How Strong Is Your Bookkeeping? Take This 5-Question Financial Health Test (0–25 Points)
Here’s a quick experiment for you.
Grab a pen.
Take a breath.
Rate your bookkeeping on just five simple questions.
Five.
That’s it.
Before you wave this off thinking, “My books are fine,” keep reading — because even well-run businesses are surprised by their score.
This is the kind of tiny test that reveals all the big things hiding under the surface — cashflow leaks, pricing gaps, missed tax opportunities, growth bottlenecks… the stuff you don’t notice until it’s expensive.
Ready? Let’s go.
How the Score Works
Give yourself 0–5 points for each question.
0 = Not at all
5 = Absolutely, every month without fail
Total score: 0–25 points.
No judgment. Just clarity.
Question 1: Are your books accurately closed each month?
Think of your monthly close like hygiene for your business.
Skip it once? Okay.
Skip it twice? You’re living on “vibes” instead of facts.
A proper monthly close gives you:
Clean financials
Reliable reports
Zero guessing
Awareness before problems become fires
If you’re still catching up months later — or your bookkeeping feels like a mystery novel — give yourself a low score here.
Score yourself: 0–5.
Question 2: Do you know your gross profit margin?
If your top line pays the bills, your gross profit margin pays you.
Not knowing your margin is like selling blindfolded. You can’t fix pricing, staffing, or process problems if you don’t know whether each dollar in revenue is actually working for you.
Great businesses know their margin by heart — and know how to improve it.
Score yourself: 0–5.
Question 3: Do you know your breakeven point and days of cash on hand?
This is the stress test.
This is the sanity check.
This is the difference between sleeping well at night… and staring at the ceiling at 3 a.m.
If you don’t know:
How many sales you need to break even
How many days of cash your business can survive
Whether you can handle a slow month or unexpected expense
…then this number might be lower than you want it to be.
Score yourself: 0–5.
Question 4: Does your financial reporting show trends and KPIs (not just numbers)?
Reports that simply list expenses?
Helpful.
Reports that show patterns, trends, and visibility into what’s actually happening?
Transformative.
Trendlines show patterns.
KPIs show health.
Together, they give you the steering wheel of your business.
If your reporting is just “here’s what happened,” without “here’s what it means,” give yourself an honest score.
Score yourself: 0–5.
Question 5: Do you have a budget or cashflow forecast?
Forecasting turns your financials from a rearview mirror into a GPS.
A budget tells your money where to go.
A cashflow forecast tells you whether you’ll have enough fuel.
Without these, you’re managing reactively — which is exhausting, unpredictable, and expensive.
Score yourself: 0–5.
Your Total Score: What It Really Means0–10 points: Financial Firefighting
You’re making it work… but it’s harder than it needs to be.
You’re reacting, not planning — and you may be one bad month away from real stress.
The upside: the biggest gains usually happen quickly from this stage.
11–17 points: Stable, but Reactive
You’re not in danger, but you’re leaving opportunities on the table.
Margins, cash, and reporting could all be sharper.
Businesses in this range often feel “fine” — until they see how much better things can run.
18–22 points: Healthy, with Gaps
Strong fundamentals.
Good structure.
A few refinements could unlock more profit and smoother operations.
This is where growth becomes intentional, not accidental.
23–25 points: CFO-Level Discipline
You’re operating like a well-run machine.
If you hit this level, congratulations — but also: keep going.
This is the foundation of true scalability.
Want to Improve Your Score? We Can Help.
Most business owners don’t need more data — they need clearer data.
Cleaner systems.
Better habits.
A financial partner who helps them understand what all these numbers actually mean.
If you want help tightening up your bookkeeping, improving reporting, building forecasts, or creating a dashboard that finally tells the truth, reach out anytime.
Your books should be a growth engine — not a guess. Let’s make them work for you.
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Get to Know Prestige Accounting Services Group
Offices in Flemington, NJ, and Califon, NJ
Our Mission: At Prestige Accounting Services Group, we are on a mission to redefine the tax experience for individuals and small businesses. With a focus on personalized service, strategic planning, and expert guidance, we aim to empower our clients to succeed financially with confidence and ease.
Expertise in Action: With a wealth of experience and a team of dedicated professionals, we specialize in individual and small business tax preparation. While we excel in all areas of taxation, our passion lies in serving the unique needs of small business owners in New Jersey. We understand that small business taxation requires specialized knowledge and attention to detail, which is why we go above and beyond to ensure our clients receive the guidance and support they deserve.
Tailored Solutions for Every Client: Whether you're a high-net-worth individual seeking comprehensive tax planning or a small business owner in need of accounting and bookkeeping assistance, we have the expertise to meet your needs. Our team takes the time to understand your specific situation and develop customized solutions that align with your goals and objectives.
Why Choose Us?: What sets us apart from other New Jersey tax firms is our commitment to excellence and innovation in the field of taxation. We don't just prepare tax returns; we provide strategic insights, proactive planning, and actionable advice to help our clients achieve their financial goals. With a team of two CPAs, an EA, and an ERO, we have the expertise and resources to deliver exceptional service and results.
Your Success is Our Priority: At Prestige Accounting Services Group, we measure our success by the success of our clients. We are dedicated to building long-lasting relationships, providing unparalleled service, and helping our clients thrive in today's ever-changing tax landscape.
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