{"id":8480,"date":"2026-04-14T10:49:07","date_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:49:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/kayttoohjeet\/setting-up-bookkeeping-for-a-new-company-in-simplbooks\/"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:57:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T07:57:06","slug":"setting-up-bookkeeping-for-a-new-company-in-simplbooks","status":"publish","type":"ht_kb","link":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/kayttoohjeet\/setting-up-bookkeeping-for-a-new-company-in-simplbooks\/","title":{"rendered":"Starting bookkeeping for a new company in SimplBooks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong> This guide explains how to edit the opening balance entry automatically created by the program, if needed<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#c0d6c5;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#DAF0DF;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>This guide is for a new company that has no bookkeeping history before using SimplBooks.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your company&#8217;s bookkeeping has already been done in another system and you are migrating it to SimplBooks, see the guide for entering opening balances <a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/kayttoohjeet\/entering-opening-balances-for-the-income-statement-and-balance-sheet\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"starting-bookkeeping\" ><strong>Starting bookkeeping<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>You can start using SimplBooks and recording transactions as soon as an opening balance entry exists in the system. <strong>The program automatically creates journal entry number 1, i.e. the opening balance entry, on the first day of the current year<\/strong> when the company environment is created.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If you are recording transactions from that point onwards<strong>,<\/strong> the opening balance does not need to be changed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If you are also doing bookkeeping for a period in the previous calendar year, the date of the opening balance entry needs to be changed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#c0d6c5;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#DAF0DF;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\"> \ud83d\udce2 Even though a new company has no actual opening balances, the entry is still necessary. It signals to the program that the bookkeeping has started. <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>1. You can find the opening balance entry under Accounting &gt; Transactions.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"343\" src=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-1024x343.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-1024x343.png 1024w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-300x101.png 300w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-768x258.png 768w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-50x17.png 50w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-920x308.png 920w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-600x201.png 600w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2-320x107.png 320w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/1-2.png 1506w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>2. Open the entry and select &#8220;Edit transaction&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"343\" src=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-1024x343.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-1024x343.png 1024w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-768x257.png 768w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-50x17.png 50w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-920x308.png 920w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-600x201.png 600w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1-320x107.png 320w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2-1.png 1505w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The opening balance entry number is automatically 1.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>3. Make the necessary changes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"339\" src=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-1024x339.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-7487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-1024x339.png 1024w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-300x99.png 300w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-768x254.png 768w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-50x17.png 50w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-920x304.png 920w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-600x199.png 600w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1-320x106.png 320w, https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/3-1.png 1505w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Update the necessary details:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Description<\/strong>: for example, &#8220;Opening balances&#8221;.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Date: <\/strong>The date from which you start recording transactions in SimplBooks. Typically the first day of the first financial period.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Save the transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:15px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"su-note\"  style=\"border-color:#c0d6c5;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\"><div class=\"su-note-inner su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"background-color:#DAF0DF;border-color:#ffffff;color:#333333;border-radius:8px;-moz-border-radius:8px;-webkit-border-radius:8px;\"> \ud83d\udce2 <strong>Note!<\/strong> If you have already made other transactions in the program before updating the opening balances, or if you want to start adding transactions right away, don&#8217;t worry! The opening balance entry can also be changed later. <\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"su-box su-box-style-default\" id=\"\" style=\"border-color:#a7bdac;border-radius:8px\"><div class=\"su-box-title\" style=\"background-color:#DAF0DF;color:#333333;border-top-left-radius:6px;border-top-right-radius:6px\">Other related guides:<\/div><div class=\"su-box-content su-u-clearfix su-u-trim\" style=\"border-bottom-left-radius:6px;border-bottom-right-radius:6px\">\n\n\n\n<div class=\"su-list\" style=\"margin-left:0px\">\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-book\" style=\"color:#333\"><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/kayttoohjeet\/tuloslaskelman-ja-taseen-alkusaldojen-syottaminen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Entering opening balances for the income statement and balance sheet<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><i class=\"sui sui-book\" style=\"color:#333\"><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/kayttoohjeet\/taseen-asetukset-ja-kirjausvirheiden-loytaminen\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Balance sheet settings and finding posting errors<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/?post_type=ht_kb&amp;p=4312&amp;preview=true\"><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:35px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"ht_kb_category":[117,114],"ht_kb_tag":[],"class_list":["post-8480","ht_kb","type-ht_kb","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","ht_kb_category-accounting","ht_kb_category-getting-started"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb\/8480","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/ht_kb"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8480"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb\/8480\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9024,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb\/8480\/revisions\/9024"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8480"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb_category?post=8480"},{"taxonomy":"ht_kb_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/support.simplbooks.fi\/fi\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ht_kb_tag?post=8480"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}