Setting Up Your Chart of Accounts: Sample, Default, and Custom Options

Setting Up Your Chart of Accounts: Sample, Default, and Custom Options

Sample Chart of Accounts


The Chart of Accounts is a fundamental part of your accounting setup in CustomBooks™. Below is a sample Chart of Accounts that provides a basic structure you can use as a reference or starting point. This sample includes common account categories such as Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Income, and Expenses:

Category
Account Code
Description
Current Assets
1000
Petty Cash

1010
Cash on Hand (e.g. in cash registers)

1020
Regular Checking Account

1030
Payroll Checking Account

1040
Savings Account

1050
Special Account

1060
Investments – Money Market

1070
Investments – Certificates of Deposit

1100
Accounts Receivable

1140
Other Receivables

1150
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

1200
Raw Materials Inventory

1205
Supplies Inventory

1210
Work in Progress Inventory

1215
Finished Goods Inventory – Product #1

1220
Finished Goods Inventory – Product #2

1230
Finished Goods Inventory – Product #3

1400
Prepaid Expenses

1410
Employee Advances

1420
Notes Receivable – Current

1430
Prepaid Interest

1470
Other Current Assets
Fixed Assets



1500
Furniture and Fixtures

1510
Equipment

1520
Vehicles

1530
Other Depreciable Property

1540
Leasehold Improvements

1550
Buildings

1560
Building Improvements

1690
Land

1700
Accumulated Depreciation, Furniture and Fixtures

1710
Accumulated Depreciation, Equipment

1720
Accumulated Depreciation, Vehicles

1730
Accumulated Depreciation, Other

1740
Accumulated Depreciation, Leasehold

1750
Accumulated Depreciation, Buildings

1760
Accumulated Depreciation, Building Improvements
Other Assets



1900
Deposits

1910
Organization Costs

1915
Accumulated Amortization, Organization Costs

1920
Notes Receivable, Non-current

1990
Other Non-current Assets
Liability Accounts

Current Liabilities


2000
Accounts Payable

2300
Accrued Expenses

2310
Sales Tax Payable

2320
Wages Payable

2330
401-K Deductions Payable

2335
Health Insurance Payable

2340
Federal Payroll Taxes Payable

2350
FUTA Tax Payable

2360
State Payroll Taxes Payable

2370
SUTA Payable

2380
Local Payroll Taxes Payable

2390
Income Taxes Payable

2400
Other Taxes Payable

2410
Employee Benefits Payable

2420
Current Portion of Long-term Debt

2440
Deposits from Customers

2480
Other Current Liabilities
Long-term Liabilities


2700
Notes Payable

2702
Land Payable

2704
Equipment Payable

2706
Vehicles Payable

2708
Bank Loans Payable

2710
Deferred Revenue

2740
Other Long-term Liabilities
Equity Accounts


3010
Stated Capital

3020
Capital Surplus

3030
Retained Earnings
Revenue Accounts


4000
Product #1 Sales

4020
Product #2 Sales

4040
Product #3 Sales

4060
Interest Income

4080
Other Income

4540
Finance Charge Income

4550
Shipping Charges Reimbursed

4800
Sales Returns and Allowances

4900
Sales Discounts
Cost of Goods Sold


5000
Product #1 Cost

5010
Product #2 Cost

5020
Product #3 Cost

5050
Raw Material Purchases

5100
Direct Labor Costs

5150
Indirect Labor Costs

5200
Heat and Power

5250
Commissions

5300
Miscellaneous Factory Costs

5700
Cost of Goods Sold, Salaries and Wages

5730
Cost of Goods Sold, Contract Labor

5750
Cost of Goods Sold, Freight

5800
Cost of Goods Sold, Other

5850
Inventory Adjustments

5900
Purchase Returns and Allowances

5950
Purchase Discounts
Expenses



6000
Default Purchase Expense

6010
Advertising Expense

6050
Amortization Expense

6100
Auto Expenses

6150
Bad Debt Expense

6200
Bank Fees

6250
Cash Over and Short

6300
Charitable Contributions Expense

6350
Commissions and Fees Expense

6400
Depreciation Expense

6450
Dues and Subscriptions Expense

6500
Employee Benefit Expense, Health Insurance

6510
Employee Benefit Expense, Pension Plans

6520
Employee Benefit Expense, Profit Sharing Plan

6530
Employee Benefit Expense, Other

6550
Freight Expense

6600
Gifts Expense

6650
Income Tax Expense, Federal

6660
Income Tax Expense, State

6670
Income Tax Expense, Local

6700
Insurance Expense, Product Liability

6710
Insurance Expense, Vehicle

6750
Interest Expense

6800
Laundry and Dry Cleaning Expense

6850
Legal and Professional Expense

6900
Licenses Expense

6950
Loss on NSF Checks

7000
Maintenance Expense

7050
Meals and Entertainment Expense

7100
Office Expense

7200
Payroll Tax Expense

7250
Penalties and Fines Expense

7300
Other Taxes

7350
Postage Expense

7400
Rent or Lease Expense

7450
Repair and Maintenance Expense, Office

7460
Repair and Maintenance Expense, Vehicle

7550
Supplies Expense, Office

7600
Telephone Expense

7620
Training Expense

7650
Travel Expense

7700
Salaries Expense, Officers

7750
Wages Expense

7800
Utilities Expense

8900
Other Expense

9000
Gain/Loss on Sale of Assets

This sample serves as a guide to help you envision how your Chart of Accounts could be organized, but it can be customized to fit your unique requirements. Download this sample in MS Excel format. See the attachments below.

Default Chart of Accounts


CustomBooks™ offers a Default Chart of Accounts that caters to various business needs. During the initial setup of the account through the Setup Wizard, you can choose from the following options:
  1. Full Default Chart of Accounts: This option includes an extensive list of accounts, covering all areas of financial management. It's ideal for businesses that want a comprehensive and ready-to-use accounting structure.
  2. Minimum Required Accounts: This option provides only the essential accounts needed to get started. It’s perfect for businesses that prefer a simple setup and want to add more accounts as they grow.
  3. Customized Chart of Accounts: If you want to tailor your Chart of Accounts to your specific needs, this option allows you to pick and choose which accounts to include from the full Default Chart of Accounts. This gives you flexibility while ensuring you have the accounts most relevant to your business.


The Setup Wizard in CustomBooks™ makes it easy to set up and use the Default Chart of Accounts, allowing you to configure your accounting system according to your preferences right from the start.

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