How to track business mileage: a simple log that holds up

Date, starting point, destination, business purpose, odometer start and end, and total miles. That's the whole record. The purpose line matters most — "client visit, Smith Bakery" is clear a year later; "meeting" is not.

The best moment to log a trip is when you park. Keep the printed log in the glovebox with a pen clipped to it. Thirty seconds now saves an afternoon of reconstructing calendars later.

In many places, driving from home to your regular workplace counts as personal commuting. Trips from your workplace to clients, suppliers, the bank, or a second job site usually count as business. Note the rule that applies to you once, at the top of your log.

At month-end, add the miles column and write the total at the bottom of the page. Twelve monthly totals make the yearly figure a two-minute job.

Download the free NeaMea Mileage Tracker, print a month's worth of pages, and put them in the car today. Pair it with the Business Expense Tracker for fuel, parking, and tolls.