# AI Receipt Extractor: Receipts to Google Sheets with n8n > Build an n8n agent that reads a receipt photo, pulls out the date, vendor and amount, picks a category and adds a row to Google Sheets. Free tutorial. Source: https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-receipt-extractor-n8n-google-sheets · Updated 2026-10-03 · Free from Stepthrough (https://learn.ynteractive.com) Free · Live now · [Business Automations](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course/business-automations) · [n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n) · OpenAI · Google Sheets · Google Drive · ~12 min · 63 steps · Beginner Updated October 3, 2026. Built against the tool’s current screens and checked step by step. [How we check this lesson](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/about#how-we-check) Typing receipts into a spreadsheet is slow and easy to get wrong. In this free tutorial you build an AI receipt extractor in [n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n): drop a photo of a receipt into a chat, and the agent reads it, chooses a category and adds a row to your Invoices sheet. **In the course:** [Part 9 · n8n Automation Toolkit](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course/part-9-n8n-automation-toolkit) (Module 9 of the [full course](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course)) ## Practice it step by step You do every step yourself in a practice copy of n8n. It checks your work as you go, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Free, about 12 minutes, and nothing touches your real accounts. [Start the free practice](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/receipt-extractor) ## AI Receipt Extractor: Receipts to Google Sheets with n8n: step-by-step guide with screenshots **About the screenshots.** They come from Stepthrough’s simulated practice environment (a practice copy of n8n), not the live tool, so no real account appears. The buttons and labels match the real screens the lesson was built against. Practice it yourself free at learn.ynteractive.com. - Tools: n8n - Time: about 12 minutes, 63 steps in 11 parts - Level: beginner, no coding needed ### Part 1: New workflow #### Step 1: Create a workflow In Module 2 your agent wrote ideas into a spreadsheet. This time it reads. You'll drop a photo of a receipt into a chat, and the agent pulls out the date, the store, the total, picks a category, and adds a row to a sheet. You already have n8n and an OpenAI key from Module 2, so we start right here on the Overview page. ![The n8n overview page in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 1 of 63 (Create a workflow): the cursor is on “Create workflow”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-01.webp) **Step 1 of 63.** You already have n8n from Module 2. On the Overview page, click **Create workflow**. ### Part 2: Chat trigger #### Step 2: Add the first step An [empty canvas](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/workflow-canvas). Every workflow starts with a trigger, the thing that kicks it off. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 2 of 63 (Add the first step): the cursor is on “Add first step”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-02.webp) **Step 2 of 63.** An empty canvas. Click **Add first step**. #### Step 3: On chat message We want to hand the agent a receipt by chatting with it, and n8n's chat lets you attach files. So pick [on chat message](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/chat-trigger). ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 3 of 63 (On chat message): the cursor is on “On chat message”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-03.webp) **Step 3 of 63.** Pick **On chat message**. #### Step 4: Close the node The defaults are fine. The chat stays private to you while you build. Close it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 4 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-04.webp) **Step 4 of 63.** Nothing to change here. Close the node. ### Part 3: AI Agent #### Step 5: Add the next step Now, what happens when a message comes in. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 5 of 63 (Add the next step): the cursor is on “+”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-05.webp) **Step 5 of 63.** Click the **+** to the right of the chat trigger. #### Step 6: Search for the agent There are hundreds of nodes, so search. ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 6 of 63 (Search for the agent): the agent is filled in (“agent”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-06.webp) **Step 6 of 63.** Type **agent** into the search box. #### Step 7: AI Agent [AI Agent](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/ai-agent). This is the part that looks at the receipt and decides what to do with it. ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 7 of 63 (AI Agent): the cursor is on “AI Agent”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-07.webp) **Step 7 of 63.** Click **AI Agent**. #### Step 8: Close the node See how the prompt already comes from the chat trigger? Whatever you type in the chat goes straight to the agent. We'll give it instructions at the end, once it has everything it needs. Close it for now. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 8 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-08.webp) **Step 8 of 63.** The prompt already comes from the chat. We'll add instructions once the agent has its tools. Close it. ### Part 4: Chat model #### Step 9: Give it a brain That red warning means the agent has no brain. