Accounting and Financial Tracking Calendar for Entrepreneurs

 

As a business owner, planning the tasks that need to be carried out regularly for yourself and your team significantly reduces the risk of mistakes and oversights. Most pre-accounting processes are handled on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual basis.

When these tasks are performed consistently, you can manage your company’s cash flow more effectively and maintain a clearer view of your overall financial position. These records also serve as important references during bank loan applications or investor meetings, helping you demonstrate your business performance. Completing your official obligations on time also protects your company from potential penalties.

Working in a structured and disciplined way makes it easier to take the right decisions to grow your business. Using pre-accounting software is also a highly practical option to streamline and simplify these processes.

Below is a breakdown of the key responsibilities to be completed by period:

 

Weekly / Biweekly Tasks

 

It is recommended to reserve a specific time slot (such as Friday afternoons or Monday mornings) to handle these follow-ups.

• Preparing and sending invoices to customers
• Recording received payments in the system
• Monitoring overdue receivables
• Collecting checks that have reached their due date
• Paying invoices and checks that are due
• Reviewing open and unresolved quotations
• Classifying and categorizing expenses
• Completing supplier payment transactions

 

Monthly Tasks

 

Allocate 1–2 days each month for these responsibilities. When selecting the dates, take tax filing and payment deadlines into account.

• Preparing and submitting documents to your accountant (by the 10th of the month)
• Filing the VAT Return (KDV 1) (must be filed even if no tax is payable, by the 24th)
• Filing the VAT Withholding Return (KDV 2), if applicable
• Filing the Withholding Tax Return (Muhtasar), if submitted monthly (by the 24th)
• Filing the Stamp Tax Return, if a liability arises
• Making VAT and withholding tax payments (by the 26th)
• Completing Social Security (SGK) premium payments (by the end of the month)
• Monitoring payroll and salary processes
• Verifying consistency between cash records and accounting books
• Reviewing bank and credit card account movements
• Preparing or updating monthly balance sheet, profit & loss, and cash flow statements
• Creating or revising monthly sales, inventory, and management reports
• Analyzing expense items to identify potential cost-saving areas

 

Quarterly Tasks

 

Set aside dedicated time every three months to complete the following processes.

• Filing the Withholding Tax Return, if submitted quarterly
• Preparing and submitting the Temporary Tax Return
• Preparing quarterly balance sheet, profit & loss, and cash flow statements
• Generating quarterly sales, inventory, and performance reports

 

Annual Tasks

 

• Filing the Corporate Income Tax Return (by April 15)
• Paying Corporate Income Tax (by April 30)
• Preparing the annual operating budget
• Completing year-end closing procedures and physical inventory counts
• Paying membership fees to chambers of commerce or professional associations, if applicable
• Completing notarization of statutory accounting books (by December 31)

 

Documents to Be Submitted to the Accountant Each Month

 

• Purchase invoices
• Sales invoices
• Self-employment receipts
• Retail sales receipts
• Producer receipts (Müstahsil Makbuzları)
• Daily Z reports
• Daily credit card transaction reports
• Expense-related invoices and supporting documents
• Payment receipts
• Collection receipts
• Bank transfer slips (dekonts)
• Bank account statements
• Monthly financial summary report
• Lists or copies of issued and received checks
• Bank loan details and repayment schedules
• Employees’ medical leave reports (within legally required timeframes)
• Signed payrolls and salary calculation slips for the previous month