Bookkeeping is important for a business for several key reasons. It allows a business owner to monitor the progress of their business by seeing what products are selling and where improvements can be made. It also enables accurate preparation of important financial statements like income statements and balance sheets to assess performance and secure financing. Good records identify sources of income, track deductible expenses for tax purposes, and keep track of the basis in property owned. Finally, bookkeeping provides the necessary documentation to properly prepare tax returns and support any items reported should the IRS audit returns.