just started minding help accounts!

[cedar12]

Hi just started minding this week what expenses should I be keeping a record of weekly. How do you work out food and petrol etc. Thanks

I am now working on a self employed basis so have been getting to grips with accounts myself for the past year. I am not sure about what counts as 'expenses' for your work but a good line to take is that it has to be wholly related to the business to be a genuine expense. The tax office might have a list of what they will accept.

As for accounts I stumbled across a fabulous online account system which prepares all my invoices, tracks my income, consolidates the bank account and will even assist with the tax returns! I can't rate it highly enough and they give you a free months trial. If you join via the link you get 10% off too if you decide to join. The link is fre.ag/3gj4p0xe and the name of the accounting system is Freeagent. There is even have an iphone app :o

HMRC: Childminder Expenses - may be useful.

Have you come across this forum for childminders? There is a section just for accounts and tax questions.

Thanks everyone