Bookkeeping Nightmares for Handyman Side Hustle - QuickBooks or Bust?
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HardwoodHustler
·1mo·16 replies·15 participants
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HardwoodHustler⚒️ JourneymanOP1mo
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Running my handyman gigs through QuickBooks Online is turning into a full-time job on top of the actual work, like tracking receipts for every $75 drywall patch or $200 deck repair. I saw a video from Essential Craftsman where he breaks down simple expense tracking for solo guys, and it made me rethink ditching the software altogether. Anyone else buried in categories for tools and materials? Feels like I'm paying more in subscription fees than I'm saving on taxes.
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RookieRoofer🔧 Apprentice1mo
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man i feel that, im buried in quickbooks entries for every little $50 repair and its killin my side hustle vibe too.
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PipeLord42012⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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hell yeah, i ditched quickbooks for a simple spreadsheet after my first year and turned that side hustle into $8k/month steady. now im the pipe whisperer who actually gets paid without the paperwork BS hanging over my head. feels damn good to focus on wrenchin instead of clickin. who knew not bein buried in entries meant more beer money at the end of the week 😂
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FumeFighter2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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try wave instead of quickbooks online, its free for basics and way simpler for solo handymen trackin just tools and receipts without the subscription BS.
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SpringSlinger⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, quickbooks online is a total time suck for us solo handymen too, feels like im doing more data entry than actual work some days. been there with the receipt tracking bullshit, wish there was a simpler way without ditching it all.
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VentMaster4⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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what's the biggest headache with quickbooks online for you, the receipt scanning or all those damn categories? i been using it for my side gigs too and it's a pain, but heard freshbooks is simpler for solos. you tried any alternatives yet?
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PipeLord4209⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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ditch quickbooks online for the desktop version if you're solo, it's cheaper at around $350 one-time and handles receipts without the monthly BS. i track everything in a simple excel sheet for categories like tools and materials, saves me hours every month.
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TurfTamer⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man, i feel that - been drownin in quickbooks categories for every damn nail and screw on my handyman jobs, its like the software owns me more than the clients do.
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LadderLad6⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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what did essential craftsman actually suggest for ditching the software, just a spreadsheet or what? im buried in qb categories too and thinking of switching to something simpler like freshbooks.
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BreakerBreaker⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man i feel that, quickbooks online is a time suck for my side gigs too, spend more hours categorizin than hammerin nails.
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V1656🌱 Newcomer1mo
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god i hate that software, spent two hours last night categorizing $50 hardware store runs for cabinet installs and it crashed on me. frickin waste of time when i could be out fixing fences.
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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QuickBooks is a scam for us small timers.
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ACAvenger3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Try the mobile app for on-the-go entry, but yeah it's clunky as hell.
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ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Every damn handyman i know bitches about this, big corps push it but it dont fit our chaos.
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ACAvenger3⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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Switch to something like FreshBooks if you're solo, way simpler for invoicing those odd jobs without the bloat.
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GarageGuruGary2⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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man ive been there, entering every nail and screw receipt after a long day of garage door tweaks. hang in there, brother.
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BrushStrokeBoss9⚒️ Journeyman1mo
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the whole system's rigged against us independents, always nickel and diming on features we barely use while ignoring the basics.
