I’m Just Not a “Numbers Person”… and Other Myths That Hold Business Owners Back

A reality check on the myths that keep entrepreneurs stuck — and the truths that build confidence with your numbers.

If I had a dollar for every time someone told me, “I’m just not a numbers person,” I could retire early and spend my days sipping an Aperol on the beach at Casa Ku.

But here’s the thing — it’s not about being a “numbers person.” Trust me, I’ve come across plenty of people throughout my career who felt they were a “numbers person,” and it didn’t help them at all. It’s about having the right tools, guidance, patience, and mindset to learn what goes on in your accounting system so that you understand what your numbers are telling you.

Because at the end of the day, it’s a story. And once you start to see the story behind the numbers, it actually starts to feel really… empowering.

Let’s unpack a few common myths that keep business owners feeling stuck — and the truths that can set you free and help you feel confident in managing your books.

Myth #1: “I’m not a numbers person.”

Truth: As we already determined above, you don’t have to be. You just need clarity and a little practice.

I truly believe that accounting and QuickBooks aren’t some secret language reserved for us accountants. Once you learn and understand how the information flows and what to look for — like how to categorize transactions properly, what it means to reconcile (and why it’s such a crucial step in your process), how to read your reports, and what double-entry accounting really means — it starts to make a whole lot of sense.

And the best part? You just have to keep showing up and practicing. Thirty minutes a day — with a glass of wine in hand if it helps — will start to bring clarity. From there, the confidence will naturally build.

Myth #2: “I have to do my bookkeeping every day and it has to be perfect.”

Truth: Consistency is always what matters… and nothing is perfect.

Real talk — no one’s books are flawless 100% of the time. And when I say they’re not perfect, I mean you’ll miss a receipt here and there, or forget why you paid for that thing with the missing receipt so you’re not sure where to code the expense and you take your best guess. Or maybe you accidentally code a vendor refund to Other Income instead of to where the original expense was coded.

It’s not the end of the world.

What matters is having a repeatable process — a checklist or routine that keeps you caught up and prevents small mistakes from becoming big ones. Routine creates habits, and over time you’ll find you stop making those small mistakes.

So instead of aiming for perfect, aim for current and caught up. Stay on top of it and you’ll find you make fewer and fewer mistakes. That’s the real win.

Myth #3: “If I hire a bookkeeper, I don’t need to know anything about my numbers.”

Truth: Even with support, you’re still the decision-maker. It’s your business, and these numbers tell your story.

The value of a great bookkeeper cannot be overstated, but understanding your own numbers gives you control. You’re still the one steering the business, deciding when to make investments, and more.

Your financials are your roadmap — you can’t navigate confidently if you don’t know how to read it.

Understanding your numbers helps you ask better questions of your bookkeeper, spot opportunities sooner, and make smarter choices. That’s real financial empowerment.

Myth #4: “It’s too late to fix my books — they’re a mess.”

Truth: It’s never too late to get caught up and never too late to fix a mess.

Every accountant or bookkeeper I know has seen messy books — it’s part of the journey. What feels like an insurmountable project to you might just be a few hours of cleanup to those who know the terrain.

Start small: make sure all your transactions are entered (and properly categorized) from your bank accounts and credit cards. Then reconcile those accounts. During reconciliation, you’ll see — and be able to clean up — any duplicate transactions.

Next, review your receivables and payables. Look for long-outstanding invoices and bills, and watch for potential duplicates. Each small step in the cleanup process creates momentum — and before long, it starts to click.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve been holding onto any of these myths, it’s time to release them. You don’t have to love accounting (let’s be honest, many people don’t) — you just need to build enough clarity and understanding to feel confident and in control of your business.

And you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s exactly why I created Your Accounting Sherpa — to give small business owners a calm, clear space to learn, ask questions, and build real confidence with their numbers.

You’re not lost — you just need a guide. You’ve got this.

💛 YAS