A practical starting point.
WHAT YOU NEED
A sheet for income A sheet for expenses A sheet for anything else relevant
FOR INCOME, RECORD
Date Customer What was sold Amount How paid Invoice number
FOR EXPENSES, RECORD
Date Supplier What it was for Amount How paid Category
THE CATEGORY COLUMN
Groups expenses: materials, transport, utilities, fees, and so on.
That is what lets you see where money goes.
WHAT TO ADD
A column marking whether the supporting document is filed.
WHAT TO PRODUCE
Monthly totals for income and each expense category.
WHAT THAT TELLS YOU
Whether you are profitable, and where money goes.
WHAT TO BACK UP
The file, automatically, somewhere other than the device.
WHAT TO AVOID
One enormous sheet covering years Formulas you do not understand Editing past periods after they are closed
