bookkeeping question

Pete77 · #1 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:07

hi,
i've just recently registered self employed as a carpenter and was hoping that maybe someone on this board could help me out with a couple of things.
I've been trying to get hold of a basic spreadsheet to do my bookkeeping, but couldn't find a template anywhere on the internet so i ended up writing one myself. I have no real bookkeeping experience though, so it'd be great if someone could just have a quick look at it and tell me if everything is correct/nothing missing.
I've also had some expenses just before officially starting my business and was wondering if i can still put them down in my books? and if yes, what's the maximum period of time between the purchase and registering self employed?
thanks a lot,
pete

Peter W · #2 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:15

Hi Pete, welcome to the forum.

If you email me your spreadsheet via my website, I will take a quick look at it for you.

You can claim expenses incurred before you start. I cannot remember the exact number of years you can go back - I think it may be 7. It is a long time, anyway.

Pete77 · #3 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:37

hi,
thanks for your very quick reply!
I just tried to go to your website to send you the file, but the site seems to be down...? is this the correct address? w w w. brighton-accountants . com ?
i had to put in the spaces to be allowed to post a url.
Well, 7 years is more than enough, I've got to see if i can find all the receipts for my tools.
Does that mean that i can just put them into my books as expenses to the business or do i have to somehow mark them as pre-startup costs?
cheers,
Pete

Peter W · #4 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:42

I'll PM you.

Pete77 · #5 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:42

Ah, looks like the website is back up now. I've just emailed the file to you, thank you very much for having a look at it for me!
Cheers,
Pete

Beneddie1112 · #6 (**permalink**) 17-06-2008, 22:42

Site is working fine this end?

James Smith · #7 (**permalink**) 18-06-2008, 08:45

I have some templates if you want then (email to the contact details on website), also on the shameless flogging front there is a book heavily trailed on my website which is aimed at people who know nothing about bookkeeping and need to keep decent records.

Regards,

Pete77 · #8 (**permalink**) 19-06-2008, 22:49

I would just like to thank peter and james for their help and for answering all my questions.
Thank you very much!

Pete

DavidT · #9 (**permalink**) 24-06-2008, 05:19

One of our members, Yorkshire Accountancy, gives our Cash Book template away to small business for free from their website. Worth checking out if all you want is a simple, easy to use template.