Accounting and Bookkeeping Software for Independent Contractors

This includes understanding the types of taxes you are responsible for, such as income and self-employment taxes. It is also important to keep up-to-date with tax laws and regulations, as these can impact your bookkeeping and tax obligations. As mentioned before, most of the popular bookkeeping and accounting software on the market has built-in features for maintaining records built in, which makes this process much easier.

• ScanWriter assists with automated data entry directly into QuickBooks, including 100s of transactions from bank and credit card statements, bills, sales orders and invoices.
• You pay taxes on your own, set hours on your own, and you are your own boss.
• Keeping track of taxable income is an important aspect of bookkeeping for independent contractors.
• This service is designed to help independent contractors predict their customer demand and be prepared for it.
• This includes recording all clients’ income and any other taxable income sources.
• Depending on how you are keeping your books (paper, excel, QuickBooks, etc.) will dictate the exact steps.
• There are a lot of business expenses that independent contractors need to keep track of in order to pay the least possible income tax.

As your business continues to grow, you will see how beneficial it would be to have the time you spend on bookkeeping to complete work within your expertise, acquire new clients and more. Hiring a professional to take care of your bookkeeping services will allow you bookkeeping for independent contractors the freedom you need to grow your business as an independent contractor. However, when a company hires an independent contractor, it is different. Contractors are held reliable for their tax payments and do not rely on businesses to withhold income tax for them.

Best Accounting Apps for Independent Contractors

In addition, using a bookkeeping service like Lunafi can provide you with the tools and support you need to manage your finances effectively. By staying on top of your bookkeeping, you can make informed financial decisions and focus on growing your business. Monitoring cash flow is an important aspect of bookkeeping for independent contractors.

Your business structure affects your taxes, paperwork, and personal liability. Sort expenses with a swipe, track your mileage, and prep for taxes, all from your smartphone. Tracking the money coming in and going out of your account is also essential.

How to Calculate Cash on Hand for Business

Whether you need help deciding what kind of entity to launch or would like assistance with back paperwork, financial planning or growing your business, call SLC Bookkeeping. For a fraction of the cost of a full-time employee, SLC provides you part-time, outsourced bookkeeping with a full-time presence. Having a clear picture of your financial figures will help in understanding your business better. You can also better determine how to charge for services because you understand the expenses.

According to U.S. labor law, independent contractors are not employees—they are self-employed and do work for clients on a contract basis. If you do work as an independent contractor, you are technically working for yourself. Employees get paid a regular wage, have taxes withheld from those wages, work part or full-time, and have their work and schedule dictated by the employer.

Sort expenses

Using accounting software like QuickBooks will allow you to reconcile your bank accounts quickly. A video showing this process in QuickBooks will be available in the near future. Consulting with a professional bookkeeper or accountant can provide valuable insights and ensure that you are in compliance with all financial regulations.

Using an accounting app will save you time and money and help you keep track of how much money is coming in and how much is going out. For most independent contractors, it will be beneficial to bring in a CPA to at least help during tax season. A good accountant can help you with tax season and also create and decipher financial reports like your balance sheet, income statement, statement of cash flow, and more. It gives you a more transparent look into where your business is right now and how it is trending. Managing payments and tax reporting for independent contractors can be a little trickier.

Contractor Bookkeeping Services

Accounting software will make it easier to do so with the ease of invoicing. Accounting software allows you to invoice your clients and keep up on unpaid invoices. Find help articles, video tutorials, and connect with other businesses in our online community. Receipts and expenses are stored, organized, and ready for when you need them.

However, you may not have realized how important it is to make sure you keep up on bookkeeping and accounting as an independent contractor. The primary identifying feature of independent contractors is their ability to control the method in which work is performed. For example, when you hire an independent contractor to paint your office building, you only have control over the end result of the job. You are not able to directly control the hours worked, equipment used, how they hold the paintbrush, etc.

The 7 Best Accounting Apps for Independent Contractors in 2023

In terms of bookkeeping, the difference between full time employees and independent contractors is essential knowledge for small business owners. Incorrectly classifying your workforce could lead IRS penalties, costly lawsuits, or both. Our accounting services are designed and centered around your type of business. Whether you’re a business owner with multiple team members or are a sole proprietor, we specialize in servicing independent contractors with all of your accounting needs. What will happen if you work with a subcontractor or decide to open a new office?

In reality, while there are many benefits to being a contractor, there are risks as well. You will have less of a safety net and may have fewer legal remedies outside of civil court if professional relationships with clients sour. Your bookkeeping needs may also be complex since you may have multiple clients and potentially even multiple streams of revenue.

DIY or Hire a Professional?

You also may be charged a penalty if your estimated tax payments are late, even if you are due a refund when you file your tax return. As a general rule, independent contractors should save anywhere from 30-40% of their income for tax purposes. You can also use Form 1040-ES from the IRS.Gov website to determine estimated taxes. Self-employed or not, you need to monitor what’s going in and out of your bank accounts. Our bookkeepers will develop an easy framework when setting up your books.

• Although customer service reviews are mostly positive, some FreshBooks users report that they’ve been double charged, and customer support is not always responsive to these issues.
• If you did more than $600 of work for a particular client, they’re required to file Form 1099-MISC and send you a copy of it.
• Not only that, we’ve encountered many different scenarios among independent contractors too.
• The business they work for will withhold and report a portion of the employee’s wages.
• Look for a flexible system and a bookkeeper who can make these adjustments with you.
• We narrowed them down to the top seven after reviewing the most popular ones.