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Bookkeeping for Freelancers

A beginners Guide towards bookkeeping for Freelaners

By cruse burkePublished 2 years ago 5 min read
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Best Accountants in Croydon

As a freelancer, getting paid and preparing for tax season are critical components of your business. That is why learning the fundamentals of bookkeeping for freelancers is critical.

It can be difficult to keep track of your clients and when and how much they owe you. Understanding how to handle your accounting and the tools available to you can assist you in keeping track of unpaid bills and collecting payment from clients who owe you money.

You can better understand your business and have an accessible view of your cash flow if you keep a constant and accurate journal of your business activities. You'll also be prepared for tax season and an audit.

If you're having trouble keeping track of your finances, hiring an accountant or using accounting software can free up your time to focus on what you love about your business. If you have any questions about accounting in Croydon, please do not hesitate to contact Cruseburke Accounting Services.

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Bookkeeping Tips for Your Freelance Business

Keep Your Accounting Up to Date

Understanding what is happening with your money might help you flourish as a freelancer.

Whether you engage an accountant for tax season or not, it is critical to keep track of your money throughout the year. This allows you to foresee potential issues and expand your business. Set yourself up for success as a freelancer by dedicating time each day to manage your bookkeeping and ensure you enter in every invoice or expenditure receipt.

Create a System That Works for You

For freelancers, bookkeeping may be a daunting process, so finding a system that works for you is critical.

Fortunately, there are numerous solutions available in the market that will allow you to simply input your financial data from anywhere and at any time. Accounting software will assist you in organising your money by tracking outstanding invoices, managing cash flow, invoicing clients, and guaranteeing correct financial records.

You might also hire a bookkeeper, which will allow you to devote more time to more vital tasks, such as seeking new clients. The most important thing is to have a bookkeeping system that works for your freelance business.

Keep track of everything.

When it comes to paying your taxes as a freelancer, keeping track of your bookkeeping is critical. Here are a few write-offs and data points to keep watch of as the year comes to a close.

  • You worked on a project for a certain number of hours.
  • Client projects you've completed
  • Each client's hourly rate
  • Expenses for business
  • Payments made by you
  • Transfers between banks
  • Payments from clients
  • Costs of travel
  • Bills for electricity and utilities
  • Phone and internet charges
  • Bills for purchases of technology such as a computer, printer, or phone
  • Classes, publications, and seminars geared toward advancing one's career
  • Supplies for the office
  • Website development and hosting
  • Software
  • Rent for an office (can be a room in your home, but not the whole house)
  • Set Aside Money

    Setting money aside for your annual tax payment is always a good idea.

    Newer freelancers may be accustomed to having an employer withdraw a portion of their earnings from each paycheque to cover income taxes. As a freelancer, you must be prepared for a bigger tax bill that will be computed differently than you are accustomed to.

    The typical rule is to save approximately 30% of your income. Using accounting software may also assist you in creating reports that can assist you in estimating your tax obligation and provide you with a clear view of:

    • All of your bills
    • Your cash flow situation
    • Who owes you what, and when do you owe it?
    • What you owe others
    • Customers that pay on time

    Make use of Accounting Software

    There are numerous advantages to using bookkeeping software as a freelancer.

    The main advantages are getting paid sooner, having accurate financial records to give when seeking for a loan, and being prepared for an audit.

    Accounting software will assist you in the following ways:

    • Custom invoices may be created and sent quickly.
    • Set up invoice reminders for yourself and your clients.
    • Determine and follow up on late payers

    Keep your personal and professional assets separate.

    It might be difficult to separate your personal and company finances as a freelancer. You should open a separate bank account for business transactions to minimise confusion. This distinction in your financial situation can make your life a lot easier.

    Having separate accounts allows you to see how much money is related to your firm at any given time. This will make budgeting and providing costs for your services easy. A better understanding of your freelancing finances will help you prevent financial troubles in the future and determine which expenses are critical to your work.

    Be Open About Your Earnings and Expenses

    If you don't keep your company and personal accounts separate, you may get payments directly to your personal bank account, making it tempting to sweep problems under the rug.

    The short-term gains will not be worth it in the long run.

    If you are detected during an audit, you may risk fines or possibly jail time.

    Transparency also benefits your firm by providing you with a clear picture of where your money is going and where it is coming from. This might also be useful for developing corporate expansion strategy.

    Create and Stick to a Budget

    Setting and sticking to a budget will help you manage your cash flow and keep your tax records organised.

    Accounting software may help you manage and monitor your spending patterns, as well as set savings and growth targets for your company.

    As a freelancer, a rigid budget plan will assist you in developing healthy financial habits. This prudent financial management will aid your company's long-term growth.

    We provide best accountants for freelancers in Croydon to assist them in dealing with all of their expenses and paying taxes while they continue to do what they love. Yes, we can assist you with your tax returns as well, using our freelancer tax returns.

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