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The Boutique Bookkeeper Show | Know Your Numbers & Prepare For Taxes

The Boutique Bookkeeper Show | Know Your Numbers & Prepare For Taxes

By: Megan Schmitke | Bookkeeper & Bookkeeping Coach for Boutique Retailers
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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.Copyright 2025 All rights reserved. Economics Leadership Management Management & Leadership
Episodes
  • 038. 6 Free Bookkeeping Resources for Boutique Owners

    038. 6 Free Bookkeeping Resources for Boutique Owners
    Jun 29 2026

    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 the most common bookkeeping mistakes, building a solid foundation with a boutique-specific chart of accounts, learning to actually READ your financial reports, and finally getting a handle on your cash flow with Profit First. You don't have to grab all six today. You just need to know which one matches where you are.

    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 going, avoid costly bookkeeping mistakes, and set up an easy to follow bookkeeping system. Sign up now: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/masterclass

    Other Ways to Work With Me:

    • Need to get your bookkeeping caught up or cleaned up? Sometimes you just need a clean starting point so you can take it over yourself. Apply to work with us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/contact and we'll get your books up to date and ready to hand off.
    • Need some support as you do you own bookkeeping? Then I wanna invite you to join me inside of the Bookkeeping Made Simple for Boutiques Membership, where you can get trainings & support to help you feel confident as you manage the money-stuff yourself. Using Quickbooks Online, I walk you through through the exact setup & process you need to implement everything for accurate and EASY bookkeeping all year long - no more tax time scramble! Join us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/membership
    • Are you a Shopify seller who's not quite ready to invest in a bookkeeping software like Quickbooks? Don't worry - I got you! I've created a custom Shopify Seller Income & Expense Tracker that you can use to easily enter each transaction coming in and out of your business, along with your sales data coming directly from Shopify to put together a standard P&L (Income Statement) that you can hand over to your tax preparer. Download your copy at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/spreadsheet

    Prefer to learn while you read? Check out the blog post for this episode:

    https://findingfreedomfinancial.com/bookkeeping-resources/

    Related Episodes & Resources Mentioned:

    • Boutique Bookkeeping Guide: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/guide
    • Tax Deduction Guide for Boutique Owners: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/deductions
    • 5 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Boutique Bookkeeping: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/mistakes
    • Chart of Accounts Template: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/coa-template
    • Make Your Money Make Sense Masterclass: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/masterclass
    • Profit First Template: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/profit-first-template
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • 037. 8 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Bookkeeper (+ Red Flag Answers)

    037. 8 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Bookkeeper (+ Red Flag Answers)
    Jun 22 2026

    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?

    Register for my Free Masterclass, Make Your Money Make Sense! Where you’ll learn how to understand where your money is going, avoid costly bookkeeping mistakes, and set up an easy to follow bookkeeping system.

    Sign up now: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/masterclass

    Other Ways to Work With Me:

    • Need to get your bookkeeping caught up or cleaned up? Sometimes you just need a clean starting point so you can take it over yourself. Apply to work with us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/contact and we’ll get your books up to date and ready to hand off.
    • Need some support as you do your own bookkeeping? Then I wanna invite you to join me inside of the Bookkeeping Made Simple for Boutiques Membership, where you can get trainings & support to help you feel confident as you manage the money-stuff yourself. Using Quickbooks Online, I walk you through the exact setup & process you need to implement everything for accurate and EASY bookkeeping all year long - no more tax time scramble! Join us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/membership
    • Are you a Shopify seller who’s not quite ready to invest in a bookkeeping software like Quickbooks? Don’t worry - I got you! I’ve created a custom Shopify Seller Income & Expense Tracker that you can use to easily enter each transaction coming in and out of your business, along with your sales data coming directly from Shopify to put together a standard P&L (Income Statement) that you can hand over to your tax preparer. Download your copy at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/spreadsheet

    Prefer to learn while you read? Check out the blog post for this episode:

    www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/questions-to-ask-when-hiring-a-bookkeeper

    Related Episodes & Resources Mentioned:

    • Ep. 36 - Hiring a Bookkeeper Isn’t Always the Answer
    • Ep. 20 - Bookkeeper vs. Tax Preparer (And Why You Need Both)
    • A2X
    • Bookkeep
    Show More Show Less
    14 mins
  • 036. Hiring a Bookkeeper Isn't Always the Answer

    036. Hiring a Bookkeeper Isn't Always the Answer
    Jun 15 2026

    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.

    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 going, avoid costly bookkeeping mistakes, and set up an easy to follow bookkeeping system. Sign up now: www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/masterclass

    Other Ways to Work With Me:

    • Need to get your bookkeeping caught up or cleaned up? Sometimes you just need a clean starting point so you can take it over yourself. Apply to work with us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/contact and we'll get your books up to date and ready to hand off.
    • Need some support as you do your own bookkeeping? Then I wanna invite you to join me inside of the Bookkeeping Made Simple for Boutiques Membership, where you can get trainings & support to help you feel confident as you manage the money-stuff yourself. Using Quickbooks Online, I walk you through the exact setup & process you need to implement everything for accurate and EASY bookkeeping all year long - no more tax time scramble! Join us at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/membership
    • Are you a Shopify seller who's not quite ready to invest in a bookkeeping software like Quickbooks? Don't worry - I got you! I've created a custom Shopify Seller Income & Expense Tracker that you can use to easily enter each transaction coming in and out of your business, along with your sales data coming directly from Shopify to put together a standard P&L (Income Statement) that you can hand over to your tax preparer. Download your copy at www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/spreadsheet

    Prefer to learn while you read? Check out the blog post for this episode: https://www.findingfreedomfinancial.com/pros-and-cons-of-diy-bookkeeping/

    Related Episodes & Resources Mentioned: Episode 29 — Lesly's Bookkeeping Transformation Quickbooks Cleanup Bootcamp kicks off June 22nd - join us inside the membership
    Show More Show Less
    12 mins
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