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 9 of 63 (Give it a brain): the cursor is on “+”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-09.webp) **Step 9 of 63.** The red warning means there is no model. Click the **+** under **Chat Model**. #### Step 10: Search for OpenAI ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 10 of 63 (Search for OpenAI): the openai is filled in (“openai”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-10.webp) **Step 10 of 63.** Type **openai**. #### Step 11: OpenAI Chat Model OpenAI chat model. ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 11 of 63 (OpenAI Chat Model): the cursor is on “OpenAI Chat Model”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-11.webp) **Step 11 of 63.** Click **OpenAI Chat Model**. #### Step 12: Pick your credential Here's the payoff from Module 2. You don't need a new key. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 12 of 63 (Pick your credential): the cursor is on “Credential”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-12.webp) **Step 12 of 63.** Open the **Credential** dropdown. #### Step 13: Reuse your OpenAI key Pick OpenAI account. That's the key you saved in Module 2. n8n keeps it, so every workflow can reuse it. If you skipped Module 2, you'd choose create new credential and paste a key instead. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 13 of 63 (Reuse your OpenAI key): the cursor is on “OpenAI account”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-13.webp) **Step 13 of 63.** Choose **OpenAI account**, the credential you saved in Module 2. #### Step 14: Change the model Now the model. The default is fine for text, but this agent has to read a picture. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 14 of 63 (Change the model): the cursor is on “Model”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-14.webp) **Step 14 of 63.** Open the **Model** dropdown. #### Step 15: gpt-4o Pick gpt-4o. It reads images reliably and quickly, and it's the model we used when we built this for real. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 15 of 63 (gpt-4o): the cursor is on “gpt-4o”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-15.webp) **Step 15 of 63.** Choose **gpt-4o**. #### Step 16: Close the node Brain's in. Close it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 16 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-16.webp) **Step 16 of 63.** Close the model. ### Part 5: Memory #### Step 17: Add memory Next, memory. It lets you say things like, actually, call that one office supplies, and the agent knows which receipt you mean. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 17 of 63 (Add memory): the cursor is on “+”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-17.webp) **Step 17 of 63.** Click the **+** under **Memory**. #### Step 18: Simple Memory Simple memory. It lives inside n8n, so there is nothing to sign up for. ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 18 of 63 (Simple Memory): the cursor is on “Simple Memory”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-18.webp) **Step 18 of 63.** Click **Simple Memory**. #### Step 19: Close the node It keys the memory to your chat session and remembers the last five messages. That's plenty. Close it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 19 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-19.webp) **Step 19 of 63.** It remembers the last 5 messages of each chat session. Close it. ### Part 6: Sheets tool #### Step 20: Add a tool Now the part that makes it an agent and not just a chatbot: a tool. This is how it writes to your spreadsheet. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 20 of 63 (Add a tool): the cursor is on “+”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-20.webp) **Step 20 of 63.** Click the **+** under **Tool**. #### Step 21: Search for Sheets ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 21 of 63 (Search for Sheets): the sheets is filled in (“sheets”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-21.webp) **Step 21 of 63.** Type **sheets**. #### Step 22: Google Sheets Tool Google sheets tool. ![The n8n node list in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 22 of 63 (Google Sheets Tool): the cursor is on “Google Sheets Tool”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-22.webp) **Step 22 of 63.** Click **Google Sheets Tool**. ### Part 7: Connect Google #### Step 23: Open the credential list It opens set to get rows, which reads a sheet. We'll change that. But first, n8n needs permission to touch your Google account. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 23 of 63 (Open the credential list): the cursor is on “Get row(s)”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-23.webp) **Step 23 of 63.** It opens set to **Get row(s)**. First, connect Google: open the **Credential** dropdown. #### Step 24: New credential Create new credential. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 24 of 63 (New credential): the cursor is on “Create new credential”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-24.webp) **Step 24 of 63.** Click **Create new credential**. #### Step 25: Sign in with Google Leave it on managed OAuth. That's the easy way, n8n handles the setup. ![The Google sign-in window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 25 of 63 (Sign in with Google): the cursor is on “Managed OAuth2”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-25.webp) **Step 25 of 63.