If you"re freelancing, the goal isn"t to build a complex finance system""it"s to make sure you can answer simple questions quickly: "What came in?", "From whom?", and "When?" A clean CSV export is a great starting point because it"s portable and easy to audit.
Monthly setup
- Create a folder per month (statements + exports).
- Decide a consistent category list (Client payments, Platform payouts, Refunds, Fees).
- Pick one date format for everything (ISO is easiest).
Convert statements to a standard CSV
Use Statement Converter to normalize columns across different banks and statement PDFs.
Categorize income consistently
Make categories stable and boring. Consistency beats perfection. Use rules based on payor name or platform descriptor, then review exceptions once a month.
Keep an audit trail
- Keep the raw export separate from the cleaned file.
- Document any manual edits (small notes column).
- For deeper reconciliation concepts, read how accountants reconcile CSVs.
FAQ
Do I need accounting software to start?
No. A consistent CSV + categories is enough to start. You can migrate later once your data is clean and standardized.
Related articles
- Common Bank Statement Formats Explained (PDF, CSV, XLSX)
Banks provide statements as PDFs, CSVs, or spreadsheets. Learn what each format contains, why exports differ, and how to convert safely.
- How Accountants Use CSV for Reconciliation (Practical Workflow)
A reconciliation-friendly approach to cleaning statement exports: stable columns, consistent dates, and reliable transaction keys for matching.
- How to Clean Bank Statement Data in Excel Without Breaking Dates
A careful, step-by-step Excel workflow to clean statement exports while preventing common mistakes like date flips, lost leading zeros, and split amounts.
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