Starting Balances
A Starting Balance is for something that already existed when you began keeping books in Trio Ledger. A transaction is for something that happened afterward. Keeping that distinction clear prevents the same activity from being recorded twice.
Starting Balances may include:
- money already in a business checking or savings account;
- an amount already owed on a business credit card;
- an existing business loan; or
- equipment, property, a refundable security deposit, or another non-cash asset the business already had.
During initial setup
If the business is already operating, choose My business is already operating. Enter the amount currently in the business checking account and the As of date for that amount.
Trio Ledger then lets you open Accounts to add other bank accounts, credit cards, loans, or Equipment / Property / Other Assets that already existed. When adding a loan or non-cash asset account, choose Already owed before Trio Ledger or Already owned before Trio Ledger before entering its starting amount and date.
If the business is genuinely new, checking starts at zero. Money the owner contributes after that should be recorded with Owner money in, not as a Starting Balance.
Adding or changing one later
In Accounts, add the bank/cash, credit-card, loan, or Equipment / Property / Other Assets account that needs to be tracked. Eligible accounts offer a Starting Balance, Starting amount owed, or Starting value with an As of date. You can also use Manage on an existing eligible account to add, change, or remove its Starting Balance.
Income and spending categories do not accept Starting Balances. Their period activity can instead be set through Manage → Set year-to-date amount. Owner money / equity accounts can accept an opening equity balance. Starting setup does not appear as an ordinary transaction, but it does affect account balances and the Balance Sheet.
After the starting position is established, record new deposits, purchases, transfers, borrowing, payments, and owner activity as transactions. Do not also enter those later events as Starting Balances.