Is Your Purchase Ledger Lying to You?

Simple checks to tidy it up and take back control of your cash flow

If your purchase ledger is showing old invoices you know have been paid, something’s off and it could be costing you.

Here’s what might be going wrong:

• You’ve posted the payment straight to the bank in your software, but didn’t match it to the invoice

• The invoice is on the system twice, especially common with Amazon or other third-party vendors

• The invoice actually belongs with an expense claim, like train fare or mileage, so it’s showing up on its own

These kinds of issues throw off your numbers. You might think you’ve got more liabilities than you do, or that cash is tighter than it really is. That’s not just annoying, it’s risky when you’re trying to make solid business decisions.

Here’s what to do:

• Search your software for the amount in question

• Check dates around the payment—does anything else match?

• Look out for duplicate supplier names (especially if you've bought through Amazon or marketplaces)

• Review any staff expense claims that might include the missing invoice

A tidy purchase ledger gives you:

✅ A clearer view of what you actually owe

✅ More accurate reports

✅ Better cash flow forecasting

So take a few minutes to scan your ledger today. It might reveal issues you didn’t know were there—and that small fix could make a big difference.

I’m Penny, the Wild Bookkeeper.I help small business owners understand their numbers, stay in control, and keep their business swimming—not sinking. And yes—I really do share these tips while waist-deep in open water.

Want to see this tip in action? 👉 Watch the video here

#BookkeepingMadeSimple #CashFlowMatters #SmallBusinessSupport #OpenWaterBookkeeper