** Leave it on **Managed OAuth2** and click **Sign in with Google**. #### Step 26: Pick your account A Google window pops up. Pick the account that owns the Drive you want the spreadsheet in. ![The Google sign-in window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 26 of 63 (Pick your account): the cursor is on “your account”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-26.webp) **Step 26 of 63.** A Google window opens. Pick the account whose Drive you want the sheet in. #### Step 27: Allow access Google checks that you trust n8n dot cloud. You'll see connection successful, and the window closes on its own. ![The Google sign-in window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 27 of 63 (Allow access): the cursor is on “Continue”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-27.webp) **Step 27 of 63.** Google asks if you trust n8n.cloud. Click **Continue**. ### Part 8: Create the sheet #### Step 28: Go to Google Drive Connected. Now the tool needs a spreadsheet to write to, and we haven't made one. Leave this open and switch to the Google Drive tab. ![The Google sign-in window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 28 of 63 (Go to Google Drive): the cursor is on “Google Drive”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-28.webp) **Step 28 of 63.** The tool needs a spreadsheet to write to, and it doesn't exist yet. Switch to the **Google Drive** tab. #### Step 29: New This is a bookkeeping folder, shared with an accountant. Keeping the sheet here means they see every receipt as it lands. ![Google Drive in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 29 of 63 (New): the cursor is on “Bookkeeping”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-29.webp) **Step 29 of 63.** You're in a **Bookkeeping** folder. Click **+ New**. #### Step 30: Google Sheets Google sheets. ![Google Drive in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 30 of 63 (Google Sheets): the cursor is on “Google Sheets”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-30.webp) **Step 30 of 63.** Hover **Google Sheets**. #### Step 31: Blank spreadsheet Blank spreadsheet. ![Google Drive in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 31 of 63 (Blank spreadsheet): the cursor is on “Blank spreadsheet”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-31.webp) **Step 31 of 63.** Click **Blank spreadsheet**. #### Step 32: Create and share Because the folder is shared, Google asks before making something new in it. That's what we want. If your folder isn't shared, you won't see this. ![Google Drive in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 32 of 63 (Create and share): the cursor is on “Create and share”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-32.webp) **Step 32 of 63.** Because the folder is shared, Google checks first. Click **Create and share**. #### Step 33: Name it A new tab opens. Name it first, so you can find it in n8n's list. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 33 of 63 (Name it): the untitled spreadsheet is filled in (“Invoices”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-33.webp) **Step 33 of 63.** Click **Untitled spreadsheet** and name it **Invoices**. #### Step 34: Header: Date Now the column headers. These matter. The agent fills the sheet column by column, so these names tell it what goes where. A1, Date. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 34 of 63 (Header: Date): the a1 is filled in (“Date”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-34.webp) **Step 34 of 63.** In **A1**, type **Date**. #### Step 35: Header: Category B1, Category. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 35 of 63 (Header: Category): the b1 is filled in (“Category”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-35.webp) **Step 35 of 63.** In **B1**, type **Category**. #### Step 36: Header: Vendor C1, Vendor. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 36 of 63 (Header: Vendor): the c1 is filled in (“Vendor”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-36.webp) **Step 36 of 63.** In **C1**, type **Vendor**. #### Step 37: Header: Amount And D1, Amount. Four columns. That is the whole spreadsheet. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 37 of 63 (Header: Amount): the d1 is filled in (“Amount”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-37.webp) **Step 37 of 63.** In **D1**, type **Amount**. ### Part 9: Point the tool at it #### Step 38: Back to n8n Back to the n8n tab. The sheets tool is still open, right where you left it. ![Google Sheets in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 38 of 63 (Back to n8n): the cursor is on “n8n”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-38.webp) **Step 38 of 63.** Switch back to the **n8n** tab. The Sheets tool is still open, right where you left it. #### Step 39: Change the operation First, fix the operation. Get rows reads from a sheet. We want to add to it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 39 of 63 (Change the operation): the cursor is on “Operation”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-39.webp) **Step 39 of 63.** Open the **Operation** dropdown. #### Step 40: Append Row Append row. Every receipt becomes a new row at the bottom. Notice the node on the canvas renames itself to match. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 40 of 63 (Append Row): the cursor is on “Append Row”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-40.webp) **Step 40 of 63.