Starting with the Chart of Accounts

Question

Why are there only a few accounts in the starter files, when looking at the Chart of Accounts window?

Diagnosis

New users have worked with Quickbooks, and expect to see a whole bunch of accounts.

Solution

In the Goldenseal accounting software, accounts are for companies or people you do business with-- they only represent customers, employees, equipment, bank accounts, etc.

Accounting-type accounts are handled via Utility Accounts, and users don't need to set them up. Accounting accounts don't appear in the chart of accounts window (all the posting for them happens automatically).

Instead of using many expense accounts to track job costs, Goldenseal uses Cost Categories. The starter files include some of those for different business types.

MORAL: Setup in Goldenseal accounting software is much simpler than in Quickbooks. Users only need to enter stuff like bank accounts, vendors and customers.

NOTE-- as of 1/03 we now import accounts and other setup details from Quickbooks!

Comments

What the starter files include is stuff like unit costs, sample tax rates, billing rates, etc. The only accounts that it makes sense to provide are some tax agencies, basic overhead accounts, etc.

Entered 1/21/01 by Dennis. Rev 10/10/10.