Home ~ Nancy Smyth, 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…….

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.

Canva has a desktop app

July 9, 2020

I love Canva. Did you know that Canva has a desktop app? Well, maybe you did. I didn't. But sometimes it takes me awhile to get around to finding out "all the things". :oops: About...

30+ years as a business owner-5 Things I’ve learned

July 7, 2020

Oh, the things I've learned being a business owner for 30+ years! Many of those things would make you cringe, so I'll leave those out of this post. I'm going to keep it to the 5 most impor...

How to use Evernote & Trello to get organized!

July 6, 2020

Learn how to use Evernote & Trello to get organized! Join me on Tuesday, July 7 at 2:00 p.m. EST as I stream live on my YouTube channel and in my Facebook group and I'll show you how ...

4th of July

July 5, 2020

Happy 4th of July! {Today is Day 4 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge - today's topic was to do a short 4th of July post} I was just going to do this little "Happy 4th of July - I'm taking...

Where do I want to go from here?

July 3, 2020

Where do I want to go from here with YarnyBookkeeper.com? I immediately had the lyrics to "Born to Be Wild" going through my head.... Get your motor runnin' Head out on the highway Loo...

It started with a love of numbers

July 2, 2020

How (or maybe it should be WHY) does someone choose a career that revolves around numbers and bookkeeping? Day 2 of the Ultimate Blog Challenge. Today's suggested topic is to let people ...

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