Schedule C expense tracker spreadsheet

If you are a US sole proprietor or freelancer, your business income and expenses end up on Schedule C. Sorting a year of receipts into those lines in April is slow; sorting them as you go is easy.

The Small Business Bookkeeping spreadsheet has an income log, an expense log with categories you map to Schedule C lines, receipt and payment-method tracking, and a mileage log. It builds a 12-month profit and loss and a summary by Schedule C line. Meals are tracked at the full amount and at 50%, and the mileage total is added for you.

It organizes your records so tax time is faster. It is not tax advice; check with a tax professional about what you can deduct.

What you get

You get two files, a blank template and a filled-in example, plus a Start Here guide. Open them in Microsoft Excel, or upload them to Google Drive and open them with Google Sheets (free). You type in the input cells; the formulas, totals and charts update themselves.

Tips

• Log expenses weekly with the receipt in hand.
• Record business miles the same day you drive them.
• Use the 'no receipt' flag on the dashboard to chase missing paperwork.