being paid....

[Stef]

I use a Duplicate book, basically the same as Chalkers, write the invoice out & give customer top copy, keep yours in the book, then give that to your accountant at end of tax year.
As Peter says keep receipts for absolutely everything, even if you buy a can of juice or packet of crisps or McDonalds, keep them all.

 

[Rossymcg]

Don't tell anyone about cash job,
open up a separate bank account, not a business one though because they charge you for it and all your non cash jobs pay it in to there and use the debit card from that account for all your diesel, materials and tools you then have a record of what's going in and to cross reference and give to your accountant, plus get a simple carbon copy invoice book as other have said,
one last very important thing, always and I mean ALWAYS give a quote via text message or email and get client to reply that they accept that price, you always have some proof come the end of the job,

 

[Peter]

These are worth every penny when estimating and invoicing by hand

2 x A5 Personalised Estimate Note Duplicate NCR Pads | eBay

Keeps your paperwork tidy and impresses customers by looking professional.

 

[Chalker]

Don't tell anyone about cash job,
open up a separate bank account, not a business one though because they charge you for it and all your non cash jobs pay it in to there and use the debit card from that account for all your diesel, materials and tools you then have a record of what's going in and to cross reference and give to your accountant, plus get a simple carbon copy invoice book as other have said,
one last very important thing, always and I mean ALWAYS give a quote via text message or email and get client to reply that they accept that price, you always have some proof come the end of the job,

Be careful with the separate cash account.
Not that I would ever do cash jobs, like anyone else here :sofahide: .
i had a vat investigation a few years back and they asked me why I paid in £5000 into a personal account. ( I sold a racing car) . They accepted my excuse, as I was telling the truth.
The point is they came with that information. I did not show any statements for that account. They can link any of you accounts, including children's. and get access!

 

[radim]

Be careful with the separate cash account.
Not that I would ever do cash jobs, like anyone else here :sofahide: .
i had a vat investigation a few years back and they asked me why I paid in £5000 into a personal account. ( I sold a racing car) . They accepted my excuse, as I was telling the truth.
The point is they came with that information. I did not show any statements for that account. They can link any of you accounts, including children's. and get access!

TSB says that access to your accounts can be granted with court order only. but they might be lying.....

 

[Rossymcg]

Be careful with the separate cash account.
Not that I would ever do cash jobs, like anyone else here :sofahide: .
i had a vat investigation a few years back and they asked me why I paid in £5000 into a personal account. ( I sold a racing car) . They accepted my excuse, as I was telling the truth.
The point is they came with that information. I did not show any statements for that account. They can link any of you accounts, including children's. and get access!

I'm not saying have a stash account, I'm saying have a different account to his normal current account, so everything is business related in that one account, then transfer over wages/profits to current account,
i had a VAT investigation,I'm a limited company so never looked in to personal account, but seriously got screwed over, a company that had gone bust paid me a substantial amount went bang and never got a cis voucher from them, 2years later vat inspection couldn't prove where that cheque came from because liquidators couldn't find relevant paperwork, so had to pay vat on it,

 

[Diamond Pool Finishers]

Also you can claim for a room in your house that you use as an office!! whether you do or not, and even the girlfriend doing paperwork T........

 

[widler]

Ash,when you find out tell me will you , in nearly 20years of self employment I still ain't got a clue, I have a carrier bag or 3 and every august I walk in my accountants office with a dumb grin on me face and she just looks at me and says " oh god not you again"

 

[Mr Tiler]

lol my sister inlaw does the accounts for a company in brum... she caught the last employee out she had basically spent 40,000 of her bosses money lol. hopefully she will help me out mates rates lol

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I tend to use my debit card on all things business related, that way I have all accounts on my bank statement in a neat and orderly manner.

 

[WetSaw]

Also you can claim for a room in your house that you use as an office!! whether you do or not, and even the girlfriend doing paperwork T........

Just make sure that if you do "pay" your girlfriend/wife for doing paperwork that there is a record of payment. My accountant did this and I had an inspection and the tax man threw it out. And whoever you "pay" may then have to declare that income.
I had the same tax inspector on my back for 3 years picking over every set of accounts but 2 VAT inspections and they were more than happy with my bookkeeping.

 

[CJ]

just about every job I do now I send an invoice via email, then I have a copy of that invoice in my "sent items" outbox.

:smilewinkgrin: Hope you do daily backups.....you know wot your like with computers.

:sofahide: