A Simple Bookkeeping Checklist for One-Person Businesses

When you run a business by yourself, a busy week can leave you with receipts in your inbox, payments in two apps, and very little time to put it together. Start with one spreadsheet and one place to save your receipts. Then give yourself a recurring spot on the calendar to catch up.

What to record each week

1. Log the money that came in. Record the date, what you sold, the amount, and where the payment came through. A home baker might write “Birthday cake, paid through Square.”
2. Log what you spent on the business. Record the date, vendor, amount, and a category you’ll recognize later. A baker could use ingredients and packaging. A stylist might use booth rent and supplies.
3. Match payouts to your records. If a platform subtracts its fee before sending money to your bank, choose one way to record it. For example, record the full sale and the fee separately, then use the payout to check your math.
4. Save the paperwork. Keep receipts and payout reports together by month. If you add a filename or note to your spreadsheet, you can find the matching receipt later.

What to review at the end of the month

Total your income and expenses and look at the difference. The next time you order supplies or set a price, you’ll have actual numbers to work from.

Pick a weekly time you already have, like Friday after your last appointment. Start with this week’s transactions. Once the routine feels familiar, you can fill in earlier weeks as you have time.