’s paper receipts. That let me categorize expenses accurately and record out-of-pocket costs that were tax deductible. Now, every month, they also upload loan and other statements so I have what I need without delays.

I don’t do admin work, and I don’t want to. So when a VA or assistant is managing that side of things, it helps everything move faster and more smoothly. I really appreciate the assistants I work with; they make my work easier.

Please share where people can find you and how to get in touch with them. (Do you have a free offer?)

You can find money and bookkeeping tips on my bookkeeping business blog at yellowskybusiness.services/blog.

I also share free practical how-to videos on the business YouTube channel: @YellowSkyBusiness.Services.

And if you’re curious about what I’m exploring behind the scenes, including new money-related offers and ideas, you can follow along at my personal site: aneishavelazquez.com.

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Aneisha Velazquez Aneisha Velazquez is a financial detangler and clarity guide for different-brained business owners--and a thought partner for anyone rethinking their relationship with money, systems, and possibility. With a background in communications and a gift for making the complex feel approachable, she helps clients untangle financial messes, soften shame, and take their steps with calm and confidence.