How It Works

From bank export to tax-ready in four steps

  1. Download and open. Your tracker arrives instantly as a ZIP with a START HERE guide, the Excel file, a LibreOffice file, and Google Sheets import instructions. Open it in whichever you use — no installation, no account, no macros to enable.
  2. Paste in your bank export. Download a CSV from your bank, paste it into the Bank Import tab, map the columns once, and copy the clean output into Transactions. Works with any bank's format.
  3. Watch the Rules categorize everything. Every tracker ships with 90+ starter Rules — simple keyword-to-category pairs. Any transaction whose description contains the keyword categorizes itself. Add your own rules for your regular vendors, and use the Override column for one-offs.
  4. Your reports fill themselves in. The tax form tab totals every category to the correct IRS line for your entity. The P&L, monthly, weekly, and quarterly reports update as you go, and the Readiness Score shows how close your books are to done on a 0–100 gauge.

What's inside every tracker

Cover · Start Here · Bank Import · Transactions · Rules · Categories · your tax form tab · P&L · Tax Readiness Score · Monthly / Weekly / Quarterly reports · Tax Calendar · Setup · Avoid Mistakes. Self-Employed editions add Mileage and Home Office tabs; Rental adds a Properties tab; Nonprofit adds the full 990 report suite (Statement of Activities, Functional Expenses, Financial Position, Donors, Budget vs Actual).

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Excel?

No. Every purchase includes an Excel .xlsx, a LibreOffice .ods (free software), and instructions for importing into Google Sheets. One of the three is almost certainly already on your computer.

Is this accounting software?

No — and that's the point. It's a spreadsheet you own outright. No subscription, no login, no syncing, no company holding your data. It works offline forever.

Which tracker do I need?

Match it to the tax form you file: freelancers and sole proprietors file Schedule C; landlords file Schedule E; farms file Schedule F; multi-member LLCs and partnerships file Form 1065; S-corps and C-corps file Form 1120-S / 1120; nonprofits file Form 990. Not sure? Ask us.

What if a transaction gets categorized wrong?

Type over it in the Override column — your choice always wins. Better yet, add a Rule for that vendor and it categorizes itself from then on.

Is my data safe?

Yes — safer than software. There are no macros and no internet connection. The file cannot transmit anything; your numbers stay on your computer.

How does "buy 2025, get 2026 free" work?

Buy any 2025 tracker and the matching 2026 edition is included at no charge. If you don't see it in your download, contact us with your order number and we'll send it over.

What's your refund policy?

If something isn't right — wrong edition, a file that won't open, a tracker that doesn't do what we said it does — contact us and we'll make it right. See our refund policy for details.

Can you build a tracker for my industry?

Maybe! Send us a request.