How to Create Cost & Expense Sheets in Excel

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Excel can be easy to use for cost and expense sheets.

Cost and expense sheets are something that all business owners and self-employed individuals need to have in place and update regularly. These sheets also can be used by an average person planning a vacation, home renovation or similar event or project. The Microsoft Excel program can be very helpful in assisting you with keeping track of and adding up all costs and expenses that you incur, no matter what the purpose.

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Step 1

Open a blank Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

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Step 2

Write down the necessary categories for your spreadsheet. Common categories for costs and expenses of businesses, for example, include office supplies, software and equipment, legal and accounting, postage, advertising, travel and organization fees. Choose categories that are specific to your purposes for the cost and expense sheet.

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Step 3

Type the date in the first column on the Excel spreadsheet.

Step 4

Type a column for the "Payee" of the costs and expenses next to the "Date" column.

Step 5

Add all additional categories in the following columns. For example, Column C in the spreadsheet might be "Office Supplies," Column D "Software and Equipment" and so on.

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Step 6

Scroll down a few rows and add "Total" to the bottom of the "Payee" column.

Step 7

Highlight all rows from just under each category heading to the "Total" row for each category.

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Step 8

Click "Formulas" from the top menu. Then, click "AutoSum." This will add up the total cost and expense for each category and continue to add up the total as you add more costs and expenses in that category.

Step 9

Touch "Control" and "S" on your keyboard and save the Excel spreadsheet on your computer.

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