As 2019 peeks around the corner, here is my Christmas gift to all illustration freelancers, webcomic artists and comic artists. An invoice and accounting management tool in Google Sheets. Open the link then click File > Make a Copy to save your own copy to work with.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1amiimlkqXpEA6niD9XLW3lZIOP9iCaY17drAUIegUlg/edit?usp=sharing
So, I use this myself because I find programs like Quickbooks don’t really work as well for Freelancers/International artists (in part because Paypal refuses to work with it properly). This is very easy to use, the key is just to enter things in it regularly. The key to managing your money properly is to know where it is, and inputting things daily means short bursts of work where you can clearly see where your money goes instead of pure panic at the end of the year.
In this Sheet you have a monthly breakdown for all your expenses and income sources. Each month has a “month” grid where you can enter and view your expenses per week, and a “details” grid. In the “details” grid you basically enter everything with Descriptions and Categories, which allow you isolate deductible amounts. What can be deductible varies on your type of freelance work and location, but I, as a comic artists working from home in Canada, can deduct part of my rent, electricity, and all comic purchases.
The Categories have an integrated pre-build drop down that you can just copy over when you add a new line. Every day you receive an income or spend money, you should enter stuff IMMEDIATELY. Small daily work = less work at the end of the month.
At the end of each week, compile your totals from the “Details” tab in the monthly grid. Then, at the end of the month, compile those in your Annual tabs. Then, at the end of the year, you can literally just hand this to an accountant along side your other paperwork, it’s ready!
Right after the Annual Income & Expenses tabs I included a little invoice management tab so you can keep tabs on commissions and clients!
! hope you all find this useful, be sure to check with an accountant tied to your location for what qualifies as proper deductibles!
This item is free to use - but if you want to grace me with a donation for it, my Paypal is [email protected] (also that would be filed under the “gift” category).
