Your chart of accounts is the foundation of your bookkeeping. It organizes all your income, expenses, assets, and liabilities into categories. When it’s set up properly, you get clear financial reports that make decision-making easier. But when it’s messy, it can: Hide the true picture of your business finances Lead to miscategorized transactions and duplicate accounts Cause you to miss out on valuable tax deductions Waste time and energy trying to fix mistakes at year-end Ex