Home ~ The Yarny Bookkeeper

Warning! This is NOT just another site about how to sell your handmade items.

Did I catch your attention? Great! I know I only have seconds to capture and hold you attention before you make the decision that this site isn’t for you. So, now that I have your attention…….

Hi, I’m Nancy – thanks for stopping by! As I said, this is NOT another site about how to sell your handmade items – there are tons of those here on the internet and I’m betting that you’ve probably visited a lot of them on your search for information and you are pretty overwhelmed at this point.

I’m also betting you’ve done a LOT of “Googling” for handmade business bookkeeping. You’ve probably found a whole bunch of stuff that is outdated, general, or just isn’t what you need. You may be feeling pretty frustrated over the amount of time you’ve wasted.

So, let me tell you what this site IS all about………

It’s going to tell you about all the nitty gritty details that go on behind the scenes when you are thinking of starting a business AND then while you are actually running your business – that have absolutely NOTHING to do with actually selling your finished handmade items or designs. (more…)

Overwhelmed? Start here....

New to our site or thinking about starting your own handmade business? Start with these featured articles.

About the Yarny Bookkeeper

I am here to help you learn to handle the bookkeeping tasks for your handmade or creative business with confidence!

So, you want to start a handmade or creative business

Congratulations on your decision to start a business! Your love of handcrafts and perhaps fiber is about to take you on

Tracking Expenses - Hobby vs Business

Keeping track of expenses for your business is one of the most important things you can do for yourself.

Courses and Webinars

Free and Paid Courses and Webinars to help you get on track with the bookkeeping involved in running a business.

10 Things EVERY Handmade or Creative Business owner should know!

I’m betting that you’ve attended a bunch of webinars telling you just how easy it is to start and run a handmade business. Learn what other webinars aren’t telling you about what’s involved in starting/running a handmade business. Discover how the IRS views handmade businesses – so you can transition from a hobbyist to a professional business. Help you register your business and learn about various government agencies. Help you understand “accounting speak” in the business world. And most importantly, learn about the bookkeeping tasks you need to perform.

Free Webinar Recording

Thinking of ditching the spreadsheets and using software?

Have you been thinking of ditching the spreadsheets and using bookkeeping software (like QuickBooks)? This recorded webinar will compare both methods of keeping your books.

How to design a bookkeeping system for your handmade or creative business

Tired of struggling with the bookkeeping for your business? Maybe you download one of the bazillion "free" bookkeeping spreadsheets you found on the web - and found it just did not meet your needs and you could not customize it or the formulas were incorrect. This course will teach you how to design a bookkeeping system for your business that you will actually use!

FREE Project Cost and Pricing Worksheet

Is tracking the cost of your finished items or designs driving you INSANE? Do you have notes scattered all over the place and then can not figure out which note with prices goes with which project? Subscribe to my newsletter and receive my FREE Project Cost and Pricing Worksheet and get yourself organized! This can be used in Excel, Google Sheets or printed.

Subscribe Learn more about the Worksheet

New on the Blog

Read the latest tips & articles on bookkeeping and other behind the scenes stuff for your handmade or creative business.

Yarn Support & Bookkeeping

April 28, 2020

Yarn support and bookkeeping - is it really necessary? Yarn support is when a yarn company gives a designer free yarn to use in a knitting or crochet pattern design. Some people will ar...

Business planning, putting it all together in order to make progress on your goals and put them together in a way that gives you leverage.

My Handmade Biz-Business Planning, Putting it All Together

April 20, 2020

Business planning, putting it all together in order to make progress on your goals and put them together in a way that gives you leverage. We’ve come to the end of our seven-week challeng...

When you stay in your comfort zone you are limiting your potential. Yes, you can make progress by doing what you’ve always done – but it will be slow and maybe even kinda painful.

My Handmade Biz-Business Planning, Leaving Your Comfort Zone

April 13, 2020

Leaving your comfort zone is required in order for your handmade or creative business to grow. We have to try new things and learn to embrace the stuff we’re not good at – yet. Scary stuff ...

The simple act of setting a goal, even if it’s just in your head, doubles your chances of success. But, if you take it a step further and actually write those goals down, you’re 10 times as likely to succeed.

My Handmade Biz-Business Planning, Writing Things Down

April 6, 2020

Writing things down is the most important part of business planning and goal setting. In the last 4 weeks we’ve talked a bit about business planning and goal setting. Have you been think...

Sometimes business planning involves working backwards in order to set goals for your handmade or creative business. Wondering how this works?

My Handmade Biz-Business Planning, Working Backwards

March 30, 2020

Sometimes business planning involves working backwards in order to set goals for your handmade or creative business. Wondering how this works? Business planning and goal setting are ofte...

Increasing traffic, subscribers, and customers is how you grow your income to boost your bottom line. We all know that. But, where do these new subscribers and customers come from? That’s the tough part.

My Handmade Biz-Business Planning, Increasing Traffic

March 16, 2020

Increasing traffic, subscribers, and customers is how you grow your income to boost your bottom line. We all know that. But, where do these new subscribers and customers come from? That’s...

What people are saying about the Yarny Bookkeeper

Wondering if the information provided here is REALLY helpful to handmade or creative business owners? Read just a few comments by some of our subscribers.

I love Nancy! She is so knowledgeable! And it's all tailored towards a handmade business. If you have ever attempted to research bookkeeping, it's more general or for other industries. The fiber and handmade business (industry) has a lot more small parts to account for, and Nancy is always offering relevant information. Because I keep up with her blog posts, I am actually tracking my crochet business expenses monthly, if not biweekly. I feel that I have a much better understanding of what's coming and going, as well as an overview of the year so far. Thank you Nancy!

Courtney Whitehead, Creations by Courtney

Some interesting facts about bookkeeping for your handmade business

Well, maybe they aren't so interesting - but I'm betting that you can identify with some of these or get a good chuckle.

The Yarny Bookkeeper