Bookkeeping for guitar repair shops
The books for your guitar repair shop — done right.
I'm Margie. I run the financial side of Reflection Guitars, my husband's guitar repair shop in Florida. Sales tax, bookkeeping, vendor accounts, QuickBooks, Wave — I've done it all from scratch for a real shop. Now I can do it for yours.
The problem
You didn't build a guitar repair business to be stuck doing accounting.
Generic bookkeepers don't get your business
You don't have to explain the difference between a setup and a refret. Job parts vs. consumables. StewMac, AllParts, Mojotone, Hipshot - I already know your vendors, what they sell, and how to categorize the receipts.
Sales tax can be tricky
Labor vs. parts. Taxable repairs vs. exempt services. Misclassifying one line item can create a liability that compounds for years. I do the in-depth research on your state while already having the context of the services you provide and how the tax code will apply.
You don't know what jobs actually cost you
Hourly rate feels right. But parts, consumables, and time on admin add up. Without clean job costing, profitable-looking months can quietly be losers. I can help you understand your true profitability.
Tax season is chaos
Shoebox receipts. Stripe exports. Square history. PayPal somewhere. Pulling this together once a year is expensive and stressful. Monthly books mean no surprises in April - with the added bonus of actually using your financial statements for real-time decision making, not just your tax return.
What I do
Services built around how repair shops actually work
I don't adapt a generic bookkeeping template. I already know how your business works and how to build your books around what's most important for you to know.
Monthly Bookkeeping
Categorized transactions, reconciled accounts, sales tax handled correctly, and a clear monthly picture of where your shop stands.
Sales Tax Compliance
Florida is my deep expertise. For other states I research your specific jurisdiction before we touch anything. I don't guess on sales tax.
Catch-Up & Cleanup
Behind on your books? Three months or three years — I've done it. Flat fee based on scope, no surprises.
QuickBooks & Wave Training
Live Zoom sessions built around your actual shop — your real account, your real transactions. Not a generic tutorial.
Accounts Payable & Purchasing
Vendor invoice processing, resale certificate management, dealer account setup. The purchasing side of the back office.
luthiOS Integration
I'm building luthiOS — the shop management software for guitar repair. If you use it, your operations and your books work together seamlessly.
Pair your books with luthiOS — a shop management software built especially for guitar repair.
Fret Not Financials handles your back-office finances. luthiOS handles your job queue, customer intake, time tracking, scheduling, and Wave invoicing. Together they're a complete back office for a guitar repair shop. Founding clients get early beta access included.
About Margie
My husband Josh runs Reflection Guitars in Florida. I handle everything behind the scenes — bookkeeping, sales tax compliance, vendor management, digital presence, and now luthiOS, the shop management software we're building because nothing that existed fit exactly what we needed.
Read more about Margie →Free resources
View all →Florida Sales Tax Guide for Guitar Repair Shops
Read the guide → PurchasingDealer Pricing & Resale Certificate Guide
Read the guide → Accounting SetupChart of Accounts for Guitar Repair Shops
Read the guide → Financial LiteracyBalance Sheet Guide for Guitar Repair Shops
Read the guide →Let's talk about your shop.
Free 20-minute call. No pitch, no pressure — just a straight conversation about what your shop needs.