** Choose **Append Row**. #### Step 41: Pick the document Now which spreadsheet. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 41 of 63 (Pick the document): the cursor is on “Document”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-41.webp) **Step 41 of 63.** Open the **Document** dropdown. #### Step 42: Invoices There's Invoices, the one you just made. n8n can see it because of the Google account you connected. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 42 of 63 (Invoices): the cursor is on “Invoices”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-42.webp) **Step 42 of 63.** Choose **Invoices**, the sheet you just made. #### Step 43: Pick the tab Now the tab inside it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 43 of 63 (Pick the tab): the cursor is on “Sheet”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-43.webp) **Step 43 of 63.** Open the **Sheet** dropdown. #### Step 44: Sheet1 Sheet one. n8n reads the header row and lists your four columns. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 44 of 63 (Sheet1): the cursor is on “Sheet1”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-44.webp) **Step 44 of 63.** Choose **Sheet1**. #### Step 45: Let the model fill Date Here's the clever bit. Each column has a little sparkle button. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 45 of 63 (Let the model fill Date): the cursor is on “Date”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-45.webp) **Step 45 of 63.** Next to **Date**, click the ✦ button. #### Step 46: Category Category. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 46 of 63 (Category): the cursor is on “Category”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-46.webp) **Step 46 of 63.** Click ✦ next to **Category**. #### Step 47: Vendor Vendor. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 47 of 63 (Vendor): the cursor is on “Vendor”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-47.webp) **Step 47 of 63.** Click ✦ next to **Vendor**. #### Step 48: Amount And amount. All four now say defined automatically by the model. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 48 of 63 (Amount): the cursor is on “Amount”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-48.webp) **Step 48 of 63.** Click ✦ next to **Amount**. #### Step 49: Close the node The tool is wired to the sheet. Close it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 49 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-49.webp) **Step 49 of 63.** The tool is set up. Close it. ### Part 10: Instructions #### Step 50: Open the agent Last piece. Right now the agent has a brain, a memory and a tool, but no idea what it's for. Double click the AI agent. ![The n8n workflow canvas in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 50 of 63 (Open the agent): the cursor is on “AI Agent”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-50.webp) **Step 50 of 63.** Now tell the agent its job. Double-click **AI Agent**. #### Step 51: Add an option ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 51 of 63 (Add an option): the cursor is on “Add Option”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-51.webp) **Step 51 of 63.** Click **Add Option**. #### Step 52: System Message System message. This is the standing instruction it reads before every chat. ![A dropdown menu in n8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 52 of 63 (System Message): the cursor is on “System Message”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-52.webp) **Step 52 of 63.** Choose **System Message**. #### Step 53: Write the instructions It's three short lines. You'll get a receipt. Pull out the date, vendor and amount. Come up with a category yourself. Then use the sheets tool to add it. Notice we never say where each value goes. The column names in the sheet take care of that. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 53 of 63 (Write the instructions): the instructions is filled in (“You are a helpful assistant. You will receive…”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-53.webp) **Step 53 of 63.** Paste the instructions. Three short lines is all it takes. ```text You are a helpful assistant. You will receive a receipt. Extract the date, vendor, and amount. Come up with a category. Use the google sheets tool to add the receipt to the sheet. ``` #### Step 54: Close the node That's the whole workflow. Close it and let's try it. ![An n8n node’s settings window in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 54 of 63 (Close the node): the cursor is on “Close the node”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-54.webp) **Step 54 of 63.** Close the agent. Time to test. ### Part 11: Test it #### Step 55: Open the chat ![The n8n workflow editor in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 55 of 63 (Open the chat): the cursor is on “Open chat”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-55.webp) **Step 55 of 63.** Click **Open chat** at the bottom of the canvas. #### Step 56: Say hello It doesn't need to be clever, the instructions already say what to do. Heres a receipt is enough. ![The n8n chat test panel in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 56 of 63 (Say hello): the heres a receipt. is filled in (“Heres a receipt.”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-56.webp) **Step 56 of 63.** Type a short message, like **Heres a receipt.