Bookkeeping that sorts its own write-offs and replaced a $4,200-a-year service
Clever Keeper is bookkeeping and tax tracking for my studio, designed around my own workflow. It pulls in transactions automatically, sorts write-offs based on rules, and delivers my accountant everything they need in one export.
I built it because I was paying $350 a month for a service whose tax estimates kept missing, and I wanted to see if a prototype could turn into something I’d trust with real money.
Prototype
Building. Testing. Reiterating. One feature at a time.
I started with a Claude Code plan listing the features I already knew I needed from years of using bookkeeping software. Instead of building every page at once, I built in vertical slices, one feature at a time, so I could catch what was overcomplicated or missing. After using the dashboard and transactions, two things were clear:
- Attaching business files needed to be easier everywhere in the app.
- The layout felt cramped and overwhelming. It needed a custom UX, and a visual redesign to match my brand.
Design
Designing the system around the problems
I redesigned every screen in Figma on my Heartcore branding, building the components and variables first so each screen stayed consistent. Then I tackled the two problems from the prototype.
Room to breathe
Navigation moved to a vertical sidebar, and I audited every data point to combine, nest or cut it. The dashboard now leads with Priority Tasks.
Attach anything, anywhere
Statements upload through drag-and-drop with clear status, and receipts attach right when you add a transaction.
Purposeful styling
Green for income, pink for expenses, red for overdue and orange for tax progress, all checked for WCAG contrast. Type size follows importance, so key numbers lead.
Features
Bookkeeping that runs itself
Plaid API + Automatic sorting
Plaid pulls in transactions from my bank accounts, and rules tag recurring vendors with the right write-off category automatically.
Smarter tax estimates
I forecast income month by month, so quarterly estimates reflect this year instead of last.
Balanced books
Reconciliation checks statements against transactions so nothing goes missing.
Accountant-ready
One click exports a P&L with everything my accountant needs for tax season.
One PDF replaceda $4,200-a-year service.
Takeaway
Prototype, design, refine
Using a working prototype surfaced what a mockup never would. I designed the fixes in Figma, then refined them in code with AI, and repeated.