Spreadsheets for freelancers and small businesses
Before you need accounting software, you need three answers every week: who owes you money, whether next month's cash covers next month's bills, and how much to set aside for taxes. Three spreadsheets answer them.
Each one below works in Excel and Google Sheets, uses formulas you can read, and ships with realistic sample data so you see the result before you type a number.
Templates
Excel & Google SheetsInvoice & Payment Tracker
Every invoice and payment in one place. Know who owes you, and how late.
Excel & Google SheetsSmall Business Budget & Cash Flow
Plan the year, track what happens, and see the month cash dips before it does.
Excel & Google SheetsFreelancer Bookkeeping & Tax Tracker
Income, expenses, mileage and quarterly taxes in one file. Schedule C ready.
Paperwork checklist: freelancers & small business
| Document | Why you need it | Template |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice tracker | Every invoice, its due date and balance, and an overdue chase list. | Invoice Tracker · $14 |
| Budget and cash flow forecast | Twelve-month plan, actuals, variance and a cash warning. | Budget & Cash Flow · $17 |
| Income, expenses and quarterly tax | Schedule C categories, mileage, home office and estimated payments. | Freelancer Tax Tracker · $17 |
Guides
- Invoice tracker in Excel or Google Sheets: set it up once, get paid faster
How to build an invoice tracker: columns to include, statuses, partial payments, days overdue, aging buckets and a chase list. Excel and Google Sheets.
- Small business budget and cash flow: a template you will actually update
How to build a small business budget and cash flow forecast: categories, monthly plan, actuals, variance and a minimum cash cushion. Excel template inside.
- Self-employed expense spreadsheet and quarterly tax tracker
How freelancers and 1099 workers track income, expenses by Schedule C line, mileage, home office and quarterly estimated tax in a spreadsheet.
Questions
Spreadsheet or accounting software?
A spreadsheet is enough while you invoice a few dozen clients a month and do not run payroll. Move to software when you need bank feeds, payroll or an accountant asks for it.
Do these calculate my taxes exactly?
The tax tracker estimates self-employment tax and quarterly payments from your inputs. It is a planning tool, not tax advice; confirm with a tax professional.
Will they work on a Mac?
Yes, in Excel for Mac, Numbers (basic), and Google Sheets in any browser.