Are Your Books Summer-Ready? What Seasonal Businesses in Colorado Need to Know

Summer in Colorado brings sunshine, tourism, festivals—and for many small business owners, it’s the busiest (and most profitable) time of year. Whether you’re running a landscaping company, managing a farmers market booth, organizing events, or operating a local attraction, the warm months can put pressure on more than just your calendar. Your bookkeeping also needs to keep up.

If you're not tracking income and expenses consistently, you risk falling behind on compliance, budgeting, and tax readiness. Here’s why seasonal business bookkeeping matters during summer—and how to keep your finances in order during your peak season.

1. Summer Can Skew Your Cash Flow

Many Colorado businesses generate a significant portion of their annual revenue between May and September. This influx of income can be a great opportunity—but only if you’re managing it properly.

Without a monthly bookkeeping process in place, it's easy to overspend, miss invoice payments, or under-save for slower months. Tracking revenue, expenses, and cash flow in real time helps you make smarter decisions all summer long.

For help setting up a consistent system, visit the Pikes Peak Small Business Development Center for free workshops and resources tailored to Colorado Springs entrepreneurs.

2. Don’t Let Your Receipts and Transactions Pile Up

When business is booming, administrative work often falls to the bottom of the to-do list. But putting off bookkeeping tasks until fall means dealing with months of backlogged data—at the worst possible time.

Outsourcing your seasonal business bookkeeping means you stay focused on operations while your finances stay clean, organized, and audit-ready.

Want help now? 📅 Schedule a free consultation.

3. Make Tax Time Easier—Even in June

Think taxes are only a spring issue? Think again. Colorado businesses may have quarterly sales tax filings, estimated tax payments, and industry-specific reports due during the summer.

You can check the full list of filing requirements at the Colorado Secretary of State Business Resources, or learn more about local filing deadlines at the Colorado Department of Revenue.

If you operate in the food or beverage industry, be sure to also stay current with licensing through the City of Colorado Springs Sales Tax Division.

4. Budget for Staffing and Supplies

Seasonal businesses often need to ramp up their workforce and inventory. But how do you know how much to hire or order without accurate books? A reliable financial system helps you forecast expenses and allocate resources properly—so you don’t run short on staff or overbuy slow-moving inventory.

If you’re looking for local hiring support, the Colorado Springs Chamber & EDC and Connect Colorado offer great networking and recruitment tools.

5. Plan Now for Your Off-Season

When you're busy making money, it's also the best time to plan for the months when sales slow down. Bookkeeping can help you create an emergency fund, set aside money for taxes, and establish a cushion to support your business through Colorado’s colder months.

Need help building that plan? Visit the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce for resources, or connect with local peer support groups for business owners in El Paso County.

Ready to Simplify Your Summer Bookkeeping?

At Barmann Bookkeeping, we specialize in helping seasonal businesses across Colorado Springs, Monument, and throughout the Front Range stay financially organized all year round. From monthly bookkeeping to QuickBooks support and custom financial reporting, we’re here to support your growth—during your busy season and after.

📞 Contact me today to schedule a free consultation and see how we can help keep your books summer-ready.