When Should You Talk to Your Bookkeeper or Accountant? (Salon Owner’s Guide)

May 27

If you're a salon owner in Seattle, chances are you wear a lot of hats…stylist, manager, marketer, and maybe even bookkeeper. But there are key moments in your business where looping in a financial expert isn’t just helpful, it’s essential.

Here at The Summa Collective, we specialize in supporting beauty entrepreneurs with bookkeeping, tax planning, and financial strategy. Whether you're growing your salon team or switching from Square to Boulevard, the right time to talk to your bookkeeper is almost always before you make a big change…not after.

Let’s break down the exact moments when you should reach out.

1. You're Changing or Adding Payment Processors

Seattle salons are thriving with modern tools like Square, Stripe, Boulevard, and GlossGenius. But switching platforms (or adding a new one) impacts how your income is tracked, how fees are recorded, and how clean your reports are.

Why you need your bookkeeper:

To correctly map new income sources in your accounting software
To avoid duplication or missing deposits
To streamline reconciliation and stay tax-compliant

Pro Tip: Talk to your bookkeeper before you switch, so they can prep your books and advise on clean migration.

2. You're Moving Locations or Expanding

Seattle is growing fast, and so are its salons. Whether you’re upgrading your space or opening a second location, your financial systems need to scale with you.

What your accountant can help with:

Setting up your new location in your accounting software
Adjusting your chart of accounts for multiple spaces
Advising on lease payments, renovation costs, and deductible expenses

3. You're Hiring or Growing Your Team

Bringing on new stylists, assistants, or support staff? Payroll and team structure are a major reason to get your accountant involved early.

Why it matters:

You may need to change your payroll provider or set up payroll tax filings
Proper onboarding = tax and compliance peace of mind
Contractor vs. employee rules in Washington State can be strict, know the difference

4. You Open or Close Bank Accounts, Loans, or Credit Cards

If you add a new business credit card, open a separate bank account, or take on a loan, it changes how your financial data is tracked.

Let your bookkeeper know so they can:

Connect new accounts to your bookkeeping system
Properly categorize loan payments (principal vs. interest)
Update your balance sheet

5. You Add a New Revenue Stream

Thinking of launching a product line? Adding a beauty training course? Hosting local events?

New income = new tracking needs.

Your accountant can:

Set up income categories to track profitability
Adjust your pricing and cost tracking
Make sure you’re saving enough for taxes

6. You're Making Business Changes Like Adding a DBA or Switching Software

Business structure and software shifts may feel small, but they create ripple effects in your financial setup.

Examples:

Switching from Square to Boulevard
Registering a new DBA in Washington
Changing your tax entity or LLC setup

Your accountant can help you:

Ensure transitions are smooth and compliant
Avoid duplicate or missing financial records
Reconcile data accurately between systems

Why This Matters (Especially for Seattle Salon Owners)

Running a salon in Seattle means navigating a dynamic beauty market, competitive pricing, rising costs, and compliance rules that change fast. Staying proactive with your financial strategy is the difference between running your salon and scaling it.

Talk to Your Bookkeeper Before You Make These Moves

When in doubt, check in. The Summa Collective supports salon owners across Washington with simple, friendly, strategic financial guidance. No stress. No shame. Just clarity.