FreeAgent + Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians): Faster Bank Import
Tradespeople receive payments from multiple customers, buy materials from suppliers, and manage van and tool expenses — often on the go with no time for bookkeeping. If you use FreeAgent for your accounting, you need a fast way to get bank statement data into the system.
BankScan AI for Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians) Using FreeAgent
BankScan AI converts any bank statement PDF to CSV / OFX formatted for direct import into FreeAgent. Convert your bank statements to Excel to track job payments, match material purchases, and get your books ready for self-assessment without hours of data entry.
The Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians) + FreeAgent Workflow
Tradespeople receive customer payments via bank transfer, cash, or card, purchase materials from builders' merchants and wholesalers, pay for van fuel and maintenance, and manage tool and equipment costs. Most do their bookkeeping in the evenings or at weekends, matching bank transactions against job quotes and material receipts to calculate profit per job.
Key terms you'll encounter: day rate, materials markup, call-out charge, retention.
How It Works
Upload any bank statement PDF
Supports all major banks. Saves 2-3 hours per month on expense categorisation and receipt matching, with year-end self-assessment preparation reduced from a full day to under 2 hours
AI formats for FreeAgent
Output as CSV / OFX with Date, Description, Amount (single column) — FreeAgent also accepts OFX files which skip the column mapping step entirely — dates in DD/MM/YYYY.
Import and reconcile
In FreeAgent, go to Banking > select your account > Import Bank Statement. Choose CSV or OFX format, upload the file, and FreeAgent will parse the transactions automatically. FreeAgent automatically estimates your tax bill in real-time as transactions are imported, giving sole traders an up-to-date picture of their tax liability.
Supported Banks
BankScan AI works with all major UK and US banks, including:
FreeAgent Features for Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians)
- FreeAgent ready — Output formatted as CSV / OFX matching FreeAgent's expected column structure
- Smart integration — FreeAgent automatically estimates your tax bill in real-time as transactions are imported, giving sole traders an up-to-date picture of their tax liability.
- Built for Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians) — Saves 2-3 hours per month on expense categorisation and receipt matching, with year-end self-assessment preparation reduced from a full day to under 2 hours
- Software compatible — Output works directly with QuickBooks Self-Employed, FreeAgent, Excel
Import Steps for Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians) Using FreeAgent
As tradesperson, here's how to get bank data into FreeAgent:
- In FreeAgent, go to Banking > select your account > Import Bank Statement
- Choose CSV or OFX format, upload the file, and FreeAgent will parse the transactions automatically
Common Import Issues
FreeAgent can struggle with CSV files that have extra header rows or summary rows at the bottom. Ensure only transaction data rows are included.
FreeAgent Import — Built for Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians)
Free for NatWest, RBS, and Ulster Bank business customers. Popular among UK freelancers and contractors for its simple self-assessment tax return filing.
Try Free — FreeAgent + Tradespeople (Plumbers, Electricians)