** #### Step 57: Attach the receipt Now the receipt. ![The n8n chat test panel in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 57 of 63 (Attach the receipt): the cursor is on “paperclip”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-57.webp) **Step 57 of 63.** Click the **paperclip** to attach a file. #### Step 58: Find it ![The file picker in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 58 of 63 (Find it): the receipt is filled in (“receipt”).](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-58.webp) **Step 58 of 63.** Your file browser opens. Search for **receipt**. #### Step 59: receipt.png Pick receipt dot png. The photo, not the PDF. ![The file picker in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 59 of 63 (receipt.png): the cursor is on “receipt.png”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-59.webp) **Step 59 of 63.** Click **receipt.png**, the photo, not the PDF. #### Step 60: Open It sits under the message, ready to go. ![The file picker in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 60 of 63 (Open): the cursor is on “Open”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-60.webp) **Step 60 of 63.** Click **Open**. #### Step 61: Send it Send. Watch the canvas. The trigger fires, the agent reads the picture with gpt-4o, and then calls the sheets tool. It takes a few seconds. ![The n8n chat test panel in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 61 of 63 (Send it): the cursor is on “send”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-61.webp) **Step 61 of 63.** Click **send**. #### Step 62: Check the receipt Everything turned green. Before you trust it, check its work. Corner Mart, April twenty fourth, total thirty one fifty seven. ![The n8n chat test panel in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 62 of 63 (Check the receipt): the cursor is on “receipt.png”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-62.webp) **Step 62 of 63.** Click **receipt.png** in your message to look at the receipt. #### Step 63: See the row Now switch to the Invoices tab. There's the row. Date, groceries, Corner Mart, thirty one fifty seven. It matches the receipt, and it picked groceries without being told. Drop in another receipt and you get another row. ![N8n in Stepthrough’s practice copy, step 63 of 63 (See the row): the cursor is on “Invoices”, highlighted.](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/guide/receipt-extractor/step-63.webp) **Step 63 of 63.** Switch to the **Invoices** tab. ### Now do it yourself, free Reading the steps is a start. Doing them is how it sticks. The interactive lesson puts you in a practice copy of n8n: you do every step yourself, it checks your work, and “Do it for me” finishes any step you get stuck on. Nothing touches your real accounts. [Practice “AI Receipt Extractor: Receipts to Google Sheets with n8n” step by step](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/receipt-extractor?after=guide) ## Watch it in 11 seconds ### A box full of receipts? Short with Robert · 0:11 · with captions Got a box full of receipts? Snap a picture and the AI reads the store, the date and the total, then adds the row to your spreadsheet. ## What you will build You will build an n8n workflow with a chat trigger and an [AI agent](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-ai-agent-tutorial-google-sheets) that can see images. You attach a receipt photo in the n8n chat, and the agent pulls out the date, the vendor and the total, decides what kind of expense it is, and uses a Google Sheets tool to append the result. In the lesson it reads a Corner Mart receipt from April 24, files it as Groceries without being told, and writes the date, category, vendor and 31.57 to the sheet. The spreadsheet lives in a shared Bookkeeping folder in Google Drive, so an accountant can see each receipt as it lands. ## Who this is for This module is for small business owners, bookkeepers, contractors and anyone who ends the month with a pile of paper receipts. It is the first module in the Business Automations section. It reuses the OpenAI key you created in the n8n AI agent module, so it moves quickly through setup and spends its time on the part that is new: getting AI to read a picture. It is also a gentle introduction to AI that works with files instead of just text. Once you have seen an agent turn a photo into a clean row of data, you will start to spot other paperwork it could handle for you. ## What you need - An n8n account and the OpenAI credential you saved in the n8n AI agent module. If you skipped that module, you will need an OpenAI API key with some credit on it. - A Google account with Google Drive and Google Sheets. A shared folder is optional but handy if someone else does your books. - A clear photo of a receipt. Flat, well lit and in focus gives the model the best chance. ## Why three lines of instructions are enough The system message never says which value goes in which column. It does not need to. Because each Sheets column is set to be filled by the model, the agent reads the header names (Date, Category, Vendor, Amount) and matches what it found on the receipt to the right place. Clear column names do the mapping for you. Choosing the right model matters too. The receipt is a photo, not text, so the lesson switches the model to gpt-4o, which can look at images. Asking the agent to invent a category is a small touch that saves real time: you get a grouped expense list without building a set of rules first. ## How to use