Free Bookkeeping for Artists: A Simple Way to Start

You don’t need expensive accounting software to get organized. Start with a simple spreadsheet and a few good bookkeeping habits.

As an artist, you already have enough to manage.

Before paying for bookkeeping software, start with a system that answers three basic questions:

How much did I sell?
How much did I spend?
Does my bookkeeping match my bank account?

For many artists, a free spreadsheet is enough to get started.

1. Track Income the Right Way

Don’t record only the amount that reaches your bank account.

For example, you sell artwork through a gallery for $1,000. The gallery keeps a $300 commission, and you receive $700.

Your record should show the full transaction:

Date	Description	Gross Sale	Fee/ Commission
8/10/26	Sculpture Sale	$1,000	$300
8/18/26	Commission	$500	$0

This helps you see the difference between what you sold and what actually reached your bank account.

2. Keep Expenses Organized

Avoid putting every purchase into one category called “Supplies.”

Use a few simple categories that tell you where your money is going.

Date	Vendor	Category	Amount
8/12/26	Art Supply Store	Art Supplies	$94.50
8/14/26	Shipping Store	Shipping	$48.00
8/20/26	Website Service	Website & Marketing	$25.00

For larger, longer-lasting purchases such as a kiln, camera, computer, or major studio equipment, consider keeping a separate Equipment list rather than mixing everything into everyday supplies.

You don’t need to determine the tax treatment yourself. The important thing is to keep clear records.

3. Save the Receipt Behind the Expense

Every expense in your spreadsheet should have a supporting receipt or invoice when available.

Keep it simple:

2026 → August → Receipts

For example, you could save a receipt as:

2026-08-12_ArtStore_94.50

Now you can quickly connect the expense in your spreadsheet with the original receipt.

4. Do One Monthly Check

At the end of each month, compare your spreadsheet with your bank and credit card statements.

This is called reconciliation.

You’re simply checking:

Did I miss anything?
Did I enter anything twice?
Are the amounts correct?
Can I explain each business deposit?

You don’t need to do bookkeeping every day.

Thirty minutes once a month can prevent hours of cleanup later.

Free Artist Bookkeeping Spreadsheet

If you don’t want to build your own spreadsheet, here’s a simple structure you can use.

Income

Expenses

Equipment

Your spreadsheet can automatically total:

Total Gross Sales
Total Fees & Commissions
Total Expenses
Net Income

Download the Free Artist Bookkeeping Spreadsheet

Use the sample transactions as a guide, delete them when you’re ready, and start entering your own.

Keep It Simple

Good bookkeeping doesn’t have to be complicated.

Start by tracking sales correctly, organizing expenses into useful categories, saving your receipts, and checking your records once a month.

As your creative business grows, you can always move to more advanced bookkeeping software.

The best bookkeeping system is the one simple enough that you’ll actually keep using it.

Coming Next

Materials, Inventory & Cost of Goods Sold: What Artists Should Know

What’s the difference between buying art materials, holding inventory, and recording the cost of artwork you’ve actually sold? We’ll break it down simply in the next Money & Bookkeeping post.

This article and spreadsheet are for general educational and organizational purposes only and are not intended as tax, accounting, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for advice specific to your situation.