How a Paper + Spark spreadsheet works

[@jessford1629]

Thank you for this video! It answered EVERY question I had after contemplating whether I needed these products and which ones I needed! I'm off to buy my bundle and add-on, and I look forward to joining your Facebook group!

[@karlamurphy9934]

Thank you for this video! I sell Pod and digital right now and am thinking about physical products in the way future. I’ve been so intimidated not knowing what bookkeeping product to use so I haven’t done it at all yet! 🤦🏻‍♀️😮‍💨I’m guessing just the Etsy seller spreadsheet? I just opened my shop Jan 1, 2023 so it’s not an overwhelming amount of transactions but I do already have 52 sales so I really needed this to finally decide! Quick question: do I need to apply for sales tax ID in NC? I wasn’t sure since I sell on Etsy. Thanks for these videos! They’re gold!

[@paperandspark]

Hi Karla! Yes, with POD and digital products you probably don't need an inventory spreadsheet just yet. I'd look at the Etsy Seller Spreadsheet to get started! Congrats on 50+ sales already that's awesome! I would call the NC Department of Revenue and ask them if you should still register for a sales tax permit if you're ONLY selling on a marketplace (ie Etsy). Many states still want you to do that, and you will need to do it if you ever sell off Etsy. But they may be OK if you don't do it at the moment.

[@AMoonriseArts]

Your spreadsheets are always recommended everywhere and they look amazing, but I live in Europe (Netherlands) and am not sure if it will work for me because I pay VAT on all the individual Etsy Fees. So would need this to be displayed as part of seller expenses/Etsy Fees. I am also looking for a simpler spreadsheet just for digital items - I have a really small Digital Download shop (graphic design resources) and I'm just manually recording all my sales etc, there are only minimal expenses e.g. Photoshop sub , but it would be really awesome if there were a spreadsheet like yours that worked for digital only sellers where I could use the csv files to easily record everything including refunds/cancellations and where it also works for EU sellers so the VAT I pay on Etsy Seller fees is shown. Of course I'm probably overthinking this, maybe it's fine that I'm just manually writing sales, expenses and such for each month? It is easy for me to calculate net profit each month, being a digital download shop, but I always fear if I am doing good enough bookkeeping should I ever need to show/prove the numbers to something like the government lol Would love it if you had a product for EU sellers, it is impossible to find, people only sell for UK, Australia and of course the USA. Unless i'm just confusing myself!

[@paperandspark]

Hi there, we do have an EU version of the Etsy Seller Spreadsheet. You can read more about it here - paperandspark.stonly.com/kb/guide/en/pre-purchase-faqs-aCqXSsCnIm/Steps/196675,196707 Sometimes our international versions do require a bit more customization to best meet your needs. It's possible we may need to add in columns or formulas to pull out the VAT from your fees for example, depending on how Etsy is reporting them on your reporting. If you're willing to do that back & forth with us, we're happy to customize your sheet after purchase. It's not an additional fee.

[@jandupont2480]

Does this take the place of having to have an accountant?

[@paperandspark]

If your accountant would be doing your monthly bookkeeping, yes. These would take the place of hiring a bookkeeper. You may still want to outsource your tax prep though, depending on how comfortable you feel DIYing your own taxes.

[@coslogirl5122]

What E-commerce spreadsheet should I use if my platform is Wordpress and uses Woocommerce?

[@paperandspark]

Hi there, I would start by looking at the PayPal Seller Spreadsheet, because you likely use PayPal in your Woo store. You'll be able to import those sales in and then there is space to manually enter in sales from other sources. paperandspark.com/product/paypal-seller-spreadsheet/

[@susieq9849]

Okay now I am confused. If I have an e-commerce POD business that I use 5 different sites to sell on, do I need to purchase 5 different spreadsheets from you? Or, could I not "save as" the entire workbook for each site I sell on and import *csv files into each from the sites reporting? Sorry, very confused as to why I would need to buy specifically built workbooks (which you don't offer but 1 of the sites I actually sell on) if I were to buy the sellers spreadsheet workbook. Wouldn't I own the right to use it and save as I see fit? Not trying to be obtuse or confrontational, just genuinely confused.

[@paperandspark]

Hi there, if you sell on the same platform but have multiple shops on it, yes you are totally fine to just make a copy of the file and import shop #2 into file #2, and so on.

[@susieq9849]

​​When you say platform are you meaning sites like razzle, merch on demand, tee spring, etc.?​@@paperandspark

[@susanarendas]

Is the Etsy seller spreadsheet purchase in 2021 still the same? I logged in and tried to see if there was an update and am getting a "critical error" on the page.

[@paperandspark]

Hi Susan! It's likely still the same but we do make updates to the file from time to time. I would recommend logging into your account and going to "Spreadsheets" > Etsy Seller Spreadsheet within your account. That page will have a log of any changes that may have been made since your last download, along with the most up-to-date version of the file. If my site gives you any trouble, just email us at [e-mail]!

[@BebejoPerdew]

Right now I'm taking the time to create, I make wreaths, bows, arrangements , handmades. So I have not started selling. I'm giving myself 6 months to get an inventory of handmade products. Yes I want to do things right, not too computer savvy. This is a lot of information you give, not sure I can do it, or choose the correct bookkeeping products. Looks like if I purchase get legit tools there is still other products that will need to be purchased to bring one's bookkeeping to legal or legit status. Can you clarify?

[@paperandspark]

Hi there, the Get Legit Toolkit® is a course that walks you through the financial foundations of setting up your ecomm business properly. I walk you through how to choose a bookkeeping system (you may chose a Paper + Spark spreadsheet or you may chose something else!), setting up a bank account, understanding your state & local requirements, sales taxes, income taxes, how to understand a Schedule C, do your year end inventory count, save for taxes, pay yourself, etc. The program teaches you these things, but it doesn't include a bookkeeping system or a Paper + Spark spreadsheet.