Back-to-Business: 3 Financial Habits to Reestablish After Summer

Summer often brings a change of pace for small business owners—whether it’s slower sales cycles, more time off, or shifting client activity. But as the season winds down, it’s time to shift gears and refocus on your financial health. Reestablishing strong bookkeeping habits in August can set you up for a smooth transition into fall and help ensure you finish the year with confidence.

Here are three essential financial habits to reset now that summer is coming to a close:

1. Review Your Spending

Summer expenses can sometimes creep up without notice. From seasonal staff to marketing experiments, it’s easy to lose track. Take time to:

• Review your expense categories for the past two months

• Identify areas of overspending and opportunities to cut costs

• Realign your budget to match your year-end goals

This quick review ensures your spending supports growth instead of draining resources.

2. Tighten Cash Flow

Cash flow is critical year-round, but especially as you prepare for Q4—the busiest financial season for many businesses. To strengthen your position:

• Follow up on outstanding invoices to boost inflows

• Negotiate vendor terms to ease outflows

• Forecast cash flow through the end of the year to anticipate shortfalls

By tightening up now, you’ll have the stability to invest in marketing pushes, holiday sales, or growth initiatives in the months ahead.

3. Plan for Q4 Success

The fall season is a natural ramp-up to year-end, and planning now will reduce stress later. Consider:

• Setting revenue and expense targets for Q3 and Q4

• Preparing for upcoming tax obligations or quarterly payments

• Streamlining your record-keeping so you’re not scrambling in December

The earlier you plan, the easier it will be to finish the year strong and step into 2025 with momentum.

Don’t wait until September to get back into the swing of things. Use August as your financial reset month—review, realign, and refocus on the habits that keep your business strong.

At InK Bookkeeping, we help business owners like you regain clarity, strengthen cash flow, and create strategies that keep your books on track all year long.

Ready to reset your financial habits and head into fall strong? Schedule your mid-year financial check-in with InK Bookkeeping today.