Why Every PMU Artist Needs a Bookkeeper or Accountant Before Tax Season Finds You
- Michelle Rukny
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Table of Contents
Tax season does not care how good your brows are.
It shows up every spring whether or not you can find the receipt for that pigment order from June, and it brings questions with it.
Picture it: it is March, you are parked with the glove box open, holding a crumpled receipt that may or may not belong to your business. Plenty of artists get excellent at the craft and treat the money side as something to figure out later. Your business needs a financial adult in the room, and November is a great month to invite one in. (This article is education, so your own accountant is the right person for questions about your situation.)
Who does what
A bookkeeper keeps your records current by tracking income and expenses and making sure your books match your bank account. An accountant reads those records, helps you plan, and often prepares your taxes. A tax preparer focuses on filing your returns. The roles overlap, and many professionals cover more than one.
Where artists tend to get stuck
- Shared spending. Groceries, pigment, and a Saturday brunch end up on the same card.
- No monthly habit. Without regular tracking, the year turns into one giant scavenger hunt in February.
- The surprise tax bill. The IRS explains that self-employed people use estimated tax to pay income tax, Social Security, and Medicare, since no employer withholds those for them. Artists who do not plan for it often feel the sting at filing time.
- Missing receipts. The IRS says small business owners must be able to prove the expenses they deduct.
- Unclear status. Booth renters and independent contractors often handle their own taxes, and how your arrangement is classified is worth confirming with a professional. Sales tax rules also vary by state, so ask about yours.
The cheapest upgrade you will make this year
Open a separate business checking account. According to the IRS, the business checking account is the main source of entries in the books for most small businesses, so an account that only handles business money gives your bookkeeper a clean starting point. Your groceries and your needle cartridges should not share a statement.
Keep records like someone will ask!
The IRS says you can choose any recordkeeping system that clearly shows your income and expenses, and it generally suggests keeping records for three years, depending on the situation. A simple routine goes a long way: photograph receipts as you go, log income weekly, and sit down for a monthly money check-in with a coffee. Your bookkeeper or accountant can tell you which system suits your business and how long to hold on to specific documents.
What to bring to your first meeting
- Your business license and any certifications
- Last year’s tax return
- A list of income sources, including client payments, tips, and platform payouts
- Reports from your booking software
- Expense records for pigments, needles, supplies, booth rent or studio costs, insurance, education, software, and marketing
- Receipts for equipment purchases, such as machines
- Questions, including how often to pay estimated taxes and what to set aside
How to choose someone
Look for a professional who works with self-employed clients or beauty professionals, and ask about their experience with booth renters, sole proprietors, and LLCs. Ask what they need from you and how often, and try a short introductory call to see if the fit feels right. Book now, since year-end and tax season get busy for many professionals and a November start gives you time to clean things up before December 31st.
A few sentences you will rarely hear from an accountant: “I love a receipt that has faded to blank paper.” “Tell me more about your personal and business spending sharing one debit card.” “The shoebox is my favorite filing system.” And then there is the sentence they say with real feeling: “Wow, these books are clean.” Give someone the chance to say it to you this year.
