NEW YORK — Compiling a small-business income tax return is rarely a pleasant experience, but for those company owners who have neglected their finances for the past year, it can be torture.

Typically, the owners who struggle the most have poor records or discover during the course of filling out the return they don't have the cash to pay their tax bills. Chances are, an owner in either scenario doesn't have a good handle on the overall business, let alone the company's taxes.

"It's very hard to run a business without reliable financial information," said Gregg Wind, a certified public accountant with Wind Bremer Hockenberg LLP in Los Angeles. "You could be spending too much in a certain area, or set goals in a certain area, but you'll never know how you are doing."

Perhaps the biggest mistake many small-business owners make is to consider taxes a once-a-year event. They should be an integral, ongoing part of operating a business — not the main driver, but another facet of a well-run company.

The culprit is often poor record-keeping. Many owners are so preoccupied during the year with trying to bring in new business and keeping current clients and customers happy that it just isn't a priority to keep really good records. Tax time then becomes a nightmare of sifting through receipts and invoices — if they can all be found.

Wind noted that with the record-keeping software available for small businesses, it is much easier for a company owner to organize his or her finances.

Still, it can be demoralizing to sit with a disorganized set of books and records, and the truth is, if that's been your modus operandi, your 2006 taxes are going to be a chore. But it's not too late to get yourself on track for the rest of 2007 and beyond.

Getting organized doesn't have to be hard, or expensive. It does, however, require that you make some decisions about how you run your business.

For openers, you need to decide whether it wouldn't make more sense to have someone else do the work for you. If you haven't been able to keep your records in good shape, and it's unlikely that you're going to find the time to consistently take care of them, then you're probably better off delegating the job.

Many small-business owners are understandably worried about expenses, but Wind noted that there are resources to help them take care of their finances without running up a huge bill.

You might find there is plenty of savvy and affordable help to be found, and it doesn't mean hiring a full-time worker.