Bookkeeping for florists

What the books involve

• Orders paid ahead: payments for arrangements to be delivered on a later date recorded against the order, then matched to the delivery, and refunds for cancelled orders traced back.
• Relay networks: orders sent to or received from other florists through a flower relay network recorded with their commissions, and the network's statement reconciled so amounts owed each way stay clear.
• Flower market buying: stems, foliage and potted plants bought at the markets or from growers, often by card or cash, recorded with receipts so the cost of fresh stock can be read against sales.
• Account customers: regular arrangements for offices, hotels and restaurants, and wedding and funeral orders, invoiced on account and followed through to payment.
• Delivery: van running costs, fuel and courier charges recorded on their own accounts, with delivery fees charged to customers kept apart from flower sales.
• Peak occasions: monthly reports from Xero or MYOB that show trade around Valentine's Day and Mother's Day next to quieter months, with every account reconciled first.