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Pick the cheapest bookkeeping option that meets your deadline
- For Small business owners
- You practice Catching mistakes and made-up facts
- Time about 5 minutes
About this exercise
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.
Common mistakes when you ask AI for this
- Picking the cheapest overall. Without your rule, the AI recommends doing it yourself because it costs least. Try: Add: "Cheapest option that delivers by the 5th."
- Missing the correction. The sales call said the 5th, and the AI doesn't read Ledgerly's email. Try: Add: "Ledgerly now delivers by the 10th."
- Monthly vs yearly mix-up. The AI compares monthly and hourly prices directly. Try: Add: "Show yearly math: $150 x 12 = $1,800."
- A long comparison. The AI writes a table and a pros and cons list in markdown. Try: Say: "Exactly 4 numbered lines, plain text."
- Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting words, so a total word cap usually lands over. Try: Cap each line: "each line under 18 words."
What a strong prompt includes
- States the deadline rule
- Uses the correction
- Asks for yearly math
- Sets the line count
- Caps the length
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