Confident Bookkeeping for the Self-Employed

This practical, jargon-free course is designed for self-employed people, sole traders and small business owners who want to understand their finances, stay organised, and feel more confident dealing with HMRC.

Whether your records currently live in a spreadsheet, a notebook, or a shoebox full of receipts, this course will help you build a simple bookkeeping system that actually works.

Who This Course Is For
This course is ideal for:

• Sole traders and self-employed business owners

• Freelancers and side hustlers

• Micro-business owners

• Tradespeople, carers, cleaners, creatives and consultants

• Anyone completing (or preparing for) Self Assessment

• Beginners with little or no bookkeeping experience

 

No previous accounting knowledge is needed.

 

What You’ll Learn
During this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn:

The basics of bookkeeping
Understand what bookkeeping actually is, why it matters, and how good records can reduce stress, save time, and help avoid HMRC issues.

How money works in your business
Learn the difference between turnover and profit, where tax fits in, and why having money in the bank doesn’t always mean you can spend it.

Simple bookkeeping in Excel
Follow a live walkthrough showing how to create and use a straightforward income and expenses spreadsheet that keeps your records organised and HMRC-friendly.

Bank reconciliation made easy

Learn how to compare your records to your bank statements, spot missing transactions, and avoid common mistakes.

HMRC record-keeping requirements
Find out what records you need to keep, how long to keep them for, and how bookkeeping feeds directly into your Self Assessment tax return.

When to move beyond spreadsheets
Understand when Excel is perfectly suitable and when accounting software like Xero or QuickBooks may save you time and effort.

 

Learn what they do, how they differ from spreadsheets, and which types of businesses they suit best.

Course Outcomes
By the end of the course, you will:

• Feel more confident managing your business finances

• Understand the basics of bookkeeping and tax

• Be able to maintain a simple bookkeeping spreadsheet

• Know what records HMRC expects you to keep

• Understand how to avoid common bookkeeping mistakes

• Know when to seek extra support or move to software

​

Course Format

• Practical and beginner-friendly

• Plain English explanations

• Live demonstrations and walkthroughs

• Opportunities to ask questions throughout

• Real-life examples and scenarios

 

Participants are encouraged to follow along during the Excel sections where possible but it is not essential, so bring your laptops if you have one.

​

Why This Course Works
Many bookkeeping courses are overly technical or aimed at accountants. This course is different.
The focus is on creating a simple, sustainable system that works in real life for busy self-employed people. No unnecessary jargon. No complicated accounting language. Just practical bookkeeping that helps you stay organised and compliant.

​