this in your business Snap a photo of each receipt on your phone, drop it into the chat, and your expense sheet fills itself. Keep the sheet in a folder your accountant can see and month-end gets shorter. You can add columns such as Payment Method or Job Number, and the agent will try to fill them as long as the name is clear. Always spot-check the first batch, as the lesson does, before you trust totals for taxes or reports. ## How the practice works Each step is shown on the left under Watch, then you do it on the right under Your turn, in practice copies of n8n, Google Drive and Google Sheets. Every click is checked, and Do it for me finishes a step if you get stuck. No workflow is saved, no Google account is connected and no file leaves your computer. ## Try it yourself, free Reading the steps is a start. Doing them is how it sticks. The interactive module walks you through every click in a practice copy of n8n, checks each step, and never touches your real accounts. [Start “AI Receipt Extractor: Receipts to Google Sheets with n8n”](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/receipt-extractor) [All free Stepthrough videos](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/videos) ## Frequently asked questions **Can n8n read receipts from photos?** Yes, when the AI Agent uses a model that accepts images. The lesson uses gpt-4o through the OpenAI Chat Model node so the agent can read the receipt picture. **Is this course really free?** Yes. Stepthrough is completely free, and the practice copy needs no accounts. To build it for real you need your own n8n, OpenAI and Google accounts, and some of those cost money once you use them for real work. **How does the agent know which column is which?** Each Google Sheets column is set so the model defines its value. The agent reads the header names, like Date and Vendor, and fills them from what it sees on the receipt. **Does it pick an expense category by itself?** Yes. The instructions tell it to come up with a category. In the lesson it files a Corner Mart receipt as Groceries without being told. **Should I trust the numbers without checking?** Check them, at least at first. The lesson ends by comparing the receipt with the new row. AI can misread a blurry photo, so review before using the sheet for taxes. [Start this module free](https://learn.ynteractive.com/modules/receipt-extractor) - Next in Business Automations: [AI Email Responder: Draft Gmail Replies Automatically with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-email-responder-gmail-drafts-n8n) ## More in Business Automations - [Daily Job Alerts: Email Each Tech Their Jobs from Google Sheets with n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-daily-job-alerts-google-sheets-gmail): Every morning at 7, n8n reads a plumbing company's jobs sheet, skips anything not assigned yet, and emails each job to the tech it's assigned to — customer, address… - [AI Appointment Scheduler with Lovable and n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-appointment-scheduler-lovable-n8n): Coming soon: build a booking form in Lovable connected to an n8n AI agent that confirms, reschedules and sends appointment reminders. Free, step by step. - [AI Content Pipeline: Blog Post Drafts from a Topic List](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-content-pipeline-n8n-blog-drafts): Coming soon: build an n8n pipeline that turns a list of topics into formatted blog post drafts, queued for your review. A free, step by step course. - [AI Quote Replies: Answer Price Emails from Your Price List](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/ai-quote-replies-n8n-price-list): Coming soon: build an n8n workflow that answers "how much for..." emails with an AI-drafted quote based on your own price list. Free and step by step. - [Build an AI Customer Service Bot with ChatGPT](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/chatgpt-customer-service-bot-knowledge-base): Coming soon: build a ChatGPT assistant that answers customer questions from your company knowledge base, and says so when it does not know. Free course. [All 7 modules in Business Automations](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course/business-automations) ## More n8n tutorials - [n8n AI Agent Tutorial: Save Social Media Ideas to Google Sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/n8n-ai-agent-tutorial-google-sheets): Build an AI agent for BrightPath Marketing that generates social media post ideas and saves them to Google Sheets — chat trigger, AI Agent, system prompt, model… - [Lovable + n8n: Build a Web App with an AI Backend](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/lovable-n8n-web-app-ai-backend): Build a contact form in Lovable and connect it to an n8n workflow — webhook trigger, AI Agent, Google Sheets, Gmail, and a Respond node that ties it all together. - [Build an AI Follow-Up Agent for HVAC Service Calls](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/hvac-service-follow-up-ai-agent-n8n): Build an AI agent for Cedar Ridge Heating & Air that writes follow-up messages for completed service calls and saves them to Google Sheets — chat trigger, AI Agent… - [Build an AI Service Request Form for Your HVAC Company](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/hvac-service-request-form-ai-lovable-n8n): Build a service request form in Lovable for Cedar Ridge Heating & Air and connect it to n8n — the AI agent sorts each job into repair, maintenance, install or… - [Build an AI Job