TLDR*: You need a bookkeeper who understands your farm’s needs. We offer affordable monthly bookkeeping and financial services for farmers, so they can focus on their farm business.
Running a farm is more than just planting, harvesting, and taking care of livestock. It’s a full-fledged business, and like any business, financial management can make or break you.
The problem? Farming comes with its own set of financial challenges—seasonal income, fluctuating market prices, unpredictable expenses, and the constant changes in tax laws. Farmers need someone who need someone who understands all the wonderful but weird aspects of a farm business, and a regular bookkeeper may not get it. That’s why having a bookkeeper who actually understands agriculture isn’t just a nice-to-have, it’s a game-changer. Here’s why:
1. Farmers Fill Out Different Tax Forms Than Other Small Businesses
If we had a nickel for every time we heard of a farmer facing an IRS headache because their accountant submitted Schedule C (Profit or Loss from Business) instead of Schedule F (Profit or Loss from Farming), we’d be retired on a big Montana ranch by now.
Not only do you want to make sure your bookkeeper knows what these tax forms are, you want them to set up your books to make it super easy to fill them out. A good agriculture bookkeeper will set this up right from day one (and we even draft Schedule F for our Essentials & Premium customers!)
2. We Understand that Not Everything is Straightforward
We understand that multiple revenue streams exist – whether you’re selling at farmers’ markets, through CSAs, online, co-op payments, government payments from crop insurance or NRCS programs, other agribusinesses (processing, value-added products, agritourism) or directly to stores, your income may come from multiple places. A good bookkeeper helps organize all those sources.
We also know that your finances may not all be in one place. Some of our farmers use Square for market sales, QuickBooks for general accounting, and another system for tracking grants or farm subsidies. We’ve seen it all, from FarmBooks, FarmRaise, Xero, or another platform, a good bookkeeper understands how to consolidate and make sense of multiple platforms can save you hours of frustration.
2. Special Deductions and Write-Offs apply
Tax season is here, and you might be missing out on deductions. We keep good records to make it easier for you to find legal deductions, create a budget, and have a good foundation for cash flow management. Farm tax laws allow for unique deductions, such as equipment depreciation and conservation expenses.
We help farmers navigate the complexity that comes from living on the farm where their mortgage and utility bills might be split between farm and personal books.
Better records = better decisions.
3. Income is Seasonal (So are Expenses)
You have to consider harvest season, selling at markets, and other factors that changes your farm revenue. A knowledgeable bookkeeper helps manage cash flow so you can cover expenses year-round.
We also understand that expenses are seasonal since farmers often purchase inputs at the beginning of the year. We account for that, too.
4. Unexpected Expenses Happen
Equipment breaks down, weather impacts crops, or feed costs spike. Having someone who knows how to adjust budgets and plan ahead makes these surprises easier to handle. Plus, having a knowledgable bookkeeper can help you prepare for a loan when needed.
We’re Not CPAs, We’re Just Really Good at Numbers
While we specialize in farm bookkeeping and financial services, we are not Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). We work alongside farmers to manage daily finances, organize records, and provide insights, but we recommend consulting a CPA for tax filing and legal financial matters.
Affordability Matters—And We Get It
We know that every dollar counts on the farm, so our bookkeeping services are designed to be affordable while still giving you the financial clarity you need. We believe in transparency in our prices, we can tell you what your one-time and monthly cost is upfront.
Whether you’re a small family farm or a larger operation, we offer flexible pricing to fit your budget—so you get expert financial support without breaking the bank.
*TLDR means too long didn’t read; it’s the summary of this article. We know you’re busy, so we want to let you know what’s going on in 30 seconds or less.