Chalk it up to record keeping. As a small business owner and/or independent contractor, to file your taxes you’ll need to know exactly how much money you’ve earned and lost in expenses monthly. Having a reliable self-employment ledger will help you better manage your finances and optimize your tax refund. By keeping a self-employment ledger, you’ll be able to show proof of all your earnings and expenses when it comes down to tax season. Remember, with every eligible business expense, your taxes go down!