A Simple DIY Way to Track Your Income & Expenses as a Handmade Business Owner

Because You Deserve to Know Where Your Money’s Going—Without the Spreadsheet Stress.

Let’s be real:
You didn’t start your craft business because you love bookkeeping.
But if you want to actually grow this thing—and keep more of your money—you’ve got to know what’s coming in and what’s going out.

Here’s the good news:
You don’t need fancy accounting software or a business degree to stay on top of your numbers.
You just need a simple system you’ll actually use.

So today, we’re breaking it all the way down:
A beginner-friendly, totally doable, DIY way to track your income and expenses—so you can make confident, clear decisions in your handmade business.

---

Why This Matters (Even If You’re Just Starting)

Knowing your numbers helps you:

• Price your products accurately

• Know if you’re really making a profit

• Get ready for tax time (without panic)

• See what’s working—and what’s draining your business

Clarity = confidence. Even if you’re only making a few sales a month, tracking now builds powerful habits for your future CEO self.

---

What You’ll Need

You can keep this super simple using:

• A Google Sheet (or Excel if you prefer)

• OR a paper notebook or binder

• 20 minutes per week (seriously—that’s it!)

💡 Optional: Create separate tabs or pages for income and expenses, or color-code if you’re more visual.

---

Step 1: Track Your Income

Make a section labeled Income and record:

• Date

• What you sold

• Platform (Etsy, market, Instagram DM, etc.)

• Price paid

• Fees (like Etsy fees, payment processor fees, shipping)

• Final amount you actually received

✅ Example:

This helps you see what products sell best and what platforms are most profitable.

---

Step 2: Track Your Expenses

Create another section called Expenses and log:

• Date

• What you bought

• Category (supplies, packaging, shipping, marketing, etc.)

• Amount

• Notes (why you bought it or how it supports your biz)

✅ Example:

This is key for knowing where your money’s going—and what to cut or adjust if needed.

---

Step 3: Review Weekly or Monthly

Block out 20 minutes every week (or one hour a month) to:

• Add any new sales or purchases

• Look for trends (What’s selling best? Where are you overspending?)

• Celebrate progress (Profit = applause-worthy 🙌🏽)

---

Bonus: Create Simple Monthly Totals

At the bottom of each section, tally:

• Total Income

• Total Expenses

• Profit (Income – Expenses)

This helps you see your numbers at a glance—and gives you instant clarity on how your business is doing.

---

Action Step: Set Up Your Tracker Today

Right now, choose your format: 🟢 Google Sheet
🟢 Notebook
🟢 Printable template (I can help you create one if you want!)

Then log the last 3–5 transactions you’ve made—income and expenses.
Boom. You’re on your way to becoming your own best bookkeeper.

---

You Deserve to Feel in Control of Your Business

This isn’t about being perfect.
It’s about knowing your numbers, honoring your time, and building a business that makes sense—financially and energetically.

So go ahead and track those sales like a boss.
Because the more you know, the more you grow.