diff --git a/src/Choosing-accounts.md b/src/Choosing-accounts.md index 1c05a0f..cc69977 100644 --- a/src/Choosing-accounts.md +++ b/src/Choosing-accounts.md @@ -1,12 +1,12 @@ % Choosing accounts -Some rules of thumb: +Your chart of accounts is an important factor in the success of your accounting system. +Here are some rules of thumb when choosing account names: - 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. + This is plain text accounting - account names can always be changed later with search and replace. -- 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. +- Expect your chart of accounts to change, as your accounting know-how and accounting needs do. It's worth investing time to review and improve it periodically. - If you are required to use some legally mandated chart of accounts, start with that. @@ -42,9 +42,10 @@ Some rules of thumb: Spaced names look nice to humans, but tend to cause headaches in command lines and scripts, requiring extra work. - 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. + Use accounts primarily, as they are the best supported. + For adhoc/infrequent categorising, some matchable text in the description can be enough. + If you have cross-cutting categorising schemes, tags can be handy. + More on this [in the FAQ](https://plaintextaccounting.org/FAQ#should-i-categorise-with-account-payee-description-tags...). - 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),