{"id":"prod2-sb-bookkeeping-options-cost-rule","audience":"small-business","category":"decisions","track":"productivity","technique":"verification","title":"Pick the cheapest bookkeeping option that meets your deadline","free":false,"task":"Your rule: pick the cheapest bookkeeping option that delivers monthly reports by the 5th. Write exactly 4 numbered lines: one per option showing the yearly cost math and whether it meets the 5th (Yes or No), then 4. Pick: the option. One firm changed its delivery date in a later email. Plain text, under 90 words.","materialLabel":"Your options and an email (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"Bookkeeping for Tidewell Bike Repair - options\n\nA) Part-time bookkeeper (hire)\n- $25/hour x 8 hours/month\n- Reports by the 3rd of each month\n\nB) Ledgerly (outsourced firm)\n- $150/month flat\n- \"Monthly reports by the 5th\" (from their sales call)\n\nC) Do it myself with software\n- $40/month software\n- Takes me ~6 hours a month, and I usually finish around the 15th because of the shop's busy season\n\nNote: My accountant needs reports by the 5th to file sales tax on time. Late filing = penalty.\nMy cousin says Ledgerly is \"super fast\".\n\nEmail from Ledgerly (Thursday):\n\"One correction from our call: for clients your size, monthly reports are delivered by the 10th, not the 5th. Pricing is unchanged.\"\n","rules":[{"type":"numberedItems","count":4},{"type":"maxWords","max":90},{"type":"plainText"}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Picking the cheapest overall","why":"Without your rule, the AI recommends doing it yourself because it costs least.","fix":"Add: \"Cheapest option that delivers by the 5th.\"","checks":["r2"]},{"title":"Missing the correction","why":"The sales call said the 5th, and the AI doesn't read Ledgerly's email.","fix":"Add: \"Ledgerly now delivers by the 10th.\"","checks":["r1","r2"]},{"title":"Monthly vs yearly mix-up","why":"The AI compares monthly and hourly prices directly.","fix":"Add: \"Show yearly math: $150 x 12 = $1,800.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"A long comparison","why":"The AI writes a table and a pros and cons list in markdown.","fix":"Say: \"Exactly 4 numbered lines, plain text.\"","checks":["numberedItems","plainText","maxWords"]},{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting words, so a total word cap usually lands over.","fix":"Cap each line: \"each line under 18 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"States the deadline rule","patterns":["by the 5th","5th"]},{"label":"Uses the correction","patterns":["10th","email","correct"]},{"label":"Asks for yearly math","patterns":["year","x 12","annual"]},{"label":"Sets the line count","patterns":["\\b(4|four)\\b.{0,15}lines?"]},{"label":"Caps the length","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words"]}],"hint":"Cheapest isn't the same as best if it misses your deadline. Give the AI your rule, the corrected date, and ask it to show yearly math.","rubricLabels":["Each option line shows yearly cost math: part-time bookkeeper $25 x 8 x 12 = $2,400, Ledgerly $150 x 12 = $1,800, software $40 x 12 = $480","Meets the 5th: bookkeeper Yes, Ledgerly No (reports by the 10th), software No","Line 4 starts with 'Pick:' and names the part-time bookkeeper"]}