How to use the Grooming Income & Expense Tracker

See what the business is actually making, with tips, card fees and groomer pay sorted out. Here's every step, with screenshots from the real spreadsheet.

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Version 1.0 · 8 tabs · Excel and Google Sheets · Free Lifetime Updates

At a Glance
StepHow long
1Before you start1 min 2Set up10 min, once 3Log incomeSee step 4Log expenses and milesSee step 5Pay groomers and check the numbersSee step
Messages explainedSee them →

Before you start

The one rule: yellow cells with blue text are yours to fill in. Gray cells calculate on their own and are locked, so you can't erase a formula by accident.
  1. Your download is a zip with two files. Double-click it to open it. Start with the one marked with examples to see how everything works, then use the blank one for your business.
  2. Open the file in Microsoft Excel. Using Google Sheets? Upload it to Google Drive, then open it with Google Sheets.
  3. Start on the Start Here tab. It has the same steps, right inside the file.
  4. The sample data is there so you can see how everything works. Type over it with your own when you're ready.

Here's how to set up once, then log income and expenses in a few minutes a day.

1Set up (one time, about 10 minutes)

  1. Open Settings. Enter the year and the share of profit to set aside for taxes.
  2. Enter your card and app fee rates, your groomers and their commission rates.
  3. Look over the expense categories. Rename or add your own. Each one shows its usual tax line. Check with your tax pro.

2Log income

Grooming Income & Expense Tracker Income tab in Excel and Google Sheets. The income log for grooms, add-ons, retail, tips and how each client paid.
The income log for grooms, add-ons, retail, tips and how each client paid.
  1. Open Income. Enter date, client, groomer, what it was for, amount, tip and how they paid.
  2. Card fees and what you keep fill in on their own. Enter refunds with a minus sign.

3Log expenses and miles

Grooming Income & Expense Tracker Tax Summary tab in Excel and Google Sheets. The Tax Summary totals every category with its usual tax line, ready for your tax pro.
The Tax Summary totals every category with its usual tax line, ready for your tax pro.
  1. Open Expenses. Enter what you paid, pick a category, and mark whether you have a receipt.
  2. Mobile groomers: open Mileage and log each trip. The IRS rate for the trip's date is used.

4Pay groomers and check the numbers

Grooming Income & Expense Tracker Pay Split tab in Excel and Google Sheets. Pay Split figures each groomer's commission and tips for the month.
Pay Split figures each groomer's commission and tips for the month.
  1. Open Pay Split and type any date in the month. Each groomer's commission and tips are figured.
  2. The Dashboard shows monthly profit, tips and average ticket. The Tax Summary totals everything for your tax pro.

What the messages mean

The tool watches your numbers and tells you in plain words when something needs a look. Here's every message you might see.

Pick how they paid.
What it means: The Paid by column is blank, so card fees can't be figured.
What to do: Pick Cash, Card or another payment type.
Groomer isn't on Settings.
What it means: The groomer name doesn't match the list, so Pay Split misses it. Often a typo.
What to do: Pick the groomer from the list.
Refunds need a minus sign, like -45.
What it means: A refund was entered as a positive number.
What to do: Add the minus sign.
Not in this year, so it won't count.
What it means: The date is outside the year on Settings.
What to do: Fix the date, or start a new file for the new year.
Category isn't on the Settings list.
What it means: The category doesn't match the list.
What to do: Pick it from the list, or add it on Settings.
No IRS rate for this date. Add one on Settings.
What it means: There's no mileage rate for that trip's date.
What to do: Add the rate on Settings.

Using Google Sheets or your phone

  • To use Google Sheets, upload the file to Google Drive, then right-click it and choose Open with, then Google Sheets.
  • Dropdowns, colors, and every calculation work the same in Google Sheets.
  • On a phone, the Google Sheets and Excel apps work for quick changes. For setup and printing, a computer is easier.
  • Want to start fresh? Type over the yellow example cells. Don't delete rows, since other tabs may be reading them.

Ready when you are

Like what you see? Get the grooming income tracker for $9, with every future update free. Want to try the math first? The free version covers the basics, no sign-up. Need more than one tool? Save with the toolkit.

Common questions

Is this tax advice?

No. It's a record-keeping tool. Tax lines are shown as the usual line, and every category is editable. Check with your tax pro.

Do tips count as income?

Tips are tracked separately so you can see them clearly. Ask your tax pro how to report them.

Quick reference from the Start Here tab

Welcome

Know what the business is really making. Track every groom, tip and expense, keep card fees and mobile miles in view, split commission fairly, and walk into tax time with clean totals, whether you own a salon, work on commission, rent a booth or groom from a van.

Setup (About 10 Minutes, One Time)

1

Open 'Settings'. Enter the year, your card and app fees, your groomers and their commission rates, and how much to set aside for taxes.

2

Check the expense categories. Rename or add your own. The tax lines are the usual ones, not advice. Confirm them with your tax pro.

Every Day Or Week

1

'Income': add each payment. Keep tips in their own column. Card and app fees fill in on their own.

2

'Expenses': add what you spend and pick a category. Mark whether you kept the receipt.

3

Grooming mobile? Add business trips on 'Mileage'.

How You Work

Salon owner paying commission: record the full price of each groom with the groomer's name. 'Pay Split' shows what each groomer is owed each month.

Commission groomer: record each paycheck as Commission pay on 'Income', and your own costs on 'Expenses'.

Booth or chair renter: record your rent as an expense in Booth or chair rent.

Mobile groomer: track miles on 'Mileage'. Your van fuel, repairs and insurance go on 'Expenses' too, so you and your tax pro can compare methods.

What It Tells You

'Dashboard': income, tips, fees, expenses and profit by month, your average ticket, and what to set aside for taxes.

'Tax Summary': yearly totals by category with the usual tax line, plus your mileage at the IRS rate for each trip's date.

Handy Tips

Refund? Add it on 'Income' as What = Refund with a minus sign, like -45.

Each trip's mileage uses the IRS rate in effect on its date. Add new rates on 'Settings' when they're announced.

Using Google Sheets? Upload this file to Google Drive and open it with Google Sheets. Everything works the same.

Important

This tracker organizes your numbers. It isn't tax or legal advice. Tax lines, deductions and mileage rules depend on your situation, so check with a tax professional.

Your License

This file is licensed to one business, including everyone who works there. Please don't share, resell or post it online.

© 2026 EasyWorkTools. All rights reserved. easyworktools.com

Every tab

This file has 8 tabs, in this order:

  1. Start Here
  2. Dashboard
  3. Pay Split
  4. Tax Summary
  5. Income
  6. Expenses
  7. Mileage
  8. Settings
Still stuck on something? Ask us. We answer within one business day, and we'll add the answer here for everyone.