The Coach’s Year-End Money Checklist (Without the Stress Spiral)

You don’t need a finance degree, just a system that doesn’t break down every December.

Let’s be honest: as a coach, you run on structure. Calendars. Client plans. Content outlines.
But when it comes to your money?
That’s the tab that’s been open (and silently screaming) since June.

Then December rolls in. Suddenly your Stripe deposits, PayPal transfers, and random dinner receipts, are stuffed in a notebook and start acting like tiny paper gremlins.

Here’s the good news: getting your financial act together doesn’t have to feel like trying to solve a murder mystery with 14 browser tabs open and no coffee.

Use this 7-step, year-end checklist to tie up loose ends, calm your nervous system, and walk into 2026 like a CEO who knows where her money lives.

1. Reconcile like your business depends on it

(Because it literally does)

Start by matching your bank, credit card, and PayPal transactions with your records. Don’t just skim, hunt. Chase. Close the loop.

👉 Reality check: If it’s not accounted for, it doesn’t count.

Reconciliation isn’t busywork, it’s your financial truth serum. If something doesn’t match, investigate it. That $197 course you forgot to tag? That invoice that never landed in your account? Every discrepancy you catch now is a win for Future You.

Prove once and for all that what’s in your accounts isn’t smoke and mirrors. If your money’s playing hide-and-seek, find it now, so April doesn’t show up with accountant side-eye and a tax bill that makes your stomach drop.

📌 Lisa says: “Missing transactions = missing money. You don’t scale with guesswork.”

2. Categorize your spending

(Yes, even the dumb stuff)

Your business money shouldn’t live in a junk drawer. It’s time to assign every dollar a job. Break down expenses into clear categories; meals, travel, coaching, software, contractor payments.

If your expenses are one giant “miscellaneous” pile, it’s time for a glow-up. Categorization isn’t just about tax deductions (though it helps). It tells a deeper story: what’s fueling your growth and what’s quietly draining it.

💡 Pro tip: Open your Stripe or PayPal history and match each charge with its purpose. If it’s not immediately clear, that’s a red flag.

You’ll start seeing patterns fast. That $49 tool you forgot about? Canceled. That high-ticket investment that actually moved the needle? Worth doubling down.

🔎 Bonus move: Audit every subscription. If it’s not actively helping you grow or saving you time, cancel it and redirect that money toward something that does.

This isn’t just bookkeeping. It’s intel.

3. Collect what you’re owed (and clean your slate)

(You’re not a bill collector , but you are a CEO)

Time to be that person. The one who follows up on unpaid invoices without guilt or hesitation.

You’re not annoying , you’re running a business.

Review every outstanding invoice. Follow up. Close the loop. You’ve done the work. You delivered the value. The money belongs in your account, not stuck in someone else’s inbox.

Likewise, clear out what you still owe. Start 2026 with clean books and zero baggage.

💥 Want to make this easier next year?
Automate reminders. Set payment terms that work for you. Add late fees if needed. You’re allowed to protect your cash flow with systems , not apologies.

4. Read your numbers like a real CEO

(Not just a bookkeeper checking off boxes)

Pull your Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reports. And don’t just skim them, study them.

Ask yourself:

• What offers made me the most money, and were they actually profitable?

• Where did money quietly leak out each month?

• Are my expenses aligned with growth, or are they just habits I haven’t questioned?

Revenue is sexy. But profit pays your bills. Reading your numbers this way turns them into decision-making tools, not just tax prep homework.

🔥 Lisa’s hot take: “If you're revenue-rich and cash-poor, your systems are broken. Fix them or stay stuck on the hamster wheel.”

Your numbers aren’t just receipts. They’re a roadmap. Follow them.

5. Talk to your tax pro before the panic sets in

(Yes, even if you hate tax season)

Book the call. Ask the “dumb” questions (they’re not dumb). Be the client who shows up early instead of scrambling late.

Trust me: your accountant would rather talk strategy now than triage a disaster in March.

This call could save you thousands , or open up smart year-end investments that drop your tax bill and set you up to scale.

Use the time to:

• Double-check your deductions

• Confirm estimated payments

• Decide if purchases should happen before Dec 31

🎯 Action tip: Ask, “What should I do before Dec 31 to save the most money legally?”
If they fumble that answer, it might be time to find someone who actually speaks your business language.

6. Set your 2026 money rhythm

(Because chaos is not a business model)

Create a recurring financial check-in. Whether it’s Finance Fridays or Money Mondays, make it non-negotiable.

Block time on your calendar just like a client session, because your business is your most important client.

Use this time to:

• Review income

• Categorize and tag expenses

• Upload receipts

• Spot trends before they become emergencies

Financial hygiene isn’t sexy, but it’s what keeps four-figure mistakes from becoming five-figure fires.

💌 Future You is already planning your thank-you card.

7. Upgrade your system

(Duct tape is not a long-term financial strategy)

Still relying on spreadsheets, sticky notes, and random Google Docs? Time to evolve.

Your backend should make you feel in control , not like you’re one login away from collapse.

Upgrade to bookkeeping software that fits how you work. Or finally hire someone to help you keep it together (without needing babysitting). Whether it’s a monthly bookkeeper or a quarterly CFO, you don’t have to go it alone.

📣 Lisa’s reminder: “A messy backend will sabotage even the best offer. Clean it up, your future revenue depends on it.”

You don’t have to fix it all alone

If your books feel messy, inconsistent, or just plain overwhelming, you’re not broken, you’re just overdue for a system that fits the way you actually operate.

That’s exactly what I help with.

My Catchup & Cleanup Service gets your numbers in shape fast.
My Bookkeeping Maintenance Service keeps them that way, so you can coach, create, and grow without second-guessing every financial decision.

👉 Let’s schedule a call and talk through what’s working, and what’s not.
You deserve a backend that reflects the business you’re really building, not the one you're pretending to hold together.