Free Income & Expense Tracker
Single-tab tracker. Categorize and auto-total.
Save this file straight to your Drive, then open it with Google Sheets — no download needed.
- ✓Single tab
- ✓Category dropdowns
- ✓Auto monthly totals
About this template
This single-tab income and expense tracker is the simplest honest way to know whether you actually made money this month. Log money in and money out as it happens, tag each line with a category, and the spreadsheet totals everything by category and by month for you.
It is built for freelancers, side-hustlers, and small businesses who do not need full accounting software but do need a clean record for budgeting and tax time. Fifteen focused minutes a week keeps it current.
What's included
- One simple tab — date, description, category, money in, money out
- Category dropdowns so your data stays consistent and reportable
- Automatic totals by category and a monthly summary block
- Running net (income minus expenses) so you always see the bottom line
- Works for a business, a side hustle, or personal budgeting
How to use it
- Log transactions as they happen. Add a row for every payment in or out. Doing it weekly beats a year-end scramble and keeps the numbers trustworthy.
- Tag a category. Pick from the dropdown (or edit the list to fit your business). Consistent categories are what make the monthly summary useful.
- Enter the amount in the right column. Money received goes in "Income," money spent in "Expense." The running net updates instantly.
- Review the monthly summary. The summary block shows totals by category and net profit for the month — your fastest read on how the business is doing.
- Export at tax time. Save to PDF or hand the sheet to your accountant. The category totals line up with most small-business tax categories.
License: Free for personal and commercial use. No attribution required. Do not resell the template itself.
Frequently asked questions
How do I track income and expenses for a small business?
Record every transaction with a date, description, category, and amount, then total by category each month. This free spreadsheet does the totaling automatically so you only have to log the lines.
Is a spreadsheet enough, or do I need accounting software?
For sole traders, freelancers, and early-stage businesses a clean tracker like this is plenty. You typically only need full software once you have payroll, inventory, or many monthly invoices.
Can I change the categories?
Yes. The category dropdown is editable — replace the defaults with the categories that match your business and your tax return.
Does it work in Google Sheets?
Yes. Save it to Google Drive and open with Google Sheets, or import the .xlsx. The dropdowns and totals carry over.
Is it free?
Completely free for personal and commercial use, with no signup or watermark.
