Simple Book-keeping

2. Sales

You need a simple routine procedure to keep track of your sales.

2.1 Every time you make a sale, issue an invoice.

• Give every invoice an original number and keep a copy of each.
• File hard copy invoices in Sales Unpaid. Put the most recent invoice on top. The invoices will automatically be in date order.

2.2 When an invoice is paid, make a note of how it was paid (cash, cheque, BACs etc). Pay the money into your account, using the paying-in book provided by the bank.

• On the stub of the paying-in slip write the date, invoice number(s) and amount(s).
• Take the invoice from the Sales Unpaid file. Write 'paid' plus the date in the top right-hand corner.
• File the invoice in Sales Paid. Put the most recently paid invoice on the top. The invoices will automatically be in the order they were paid.

2.3 Once a week, update your Cash Book or software package.

• Look through your paying-in book stubs. Enter into the Cash Book details of all the invoices paid.
• Check the Cash Book entries against the invoices in the Sales Paid file. Put a tick against the invoice number on the invoice to show that the invoice details have been entered into your Cash Book.

2.4 Once a week check through your unpaid invoices and chase any that are falling due.