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Bookkeeping on a shoestring

If you run a one-person business, a side business or a small club, your bank statement can be your bookkeeping system. This category covers the free spreadsheets, the simple methods such as cash basis and single entry, a monthly routine, and what bookkeepers and software really cost, so you know when paying for help is worth it. Start with DIY Bookkeeping for Small Business on a Tight Budget.

  1. When to Hire a Bookkeeper Instead of Doing It Yourself

    When to hire a bookkeeper instead of doing it yourself: the hours, error and growth signs, and a test of your time against the fee.

    Published October 17, 2026hiring helpbookkeeping feestime cost

  2. Track Business Expenses for Free All Year

    Track business expenses for free all year with a spreadsheet, your bank statements and phone photos of receipts, in minutes a week.

    Published October 17, 2026expense trackingspreadsheetreceipts

  3. Store Receipts for Free and Match Them to Statements

    Store receipts for free with your phone and a cloud folder, name them to match statement rows, and find any receipt in seconds at tax time.

    Published October 17, 2026receiptscloud storagefile naming

  4. Small Business Budget Template From Last Year's Rows

    A free small business budget template filled from last year's bank statement rows: income, fixed and variable costs, and monthly targets.

    Published October 17, 2026business budgetfixed costsmonthly targets

  5. Small Business Accounting Software Cost per Year

    Small business accounting software cost per year by plan tier, the add-ons that raise it, and when a spreadsheet does the job for less.

    Published October 17, 2026software pricessubscriptionsyearly cost

  6. Single Entry Bookkeeping From Your Bank Statement

    How single entry bookkeeping works with your bank statement as the only source, the columns you need, and the signs that you have outgrown it.

    Published October 17, 2026single entryledgerbank statement

  7. Separate Personal and Business Expenses on One Account

    How to separate personal and business expenses when they share one bank account: tag the rows, total each side, and fix it going forward.

    Published October 17, 2026mixed accountsbusiness expensesowner draws

  8. Profit and Loss From Bank Statements in a Spreadsheet

    Build a profit and loss from bank statements in a spreadsheet: sort deposits and payments, remove transfers, and total each month.

    Published October 17, 2026profit and losspivot tablesmonthly totals

  9. Invoice Tracker Spreadsheet Matched to Bank Deposits

    An invoice tracker spreadsheet that marks invoices paid by matching bank deposits, flags late payers, and shows what clients still owe.

    Published October 17, 2026invoicesaccounts receivableexcel formulas

  10. How to Pay Yourself From Your Business, Simply

    How to pay yourself from your business as a sole proprietor: transfers, how much to take, and how it shows on your bank statement.

    Published October 17, 2026owner drawsole proprietorself-employment tax

  11. How Much Does a Bookkeeper Cost for a Small Business?

    How much does a bookkeeper cost for a small business? Hourly and monthly rates, what raises the quote, and the prep that lowers it.

    Published October 17, 2026bookkeeper ratesquotessmall business costs

  12. Free Bookkeeping App vs Spreadsheet for a Tiny Business

    Free bookkeeping app vs spreadsheet for a tiny business: setup time, bank access, limits on free tiers, and which costs less once you grow.

    Published October 17, 2026bookkeeping appsspreadsheetsfree tiers

  13. Do I Need a Business Bank Account as a Sole Trader?

    Do you need a business bank account as a sole proprietor? When it is required, what it costs, and how it cuts your bookkeeping time.

    Published October 17, 2026bank accountssole proprietorseparating money

  14. DIY Bookkeeping for Small Business on a Tight Budget

    DIY bookkeeping for small business owners on a tight budget: the free tools, a monthly routine from bank statements, and when to pay for help.

    Published October 17, 2026diy bookkeepingmonthly routinefree tools

  15. Cheapest Way to Do Bookkeeping for a Small Business

    The cheapest way to do bookkeeping for a small business: free tools, low-cost software, and part-time help ranked by cash and hours per month.

    Published October 17, 2026cheap bookkeepingcost comparisontime cost

  16. Chart of Accounts for Small Business, Kept Short

    A chart of accounts for small business that stays short: the accounts most owners need, how to map statement rows, and what to skip.

    Published October 17, 2026chart of accountscategoriesschedule c

  17. Cash Book Template for Small Business, Free

    A free cash book template for a small business: date, detail, money in, money out and a running balance that should match the statement.

    Published October 17, 2026cash bookrunning balancetemplates

  18. Cash Basis Accounting for Small Business, Explained

    Cash basis accounting for small business: why your bank statement is the record, who can use it, and where it differs from accrual.

    Published October 17, 2026cash basisaccrualaccounting methods

  19. Bookkeeping Spreadsheet Template for One-Person Firms

    A free bookkeeping spreadsheet template for one-person businesses: income and expense tabs fed by statement rows and a monthly summary.

    Published October 17, 2026spreadsheettemplatesmonthly summary

  20. Bookkeeping Cleanup Cost and How to Shrink the Bill

    What bookkeeping cleanup costs when the books are months behind, why it is priced that way, and the prep you can do yourself for less.

    Published October 17, 2026catch-up bookkeepingcleanupbacklog