How to Track Side Hustle Income in Excel
Starting a side hustle is exciting—but things get messy fast if you don’t keep track of what’s coming in (and going out). Whether you’re freelancing, selling on Etsy, or running a local service, knowing your numbers is the key to growing your side hustle into something sustainable.
The good news? You don’t need fancy accounting software. A simple Excel sheet can do the job—and I’ve created a free template you can grab at the end of this post.
Why You Should Track Side Hustle Income
- Stay organized for taxes: Side hustle earnings are taxable. Having everything logged makes tax season much less stressful.
- Spot growth trends: See which months are best and which services or products bring in the most.
- Separate hobby from business: Clear numbers help you decide if your side hustle is worth scaling.
- Motivation boost: Watching your income grow month by month is incredibly rewarding.
What to Track in Your Spreadsheet
Here are the essentials every side hustler should log:
- Date – When you got paid.
- Client/Platform – Who paid you (e.g., Fiverr, Etsy, local client).
- Service/Product – What you sold.
- Income Amount – How much you received.
- Expenses – Costs tied to that income (supplies, ads, transaction fees).
- Net Profit – Income minus expenses.
- Payment Method – PayPal, bank deposit, cash, etc.
Free Excel Template
I’ve built a clean, beginner-friendly Excel template that includes:
- Automatic net profit calculation
- Monthly income totals
- A summary dashboard to see your yearly progress
How to Use the Template
- Open the file in Excel (or Google Sheets).
- Fill in your earnings each time you’re paid.
- Add any expenses tied to that income.
- Watch the monthly and yearly totals update automatically.
Final Thoughts
You don’t need to be an accountant to run a successful side hustle. Just a simple spreadsheet can keep you on top of your money—and help you see how your hustle is really performing.
So grab the free template, start logging your income, and give your side hustle the foundation it deserves.
