Home › Sole Trader Bookkeeping Spreadsheet (Australia)
Sole Trader Bookkeeping Spreadsheet (Australia)
Simple bookkeeping for Aussie sole traders: income in, expenses out, monthly totals and GST columns.
You don't need expensive software to keep tidy records as a small sole trader. A clear spreadsheet and a weekly habit go a long way.
The minimum records most sole traders keep
| Record | Why | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Sales / invoices | Income for your tax return and BAS | As they happen |
| Expenses with receipts | Deductions and GST credits | As they happen |
| Bank statements | Reconcile records | Monthly |
| Asset purchases | Depreciation or instant write-off rules | When bought |
| Logbook or diary (car, home office) | Support mixed-use claims | Ongoing |
General information, not tax advice. Records are generally kept for 5 years.
Example: a month of entries
| Date | Description | Income | Expense | GST (if registered) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct | Client invoice #014 | A$1,100 | A$100 collected | |
| 5 Oct | Printer ink (tax invoice) | A$66 | A$6 credit | |
| 19 Oct | Etsy payout | A$420 | ||
| 19 Oct | Etsy fees | A$38 |
Example only. GST shown assumes GST registration and GST-inclusive amounts.
Read the side hustle records guide.
General information only, not financial or tax advice.
What records does a sole trader need?
Sales, expenses with receipts, bank statements and asset purchases, generally kept for five years. Check ato.gov.au.
Do I need accounting software?
Not necessarily. A clear spreadsheet works for many small sole traders.
Is this tax advice?
No, it's general information and a record-keeping tool.
Related
Australian Tax Time Bundle · Sole Trader Income & Expense Spreadsheet · Sole Trader Tax & BAS Dashboard
Try it in an app
Side Hustle Income & Tax Tracker (AU) (A$29, one-off): Track side-hustle income and expenses by Australian financial year, set money aside for tax, and watch the GST turnover threshold.