How to do Bookkeeping for Self-Employed Freelancers & Independent Contractors The 6 items you need for self-employed bookkeeping.
1. Create a bookkeeping ledger. A ledger provides a complete record of all accounts and financial transactions over the life of the company. It is important to keep your business money separate from any personal money even on day one. You can set up bookkeeping ledgers in Microsoft Excel, or there are many online versions including QuickBooks Self-Employed, or use an online accounting service like ALOEwerx to do this step for you.
2. Connecting accounts. If you choose to use QuickBooks Self-Employed (with or witho ut ALOEwerx services) it allows you to directly connect your accounts to your bookkeeping ledger. You can connect any credit cards or bank accounts that you would use for business. That way whenever you use a credit card or bank account it will automatically record in your ledger without manual entry. This is helpful in validating the accuracy of your books and saves time.
3. Personal vs. Business expenses. It’s important to distinguish between personal and business expenses. When you use a credit card or online payment with your bank account it is important to go into your books and label them either personal or business. QuickBooks Self-Employed will keep the transactions in a holding folder until you go in and review each transaction labeling them personal, business, or both. If using ALOEwerx the bookkeeper assigned to your business will take care of this for you. Keeping your business expenses separate will allow you to compare month to month business expenditures and see trends in your business.