How to Feel Confident About Your Business Finances Without the Stress: Bookkeeping Without the Stress: How to Understand Your Business Numbers with Anora Weste

Bookkeeping for small business owners can feel confusing, overwhelming, and way more stressful than it needs to be—especially if numbers aren’t your thing.

In this episode of The Self Made Life Podcast, I sat down with Anora Weste from Weste Management Services — financial consultant, non-CPA accountant, mom of two, and founder of WMS Bookkeeping — to talk about money in a way that feels calm, doable, and (finally) not embarrassing.

Anora helps small business owners feel confident with their numbers, stay compliant with the CRA, and build real profit (not just “profit on paper”).

Meet Anora Weste (WMS Bookkeeping)

Anora’s work focuses on bookkeeping for small business owners who want clarity, confidence, and systems that actually support real life.

Anora’s story is one so many moms will relate to: corporate life + motherhood + COVID-era chaos = something had to change.

She built her business after leaving corporate strategy work (including time at RBC) and started freelancing bookkeeping for small businesses. One client led to referrals, then more referrals, and eventually a full firm supporting business owners across Canada and the US, especially those in the six-figure+ growth stage.

Her current season is refinement and alignment — keeping the client experience strong, growing steadily, and protecting time for her kids and her life.

Why so many business owners avoid their numbers

One of the most important parts of this conversation was Anora naming what’s really happening for a lot of entrepreneurs:

• They feel behind
• They feel embarrassed
• They’re afraid it’s worse than it is
• They don’t know what they don’t know

And the truth is… a lot of the time, it’s not as bad as they think. But you can’t fix what you won’t look at.

If you’re avoiding your books, let this be your reminder: you’re not bad with money — you’re just missing a system and support.

The #1 thing to do if you’re “bad at bookkeeping”

Anora’s biggest advice is almost boring in the best way:

Start tracking.

Not perfectly. Not with fancy forecasting software. Just start tracking something consistently so you can make decisions from real info instead of vibes.

Tracking gives you a baseline. From there, you can spot what’s working, what’s not, and what needs attention next.

Financial priorities by stage of business

This episode is especially helpful if you’re navigating bookkeeping for small business owners while juggling growth, motherhood, or limited time.

Anora explained something that’s so helpful: money questions change depending on the season you’re in.

If you’re early (getting started)

Focus on foundations:

• Separate business and personal finances
• Have a business bank account
• Set up a clean way to get paid
• Track income and expenses

If you’re growing (and hitting key milestones)

Your focus expands:

• Know when you need to register for GST/HST
• Set aside money for taxes
• Start building consistent monthly reporting habits

If you’re scaling

You’re asking different questions:

• What does cash flow look like month to month?
• What can I afford to hire or outsource?
• What’s my profit margin?
• What needs to change so the business can handle growth?

The biggest takeaway: don’t skip steps. Strong foundations make scaling less stressful.

What to look at each month to understand your business health

Anora broke this down in a way that feels very “you can do this”:

1) Revenue

How much money came in this month?

2) Expenses

How much money went out this month?

3) Debt

Do you have any, how much is left, and what’s the plan to pay it down?

4) Profit vs cash flow (they’re not the same)

This is where people get tripped up.

You can show profit on a Profit & Loss statement… and still wonder why your bank account looks low.

That’s because cash moves differently:

• debt payments
• owner transfers
• big purchases
• taxes
• payroll

Knowing the difference between “paper profit” and real-life cash in the bank is one of the biggest mindset shifts you can make.

Support as a busy mom: where it matters most

This part of the episode felt like a permission slip:

Support isn’t only about business.

Anora talked about getting help at home too — because when life is supported, business gets better. That might look like:

• childcare support
• meal shortcuts
• bartering services
• smart, shared support with another family
• outsourcing the tasks you dread

The point isn’t doing it all. The point is building a life (and business) that’s sustainable.

If bookkeeping for small business owners has felt intimidating or messy, this conversation is a reminder that support and clarity are available.

Simple bookkeeping tips for small business owners just getting started

If you’re in the early stages and feel overwhelmed, start here:

1. Track your income + expenses consistently
2. If you collect sales tax, track it properly (and make sure you’re registered)
3. Ask questions until you actually understand
   If a report feels confusing, keep asking. Clarity is the goal.

Want an easy DIY system to begin?

Anora offers a DIY Bookkeeping Spreadsheet for solopreneurs who want to track their finances themselves before hiring support.

Links here:

• DIY Spreadsheet
• WMS Bookkeeping Services

Episode Links + Where to Find Anora

• Website: WMS Bookkeeping https://www.wmsbookkeeping.com/
• Anora’s site + DIY spreadsheet: https://www.anoraweste.com/product-page/diy-bookkeeper-spreadsheet
• Instagram: @anorawest and @wmsbookkeeping