Accessibility Isn’t Optional in Bookkeeping, It’s a Responsibility
Most entrepreneurs don’t talk about this, but it’s true:
A lot of people have been made to feel stupid for not understanding bookkeeping.
That’s not a failure on their part. That’s a failure of the system.
Bookkeeping is full of jargon, assumptions, and unspoken rules. When someone asks a question, they’re often met with a sigh, a lecture, or a tone that says, “You should already know this.”
At Shingatok Bookkeeping Services, we reject that entirely.
No one should ever feel dumb for not knowing something they were never taught.
Why People Struggle and Why It’s Not Their Fault
Think about it this way:
No one expects you to know how to wire a house if you’re not an electrician.
No one expects you to know how to rebuild an engine if you’re not a mechanic.
No one expects you to know how to install a furnace if you’re not an HVAC tech.
So why do people expect small business owners to magically understand GST rules, reconciliations, or chart of accounts?
Bookkeeping is a trade too, just a different kind.
Accessibility Means Explaining the “Why,” Not Just the “What”
People don’t need to be talked down to! They need context.
So instead of saying, “You need to reconcile your bank account,” we explain:
“Reconciliation is how we make sure your books match reality — like double-checking your tool inventory so nothing goes missing.”
Instead of saying, “You can’t mix personal and business expenses,” we explain:
“It’s like keeping your work tools separate from your home tools — if everything’s mixed together, you can’t track what’s actually being used for the job.”
Instead of saying, “You need to categorize expenses properly,” we explain:
“Think of it like sorting materials on a job site. If everything goes into one pile, you can’t tell what the project really cost.”
These examples make the concepts click.
They remove shame.
They build confidence.
No Shame. No Judgment. Just Support.
Money is emotional. For many people especially Indigenous, LGBTQ2+, trades-based, or first-time entrepreneurs it’s tied to:
Past experiences of being talked down to
Feeling embarrassed for asking questions
Being told they “Should know better”
Not wanting to look unprofessional
From my own experience starting out in finance, I’ve been on the receiving end of comments like “you should know better,” and I’ve been yelled at or belittled in front of colleagues. At the time, I thought that was just “how the industry was.” But it isn’t. It’s toxic, and it chips away at a person’s confidence and spirit.
The truth is that everyone learns differently. I’ve had my own struggles with learning, and there were moments where things didn’t click right away. But I never gave up. I kept pushing, kept asking questions, and eventually found the learning style that worked for me.
That experience shaped the way I helped others today. I teach with kindness, patience, and understanding because I know what it feels like to be ashamed for not knowing something. And no one deserves to feel embarrassed or “less than” for asking a question.
If someone doesn’t understand something, that’s not a problem that’s an opportunity to teach.
And teaching is part of the job.
What Accessible Bookkeeping Looks Like in Practice
It looks like:
Explaining concepts in plain language
Giving real-world examples people can relate to
Answering questions without judgment
Showing why something matters, not just telling people what to do
Creating a space where clients feel safe saying, “I don’t get this yet”
Because when people understand the “why,” they feel empowered and not intimidated.
The Future of Bookkeeping Is Human
Accessibility isn’t about lowering standards. It’s about raising the bar for how we treat people. When clients feel respected, informed, and supported, they make better decisions. They grow stronger businesses. They build confidence instead of fear.
That’s the kind of financial system we’re committed to building.
