Bookkeeping Templates for Self-Employed

Are you looking for bookkeeping templates for the self-employed?

Business Accounting Basics has several Microsoft Excel Spreadsheets that can help to improve your bookkeeping procedures. All templates are free to download, easy to use, and include instructions and examples.

If you do not have Excel, there are a few alternatives, including Neat Office, Numbers for Mac and Google Sheets.

As a small business owner, it is easy to put your accounts aside and concentrate on the sales and producing the goods needed. It is worth spending the time to keep your bookkeeping up to date, so you do not have to rush it at the end of the year.

HMRC will require you to complete a self-assessment tax return. The tax year is from 6th April to 5th April, and the tax return and payment are due on 31st January of the following year. There is also a payment on account that is due on 31st July.

Once your first year’s self-assessment is processed, a tax calculation is available from HMRC. Read more on payment on account.

All of our accounting templates work with Excel and Google Sheets. There are other alternatives available for both Microsoft and Mac.

Alternatives to Using Templates

Although using Excel might seem like a good idea, accounting software has several advantages. One of the main advantages is automation: tasks such as entering bank transactions, reconciling accounts, chasing customers for overdue invoices, and creating financial reports can all be handled automatically.

Making Tax Digital is also changing the rules for sole traders. If your self-employment or rental income exceeds £50,000, you need MTD-compatible software from April 2026, over £30,000 from April 2027, and over £20,000 from April 2028.

📌 Please note: Excel alone is not sufficient for MTD submissions. Sage is worth a look first as it has a free plan for sole traders with full MTD compatibility. For small businesses that need a more comprehensive package, Xero is my top recommendation. Always check GOV.UK for your mandatory start date.

Balance Sheet Templates

A balance sheet template can be a helpful tool for the self-employed. This type of template can help you track your assets and liabilities. By keeping tabs on this information, you can ensure that your business is healthy and running smoothly.

It is useful to complete a balance sheet regularly, especially at year-end. The balance sheet is one of the main financial statements that a small business uses to check its financial data.

Cash Book Template

Our cash book is simple to use and has some good features. Set-up takes under 5 minutes. You can change the names of the business income and expenditure categories to suit your business. All the figures for the year are calculated on an annual profit and loss report. Figures are posted to sales or expenditure using a drop-down list.

Full instructions and examples are provided on the website. Our cashbook template has been downloaded around 15,000 times and used by many small businesses.

Our self-employed bookkeeping includes a free download of the cash book from April to March, an excellent sole trader bookkeeping template.

Budget Template

An extension to our cashbook includes the ability to set a budget and compare it with the actuals.

Setting a budget can help you see the difference between what you expect and what you actually earn. You can adjust the budget during the year to reflect any changes in your business. Changes may include gaining an additional contract or unexpected expenses.

Cash Flow Forecast Template

For the self-employed, cash flow is everything. It is the lifeblood of your business, and keeping track of it is essential to your success.

A cash flow forecast template can help you to do just that. By tracking your cash flow in the future, you can see where your money is coming from and going. This information is critical for making smart business decisions.

For example, if you see that you have more expenses than you bring in, you will know you need to make some changes. Perhaps you need to cut back on expenses or find a way to increase your income.

Whatever the case may be, a cash flow accounting template can give you the insights you need to make your business thrive.

Expenses for Self-Employed

Keeping track of all your expenses and ensuring you claim for everything is important. It can reduce your tax bill by lowering profits. The expense report template allows you to record mileage and other sundry expenses.

Post the figures when complete to the accounts software or cash book.

Home Office Expenses

If you run a small business, the chances are you complete some or all of the work from home. When you use your home for business use, you are entitled to claim some expenses.

Our home office expenses section has a calculator for simplified and an Excel template to calculate the total of all the expenses for home use.

Income Statement

An income statement template can be a helpful tool for small businesses and self-employed individuals. An income statement template can help you track your income and expenses so that you can see how much profit you are making. This can be useful information to have when tax time comes around.

Below is an example of our income statement template.

If you are self-employed, using an income statement template is a good way to keep track of your financial progress.

Mileage Log Template for Self-employed

If you travel for the business, you can claim back mileage at 55p (from April 2026) for the first 10,000 miles.

Download our free PDF or Excel mileage template.

Sales Invoice Template

Our sales invoice template allows you to brand your invoice with logo, company and bank details. There are two versions available: VAT and non-VAT.

It is important to a customer that, as a business, you look professional, and having a branded invoice is one way to achieve that.

Excel Bookkeeping Templates for Self-Employed Alternatives

If you can’t find the accounting template you need, either design a template yourself or hire someone to do it for you. There are lots of useful YouTube videos to help you get started.

Using Bookkeeping Services as Self-Employed

Any business owner knows that bookkeeping is essential to the success of the enterprise. However, keeping track of expenses, income, and inventory can be time-consuming, particularly for businesses just starting.

This is where bookkeeping services come in. By outsourcing this task to a professional bookkeeper, business owners can free up valuable time to concentrate on running the business.

Bookkeepers also have more experience and knowledge of bookkeeping software and best practices. As a result, they can help businesses to avoid common mistakes and maintain accurate financial records.

In short, bookkeeping services provide a valuable way for businesses to save time and money.

Also, check out the best accounting software for self-employed.

Bookkeeping Templates for Self-Employed – Conclusion

Creating your financial data using accounting templates can save a lot of time. At Business Accounting Basics, we have created many templates for free download, including instructions and examples to make them easier to understand.

For a full list of our accounting templates for self-employed Excel spreadsheets, check out our complete list of Excel bookkeeping templates.

Last updated: June 2026