The number one thing a bookkeeper needs is access to your financial accounts. That means bank accounts, credit cards, and any payment processors like Square, Stripe, or PayPal. Most bookkeepers connect these through your accounting software so transactions flow in automatically. If you open a new account or get a new credit card, let your bookkeeper know right away so nothing falls through the cracks.

Beyond account access, your bookkeeper needs receipts and documentation for transactions that aren’t obvious. A $312 charge at Home Depot could be office supplies, job materials, or a personal purchase. Your bookkeeper can’t categorize what they can’t identify. You don’t need to send a receipt for every single transaction, but anything unusual, large, or ambiguous needs context. A quick note like “that was materials for the Johnson project” saves a lot of back and forth.

If you run payroll, your bookkeeper needs the payroll reports each period. If you have loans or lines of credit, monthly statements help them record interest and principal correctly. Sales tax reports, if applicable, and any invoices you’ve sent or received outside of your accounting system should also be shared.

Here’s the part most business owners underestimate: your bookkeeper needs you to respond to their questions in a reasonable timeframe. Every full-service bookkeeping engagement involves some back and forth, especially in the first few months while your bookkeeper learns your business. When those questions sit unanswered for weeks, it delays everything. Reconciliations can’t be completed, reports get pushed back, and small issues turn into bigger cleanup projects.

You should also communicate business changes as they happen. New employees, new vendors, a change in business structure, a large equipment purchase, a new location. These all affect how transactions get recorded and how your financials look. Your bookkeeper isn’t just entering data. They’re building an accurate picture of your business, and they need to understand the full story to do that well.

The businesses that get the most out of their bookkeeper are the ones that treat it as a two-way relationship. You don’t need to become an accounting expert. You just need to provide access, share context, and stay responsive. If you’re looking for small business tax and bookkeeping services in the Houston area, that collaborative approach is exactly how we work with our clients at OrangeLedger. The more you put into the relationship, the more useful your financial reports become for making real business decisions.