Britain's number-one guide to mastering the art and science of bookkeeping is now better than ever! Bookkeeping may not be fun, and it's rarely pretty, but you simply cannot run a business without it. This Third Edition of Britain's bestselling guide to small business bookkeeping has been fully updated for the latest accounting practices and bookkeeping software, and features lots of practical exercises and a new CD with bonus content. It gets you up and running with what you need to keep your books balanced, your finances in order and the tax inspector off your back. * Get started find out why bookkeeping is essential to your company success, how it's done and where to start * Keep a paper trail enter and post financial transactions, keep a detailed record, and set up internal controls for managing your books and your cash * Take it one day at a time discover how to keep track of day-to-day operations, as well as adjustments to sales and purchases * Keep the payroll rolling get the lowdown on setting up and managing payrolls, as well as all the HM Revenue & Customs paperwork involved in hiring a new employee * Close out the books learn how to close out monthly, quarterly or yearly accounting periods and calculate and record depreciation, interest payments and receipts * Make it official find out how to prepare financial reports and profit and loss statements, properly fill out all required tax forms and prepare your books for next year Open the book and find: * How to create and maintain your company's financial records * The best ways to keep books up-to-date with technology * How to set up and maintain employee records * How to calculate your staff's net pay * Guidance on producing income statements and financial reports * A wealth of practical exercises and examples throughout the book Learn to: * Manage day-to-day records like sales and purchases * Produce Profit and Loss Statements and Balance Sheets * Prepare year-end accounts and VAT returns CD-ROM includes bookkeeping templates and resources Note: CD files are available to download when buying the eBook version