Translator and Interpreter Bookkeeping Spreadsheet

About this template

This bookkeeping spreadsheet is written for a freelance translator or interpreter, with each kind of language work on its own income line. It is for people running a translation business who are paid different rates for different jobs and want to see what each one really brings in.

Please read: This is a tracker tool only, not financial, tax, legal, medical or any other professional advice or advisory service. It records and calculates what you enter; you are solely responsible for checking all figures, rates, dates and results and for every decision you make. By purchasing, downloading or using it, you accept these terms (your statutory consumer rights are not affected).

Income and expense lines for language services

A generic template opens on product sales and service income. These freelance accounts describe the work instead, and both lists are dropdowns so entries stay consistent.

• Income: Translation, Interpreting, Proofreading and MTPE, and Certified translation
• Expenses: Software and subscriptions, Certification and membership, Equipment, Travel and more

Four rates, four lines

Post-editing machine output is not translation and should not be priced as if it were. Neither is a certified document, nor an hour in a clinic as an interpreter. They are four different rates, and a single service income column hides all of them. Here each has its own line, so you can compare them across the year.

Mileage with your own reasons

Every trip in the mileage log gets a reason from a dropdown: interpreting job, court or clinic, client meeting or conference. The total for the year is worked out for you.

The rest of the ledger

• Income and Expenses: 500 rows each
• Monthly and Quarterly: the totals tax is filed on
• Profit and Loss: built from the same two lists
• Clients: 10 client records with what each has been worth
• Balances and Dashboard: what the business holds, and the whole picture
• Start Here and Setup: setup in a few minutes

A bookkeeping spreadsheet, not an accountant. Tax rates and what you can claim are yours to set and yours to check.

Works with

• Microsoft Excel 2016, 2019, 2021 and Microsoft 365, on Windows and Mac, and LibreOffice
• Google Sheets with a free Google account. The Google Sheets version is a real workbook you copy, not a PDF with a link in it.
• No dynamic arrays, no macros, no add-ins and no subscription

What you download

• Two Excel files: a worked year with 330 income entries and 286 expense entries kept at a 59.1% margin, and a blank copy
• The instruction guide, which has one-click links to the Google Sheets versions
• The terms of use as a PDF

Your files are ready the moment payment clears. The spreadsheet is for personal and business use on your own devices, so please do not share or resell the files. Questions? Reach us through our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Excel, or can I use Google Sheets?

Either. The download has Excel files for Excel 2016 or later on Windows and Mac, and the instruction guide has one-click links to copy the Google Sheets versions with a free Google account.

Can I track MTPE separately from translation?

Yes. Proofreading and MTPE has its own income line, apart from Translation, Interpreting and Certified translation.

Does it work for interpreters as well?

Yes. Interpreting is its own income line, and the mileage log includes reasons such as interpreting job and court or clinic.

Is there an estimated tax tab?

No. This file has monthly and quarterly totals and a profit and loss, but no estimated tax tab. Tax rates and what you can claim are yours to check.

How many entries does it hold?

500 income rows and 500 expense rows, plus 10 client records.