If you’re running a bookkeeping business without a website, I have a question for you: Are you still using Excel instead of QuickBooks Online (QBO)?
Because that’s exactly what it’s like.
Sure, Excel works for bookkeeping, just like running a business without a website works. But let’s be honest—it’s making things harder than they need to be.
Here’s why trying to grow your bookkeeping business without a website is like insisting on using Excel for bookkeeping instead of a real accounting software.
1. It’s More Work for You (and Your Clients)
Excel bookkeeping is manual, time-consuming, and inefficient. You have to enter every transaction by hand, double-check formulas, and create reports manually.
Running a bookkeeping business without a website? Same problem. Potential clients have to dig through social media, send DMs, or hunt down your email just to find out if you’re available. Instead of an easy “click here to book a call,” they’re stuck in an endless back-and-forth.
✅ With a website: Clients find everything they need instantly—your services, pricing, contact info, and even a booking link.
❌ Without a website: You spend hours answering the same questions over and over.
Bottom line: If you don’t want to waste time on repetitive tasks, automation is key—whether it’s QuickBooks for bookkeeping or a website for your business.
2. It’s More Prone to Mistakes
Ever tried tracking hundreds of transactions manually in Excel? The risk of typos, missing transactions, and formula errors is sky-high.
Now, think about what happens when you run a bookkeeping business without a website.
- A potential client misses your post on social media and never contacts you.
- Someone gets outdated pricing info because they found an old Facebook comment.
- A lead messages you but gives up when they don’t get a quick response.
Just like bookkeeping mistakes cost money, lost leads cost you clients.
✅ With a website: Everything is clear, up-to-date, and accessible 24/7.
❌ Without a website: Miscommunication leads to lost opportunities.
Bottom line: When you rely on manual processes, errors happen. QuickBooks reduces bookkeeping mistakes, and a website eliminates confusion for potential clients.
3. It Doesn’t Scale as Your Business Grows
Excel might work for a small business with a few transactions. But as a bookkeeping business scales, manual spreadsheets become overwhelming.
The same happens when you try to run your business without a website.
- You can only handle so many back-and-forth messages.
- You can only answer so many FAQs.
- You can only post about your services so many times before it gets exhausting.
A website automates your client acquisition process, just like QuickBooks automates financial tracking. It works in the background, bringing in leads while you focus on serving your clients.
✅ With a website: Your business can handle more clients without adding more manual work.
❌ Without a website: You eventually hit a wall where you just can’t keep up.
Bottom line: If you plan to grow, your systems need to grow with you.
4. It Makes You Look Less Professional
Picture this: A business owner asks what software you use for bookkeeping, and you say Excel instead of QuickBooks. They might hesitate to trust your expertise because they expected a professional, automated system.
Now imagine a potential client searches for your bookkeeping business online and finds… nothing.
✅ With a website: You immediately look credible and professional.
❌ Without a website: You look like a side hustle instead of a serious business.
Having a website builds trust the same way using accounting software reassures your clients that their books are in good hands.
Bottom line: If you want people to take your business seriously, you need a professional presence.
5. It Costs You More in the Long Run
Some bookkeepers use Excel because it’s “free,” but they don’t consider the hidden costs:
- Extra hours spent manually entering data.
- Costly errors that lead to tax mistakes.
- Lost efficiency compared to automated software like QuickBooks.
Not having a website works the same way.
You might think, “I don’t need to spend money on a website.” But what about the clients you’re losing because they can’t find you? The time you’re wasting answering the same questions over and over?
✅ With a website: You invest once, and it keeps bringing in business.
❌ Without a website: You keep losing clients to bookkeepers who do have one.
Bottom line: What seems like a “cost-saving” decision is actually costing you money.
The Smarter Alternative: Work Smarter, Not Harder
If you wouldn’t rely on Excel to run a professional bookkeeping business, why would you rely on referrals or social media alone to get clients?
A website is the QuickBooks Online of your online presence—it saves time, prevents mistakes, scales with your business, and makes you look like the professional you are.
Because sure, you can run a bookkeeping business without a website. But the real question is:
Why would you?
