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PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZER'S BOOKKEEPING TOOLKIT |
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 DOCUMENTS 9 THRU 15: DESCRIPTIONS |
- Supply Shopping List (part of being a good business person and a good Professional Organizer is having the right tools -- this supply list includes everything that you will need in a solopreneur business, from office equipment and supplies to basic software and technology to outfitting the toolkit that you take on appointments -- great for not only helping you make sure that you haven't forgotten anything, but also for working out a budget so you know what it all will cost you)
- W-9 Form (if you are paid more than $600 in a year by a client, he/she must provide you with a 1099 at the end of the year -- the same is true if you pay more than $600 to any contractor or vendor you use -- this W-9 form is the official way of providing or gathering important tax ID or social security information for the creation of that 1099 -- you can get a PDF from the IRS website, but I've provided it for you here in jpeg format so it can be edited directly from your computer -- just type in your information, insert your signature as a graphics file, and save on your hard drive -- whenever someone needs your W-9, you can easily email it to them without having to print and mail each time)
- Simple Expense Tracking Form (you may use a computerized accounting program for tracking your business expenses, but for many small businesses, that's more expense and trouble than it's worth -- this easy-to-use form allows you to track your basic categories of expenses each month and have a year-end snapshot of how much you've spent on each type of item)
- Simple Income Tracking Form (if you're going to determine whether your business is profitable, you have to know how much money you are bringing in -- but many organizers just deposit their fees in the bank, without taking the time to tally up their monthly income -- this easy-to-use form allows you to track your basic categories of income each month and have a year-end snapshot of how much you've made on each type of service)
- Annual P&L Form / Balance Sheet (once you have tallied your expenses and income, figuring out where your company stands financially is fairly simple -- this form makes it easy for you to identify your assets and liabilities and to see whether you came out in the black or in the red, giving you the information you need to be able to make the appropriate changes in your financial plan for the next year)
- Annual Business Budget (some people treat business expenses differently than personal ones, just because they get a tax deduction for some or all of them -- but you need to be just as smart with your company money as with your personal checkbook -- tax deductions are no reason to spend beyond your means and go into debt -- this form offers an easy way to set up a budget for your company and make sure you are running your business finances according to those guidelines)
- Financial Projection Form (knowing how much you made or spent in a year's time versus how much you wanted to make or spend is important -- but even more important is the ability to look at several years' worth of data and make solid projections about the future -- this form will help you analyze your company's track record and figure out where you should be in the next year, 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years if growth continues at standard rates)