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Assess Your Bookkeeping Strength: A 5-Question Financial Self-test

Ready to dive into a financial assessment that could reveal the hidden strengths and weaknesses in your bookkeeping? This quick evaluation is designed to help entrepreneurs, small businesses, and nonprofits like those served by Jéneen at Éclat Enterprises.

Grab a pen. Take a moment. Answer five key questions to rate your bookkeeping.
Five questions—simple enough, right?

Even if you think your books are spotless, keep reading. Many well-organized businesses are often surprised by their scores, uncovering potential cash flow issues, pricing inefficiencies, missed tax strategies, and growth constraints that often go unnoticed until they become costly problems.

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Scoring Methodology

Give yourself 0–5 points per question.

  • 0 = Not at all

  • 5 = Absolutely, every month without fail

Accumulate your score: 0–25 points.

No judgment—just transparent insight.

Question 1: Are your books accurately closed each month?

Think of your monthly close process as crucial business hygiene. Skipping it can mean relying on "vibes" over hard facts.

A disciplined monthly close provides:

  • Clean financial records
  • Dependable reports
  • Confidence in your numbers
  • Forewarning of emerging problems

If your bookkeeping resembles a mystery novel, give yourself a lower score.

Score: 0–5.

Question 2: Do you know your gross profit margin?

While your revenue covers expenses, your gross profit margin is what pays you. Lacking insight here means you're essentially selling blind.

Successful businesses not only know their margin but constantly work to improve it.

Score: 0–5.

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Question 3: Do you know your breakeven point and days of cash on hand?

This is your business's stress test—a critical measure of financial health and stability.

If you're unsure about:

  • Sales needed to break even
  • Cash reserves duration
  • Capacity to weather slow months or surprises

Your score here might need a boost.

Score: 0–5.

Question 4: Does your financial reporting show trends and KPIs (not just numbers)?

Reports solely listing expenses can be helpful, but those showing trends and KPIs are transformative, providing a strategic overview that guides your business.

If your reports lack this, consider an honest score.

Score: 0–5.

Question 5: Do you have a budget or cash flow forecast?

Forecasting turns your financial data from a rearview glance into a forward journey. A budget allocates resources, while a cash flow forecast ensures fuel is available for the trip.

Operating without can lead to reactive, costly management practices.

Score: 0–5.

Interpreting Your Score

0–10 points: Financial Firefighting
You're operational, but you're likely managing crises rather than strategically planning.

11–17 points: Stable, but Reactive
You're stable, but enhancements in margins and reporting can elevate business efficiency.

18–22 points: Healthy, with Gaps
Solid fundamentals are in place with an opportunity for strategic refinements and growth.

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23–25 points: CFO-Level Discipline
Your operations are streamlined—continue this diligent approach to enhance scalability.

Ready for Improvement?

Often, it's not about having more data; it's about clarity of data, disciplined systems, and business habits supported by a knowledgeable partner.

Jéneen and Éclat Enterprises can assist in tightening your bookkeeping controls, refining reporting, enhancing forecast accuracy, and much more.

Turn your financials from a guessing game into a powerful growth engine—let's make them work for you.

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