Self-employment gives you the freedom to set your own goals and work at your own pace. Although you have that freedom, you still have to operate with a sensible amount of professionalism. Create a Check Stub that can help you to make the right possible ways.
One of the best ways to set the professional tone for your business is paychecks. It’s time to learn how to create a check stub.
Check stubs provide proof of income. This is extremely important when all your earnings come from freelance work. On that stub is evidence of savings plans like your 401k and IRA contributions.
You’re also allowed to show other payroll deductions such as loan payments and child support. If you’re ever in need of a loan, this little slip of paper serves as a financial record to secure the loan.
Are you looking for self-employment solutions? Start by learning how to create a check stub for yourself. Keep reading and let us show you how to set things up.
Use a Template
Believe it or not, creating real pay stubs isn’t rocket science. Depending on how modernized your business is, making a check is as simple as a computer click.
Download a paystub template.
A check template is a pay stub that hasn’t been pre-filled. It has all the fields you need on a check but without the numbers and personal info. This saves you the time of constructing one from scratch in Word or Excel.
Fill in the necessary information, print, and file. Be mindful that some pre-designed templates may have fields you don’t need. Make sure the template you choose gives you the option to manipulate—add or delete—data fields.
The Basic Lineup
Before creating the pay stub, get your calculations together on a spreadsheet. Once you have the numbers right, you can get started with basic input.
Here’s the basic lineup for what to put on your check stub:
Gross Pay
Your gross pay is what you earn in a given pay period which doesn’t include deductions. General pay periods are weekly, bi-weekly, and monthly.
When you’re self-employed, most times you get paid when you complete a job. You’ll have to decide how to want to report your pay. If you want your check to reflect more income, then biweekly reporting might be a better option.
Deductions
In short, deductions are what you pay out of your gross earnings. Quarterly taxes, garnishments, and retirement plan payments are all deductions.
To show evidence of your contribution to these deductions, add them to the stub.
Net Pay
After you take out deductions, what’s left over is your net pay or take-home pay. For example, you make $6,000 in one week but have $2,500 worth of deductions, you take home $3,500.
Identification Information
Identification information includes the name and address of your business. It also includes your social security number and federal EIN. Including these details adds formality to the stub.
Expect these numbers to fluctuate with each check, because self-employed people don’t have standard weekly pay. Be sure to keep great accounting records to ensure accuracy.
Create a Check Stub
The steps to create a check stub are as simple as a basic recipe. Get your spreadsheets in order and start putting your pay on paper. All these factors will play a crucial role in getting the right revenue amount at the right point of time.
Need more financial information like this? Check out our lifestyle guide for the latest business tips and tricks.
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