Follow-Up Agent for Electricians](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/electrician-job-follow-up-ai-agent-n8n): Build an AI agent for Oak & Wire Electric that writes follow-up messages after completed jobs and tracks them in Google Sheets — chat trigger, AI Agent, system prompt… - [Build an AI Quote Request Form for Electrical Contractors](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/electrical-quote-request-form-ai-lovable-n8n): Build a quote request form in Lovable and connect it to an n8n workflow — webhook trigger, an AI Agent that drafts an initial estimate note, Google Sheets, Gmail, and a… ## From the blog - [How to Start Using AI in a Small Business: 5 Projects](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/start-using-ai-small-business): How to start using AI in a small business: five first projects, from better prompts to an inbox agent, with what each saves and what it costs. - [Learn n8n from Zero: Free Projects in the Right Order](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/learn-n8n-for-beginners): Learn n8n for beginners with six free, hands-on projects in a sensible order, from templates to AI agents to a web form, plus what you need for real. - [Get Receipts into Google Sheets with AI and n8n](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog/receipts-to-google-sheets-ai): Receipts to Google Sheets without typing: build an n8n agent that reads a receipt photo, picks a category and adds a row. Plus an expense categorizer. [All blog posts](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/blog) ## Visual guides This lesson’s key ideas as quick visual guides: swipe through the slides, or read the same guide as text. - [5 Steps to Turn a Receipt Photo into a Google Sheets Row](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/5-steps-receipt-photo-to-google-sheets): A visual guide: an n8n AI agent reads a receipt photo, pulls out the date, vendor and total, picks a category and adds a row to Google Sheets. - [What Is AI Data Extraction? A Visual Guide](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual/term-data-extraction-explained): A visual guide to AI data extraction: pulling the date, vendor and total out of a receipt photo and into Google Sheets, from a real n8n lesson. [All visual guides](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/visual) ## Free cheat sheets Print it or save the PDF: the key steps and checks from this lesson on one page, free. - [AI Receipt Extractor in n8n Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/receipt-extraction-setup): A free one-page cheat sheet: attach a receipt photo in n8n chat, and an AI agent pulls the date, vendor and amount into a Google Sheets row. - [AI Quick-Start for Accounting Firms: Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-quick-start-accounting): A free one-page cheat sheet for accounting firms: the free AI lessons in order, a tone-fix prompt and what AI must never promise a client. - [AI Quick-Start for Finance Teams: Cheat Sheet](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets/ai-quick-start-finance): A free one-page cheat sheet for finance teams: the free AI lessons in order, an invoice dispute prompt and what AI must never approve. [All free printable cheat sheets](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/cheat-sheets) ## Related terms Plain-English definitions, each with an example from a free lesson. [Accounts payable](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/accounts-payable) · [AR aging report](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/ar-aging-report) · [Audit trail](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/audit-trail) · [Chat model](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/chat-model) · [Credential](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/credential) · [Data extraction](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/data-extraction) · [Expense categorization](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/expense-categorization) · [Field mapping](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary/field-mapping) [The full AI glossary](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/glossary) ## Related prompts - [Receipt details extraction prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/receipt-details-extraction-prompt): Pull date, vendor, tax, total and job from receipt photos into a table, with "Unreadable" instead of guesses and a check that… - [Expense categorization prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/expense-categorization-prompt): Sort a batch of expenses into your own categories, with a short note each and a Needs Review bucket for anything unclear… - [Expense report summary prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/expense-report-summary-prompt): Summarize a month of expense or reimbursement rows for the owner: totals by category and status, what's waiting, and flags to… - [Google Sheets columns plan prompt](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts/sheet-columns-plan-prompt): Plan the Google Sheets columns for an n8n automation: header names, what goes in each, who fills it, and which must match your… [All free prompt templates](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/prompts) ## Browse related tutorials [Business Automations (7)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/course/business-automations) · [n8n tutorials (23)](https://learn.ynteractive.com/content/tool/n8n)