How do you keep track of your sales?

[Former_Member]

I'm just curious about how others are keeping track offline of their sales. I like to have a hard copy that I can look at at the end of the month to see how I'm doing, but I have yet to find a good system. I was doing invoices for myself, but it's a waste to use a whole sheet of paper for one item. I'm trying a modified reciept form that I found, so we shall see how that works.
How do you keep track?

[WithLoveFromLucille]

I keep my sale emails in a special folder, use outright.com...but I do print out a copy of the invoice for myself, I also like to have a hard copy for my own sense of security....but it is wasteful :/

But so far so good, all my accounts are in order and in in good standing with taxes, so if it ain't broken...

[bapsicrafts]

i use an excel spreadsheet, but i record purchases on a sheet as well as excel. somehow the tangibility of that notebook helps me remember to record when i need to.

[RivendellRocksSedona]

I print out the invoice and attach all shipping information, including tracking. And I use an excel spreadsheet for inventory, completed jewelry and sales - helps when it's tax time.

[ForgedMettleJewelry]

It's not that hard when you only have one a week (if that) but I have a list of all the jewelry I've sold and then I use the other half of the paypal shipping labels os my records, which I write in how much I got for everything and then the fees...

[MythOfTheWild]

I buy little moleskin journals from isavirtue here on etsy and use them to keep track of when I sold, what I sold, when I shipped, Where I shipped, how much it weighed and cost to ship, how much I received, discounts used. I can comfortably fit 3 sales per page with that info. I really love her shop, and I love all the more that I can put her products to such good use.
At the end of the year, I use the remainder of the page or a whole new one to state how much I made back for supplies, how much I made profit, how much I sold that year and so on.

[Former_Member]

I wish I had a problem like that, but with 1 sale per month or less that's not a problem. However I have folders in my My picture section. Folder for mini frame purses, folder for handbags etc. and folder for sold items. That way if there's no photo of say yellow polka dot metal frame clutch in metal frame cluthes folder, it must be in sold folder.

[Former_Member]

I just started using outright.com. You can link it to your etsy and paypal accounts. It will automatically catagorize things as expense or income. I don't print any hard copies. Doesn't etsy keep all of that info or will it only go back so far? I will print out a master list at the end of the year to keep with my taxes.

[Former_Member]

I write them in a book and cross them off when I'm done! Haha!

I'm old school inn that way. ;)

[RockNBeads]

I also use an excel spread sheet that lists the funds received, product cost and all other costs associated with a sale. That way I can see exactly how much I am making in a month. I also have a purchases spreadsheet by purchase, and when I sell something I record the sale price against that item so I know how much I am making per each purchase that I have made.

[LLFarm]

I use outright and print out their reports once a month. I also print out my Paypal reports and Etsy reports, all kept in a 3 ring binder with a copy of my bank accounts, other recipts I may have that didn't go through my bank or Paypal. I try to do all my purchases with my bank account debit card or my paypal debit card.

At the end of the year I hand the entire book to the accountant and he likes it nice and neet.

Something new I am doing is I printed out a monthly calendar and on that I write down some stats from Etsy, sales, revenue, visits. I am starting to see a pattern for our shop and will use that information to move ahead into next year.

[CarolaBartz]

I print out a copy of the invoice for myself, and by the end of each month I put everything in a spreadsheet (gross income, fees, shipping and sales tax). This works for me, but I don't have overwhelmingly many sales LOL.

[Former_Member]

I have tons of moleskine journals I mess up that I make for my shop. I need to be better at keeping records. Im horrible with receipts

[Former_Member]

Thanks so much for the replies & ideas! I used to be a bookkeeper, but I just don't feel like writing out all that stuff for the journals, so I'm hoping that a notebook or something similar would work good :)
A lot of my supplies I've had for years so I have no idea how much I paid for them... I can guesstimate though, but I doubt they can be used for write offs anymore.
One of the nice things about the Canadian tax system is that I can back-claim two or three years, so I'm probably going to just include everything from the last month (which is when I've seen more than one sale at a time) into my 2013 taxes... I just don't want to be looking back at the end of December next year going "now what the heck did I mean by that?" type thing.
I'm definitely going to try outright though!

[Former_Member]

I use a spreadsheet and Etsy to help me keep track. Right now I am not getting a high volume so I wanted a cost efficient and easy way to track them. Once my volume goes up I will look at accounting software of some sort.

[Former_Member]

I have a 3 ring binder where I have 14 6x9 envelopes, one devoted to each month plus one for sales tax stuff and one for show stuff. On the front of each envelope, I have a place to write Etsy sales and a separate column for outside sales. On the back of the envelope, I write expenses and also show things for that month (fees, dates/places, sales). I print out Etsy sales receipts and place those along with any other receipts inside of the appropriate month. It's really helped me stay on top of things. Once a month is over I can add up expenses and sales and record that along the way. I decorated the cover of the binder and I actually look forward to using it. It's so much better than anything I've tried to make myself do before.

[Former_Member]

I keep it simple, I print out my Etsy reports at the end of the year, subtract my expenses and report my profit to the IRS.
I dont think it really has to get more complicated than that.

[Former_Member]

I create a spreadsheet for each brick and mortar shop I'm in, as well for each craft show I do. I cross things off as they sell. Whenever I fill up a sheet, or am feeling motivated, I add up my sales, and give it to my accountant at tax time. It also helps me see what is selling so I know what I need to make more of.

[Former_Member]

https://www.etsy.com/listing/90957944/etsy-sales-tracker-organizer

[Former_Member]

Hey all, please refrain from posting listing promotions in the Etsy Success Team.
I'd like to keep the thread open and the conversation going!

-Kimm

[LLFarm]

Chimelle,

I LOVE the envelope idea! I was trying to tape all those little receipts to sheets of paper and hope they didn't get lost...

I bet its nice to have a great looking binder, one that is actually fun to open up. I have wanted to add bits to mine but never find the time.

[GirlpowerKnits]

I print the invoice, and staple the tracking # to it...

[FrenchLaundryMuse]

I love OUTRIGHT. Keeps me organized. Def a prob for me. : )