Recording Equipment and Property

Some purchases represent assets the business owns rather than ordinary day-to-day spending. Examples may include a business computer, machinery, a vehicle, or other significant business property.

Use Equipment & property when the item should be tracked as something the business owns. Use Money went out for ordinary operating costs such as software, supplies, advertising, and professional services.

Record a new purchase

Open Add transaction and choose Equipment & property. Enter the purchase amount and date, then choose existing equipment/property or select Add new equipment/property and enter a friendly name.

Choose how it was paid:

• Bank/cash — choose the bank or cash account used.
• Credit card — choose the business credit card used.
• Loan / financing — choose an existing loan or add a new one. Enter any down payment and the bank or cash account used for it.

The workflow records the item as property owned by the business and records the corresponding cash payment, card amount owed, or financing.

Asset the business already had

If the asset already existed before you began using Trio Ledger, do not record it as a new purchase. In Accounts, add an Equipment / Property / Other Assets account, choose Already owned before Trio Ledger, and enter its Starting value.

Tax treatment can differ from how an item is initially tracked in the books. A tax professional can determine whether and how depreciation, deductions, or other tax rules apply.