diff --git a/src/Choosing-accounts.md b/src/Choosing-accounts.md index dbd0b43..1c05a0f 100644 --- a/src/Choosing-accounts.md +++ b/src/Choosing-accounts.md @@ -2,35 +2,55 @@ Some rules of thumb: -- It helps to use the standard [[FAQ#what-are-the-five-top-level-accounts|five top level accounts]] - (assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses, in your preferred language). +- You don't need to try to pick the perfect set of accounts at the start. + They can always be changed later with search and replace. -- Add subaccounts as driven by your reporting needs. Otherwise keep account names simple. +- Your chart of accounts is an important factor in the success of your accounting system. + Expect it to change, as your accounting know-how and accounting needs do. + It's worth investing time to review and improve it periodically. -- Expect your chart of accounts to evolve as needs change; keep tending it. +- If you are required to use some legally mandated chart of accounts, start with that. -- If using english names: should it be revenues or income ? Whichever you prefer (revenues is slightly more technically correct). +- It's convenient to use the standard [[FAQ#what-are-the-five-top-level-accounts|five top level accounts]] - + assets, liabilities, equity, revenues, expenses (in your preferred language). -- Lower case or capitalised ? +- Under assets and liabilities, add account names representing each real world account that matters to you. + Checking, savings, cash, credit card, debts, loans, investments etc. + +- Group these under parent accounts to keep them organised, if you like: + Eg assets:bank:foo-bank:checking, assets:investments:vanguard:cash-plus, etc. + +- For expenses, start simple. + These will be somewhat custom for you. + Optionally, review some existing charts of accounts / lists of expense categories for inspiration (see below). + Add more accounts/subaccounts as driven by your reporting needs. + Detailed categories allow more precise reports, simple ones require less mental effort. + +- Should you have deep hierarchical account names or shallow ones ? + If your accounting app is good at summarising deep hierarchies, feel free to go as deep and detailed as you need. + But don't make unnecessary work for yourself. + Some hierarchy is natural for accounts and categories, and is used in most PTA examples; + but if you prefer a flat list of account names, you can do that too. + +- If using english account names, should it be "revenues" or "income" ? + It doesn't matter ("revenues" is used more in business and is the more precise term; "income" is more familiar in personal finance). + +- Should account name parts be capitalised ? As you prefer. All lower case reduces typing/spelling effort. -- Spaces, no spaces, or hyphens for multi-word names ? - Spaces look a little nicer but require extra quoting. (Seriously consider avoiding spaces in account names, you may be glad of it later.) +- Should multi-word account names use spaces, nospaces, hy-phens, CamelCase ? + Spaced names look nice to humans, but tend to cause headaches in command lines and scripts, requiring extra work. -- Accounts, tags, or other fields for categorising ? Use accounts for your primary categorising as they are best supported. +- For categorising, should you use accounts, tags, descriptions, or other fields? + Use accounts for your primary categorising as they are best supported. Consider using tags if you have cross-cutting categorising schemes. For adhoc/infrequent categorising, some matchable text in the description might be enough. -- Shallow or deep account hierarchy ? - If your tools are good at summarising deep hierarchies, don't be afraid of deep/detailed subaccounts. - On the other hand don't add more detail than you really need. - - Beancount account names are more restrictive than hledger's/Ledger's. If you might be exporting to Beancount in future (say, to use the Fava web UI), limiting yourself to Beancount-friendly account names might be worthwhile. -Or, you may want to follow or start from an existing chart of accounts, perhaps legally required in your situation. -Here are some ideas: +See also: - [Chart of accounts - How does yours look? (forum)](https://forum.plaintextaccounting.org/t/chart-of-accounts-how-does-yours-look/51) - [Advice for accounts (reddit)](https://www.reddit.com/r/plaintextaccounting/comments/1oaipdn/advice_for_accounts/)