📒 Setting Up Chart of Accounts

📸 Chart of Accounts screen with the account creation popup (click to enlarge)
A Chart of Accounts is the master list of financial accounts used by the POS/accounting system to classify every transaction: sales, cash, bank deposits, taxes, tips, inventory, expenses, liabilities, assets, and equity.
💡 In Simple Terms
Every dollar that comes in or goes out must be posted into the correct account. The Chart of Accounts is your map for doing that.
🎯 What This Screen Does
The Chart of Accounts screen lets your business create and manage accounting accounts such as:
- 💰 Cash account
- 🏦 Bank account
- 📈 Sales income account
- 🧾 Tax payable account
- 💵 Tips payable account
- 📦 Inventory account
- 📊 Cost of goods sold
- 🏢 Rent expense
- 👥 Payroll expense
- 🛠️ Equipment asset
- 💳 Loan payable
- 👤 Owner equity
These accounts are used in:
- Balance Sheet
- Profit & Loss / Income Statement
- Accounting reports
- Tax reporting
- Sales summaries
- POS-to-accounting integration
- Export to external accounting software
📐 Main Screen Layout
A. Search Area (Top Left)
| Field |
Explanation |
| Account name/code |
Search by account name or code |
| Search |
Finds matching accounts |
Useful when you have many accounts and need to quickly find Sales Tax, Cash, Tips, Bank Fees, etc.
B. Account List Table
| Column |
Meaning |
| Account name |
Full name (often shown in hierarchy) |
| Account code |
Numeric/alphanumeric code for sorting/reporting |
| Account type |
Category — asset, liability, expense, income, etc. |
| Description |
Explains what the account is for |
| Field |
Explanation |
| Account code |
Unique code (e.g., 10100) |
| Account name |
Friendly name (e.g., “Cash on Hand”) |
| Account type |
Category (Asset, Liability, etc.) |
| Description |
Notes explaining the account purpose |
🔢 Why Account Code Matters
The Account Code is a short number assigned to each account — like an ID number for accounting.
| Reason |
Explanation |
| Sorting |
Reports show accounts in correct accounting order |
| Avoid duplicate confusion |
Two accounts may have similar names but different codes |
| Accounting integration |
External systems often require account codes |
| Cleaner reports |
Balance Sheet and P&L become organized |
| Easy mapping |
POS sales, tax, cash, inventory map to exact accounts |
| Professional bookkeeping |
Accountants prefer coded structures |
| Scalability |
New accounts can be added without breaking reporting |
📊 Simple Example: Burger Sale
A restaurant sells a burger for $10, collects $0.80 sales tax, customer pays cash:
| Account |
Debit |
Credit |
| Cash on Hand 10100 |
$10.80 |
|
| Food Sales 40100 |
|
$10.00 |
| Sales Tax Payable 22000 |
|
$0.80 |
🏗️ Recommended Account Code Structure
| Code Range |
Category |
| 10000–19999 |
💰 Assets |
| 20000–29999 |
💳 Liabilities |
| 30000–39999 |
👤 Equity |
| 40000–49999 |
📈 Income / Sales |
| 50000–59999 |
📦 Cost of Goods Sold |
| 60000–69999 |
💸 Operating Expenses |
| 70000–79999 |
➕ Other Income |
| 80000–89999 |
➖ Other Expenses / Special |
📑 Account Types
| Account Type |
Meaning |
Example |
| Current asset |
Used within one year |
Cash, bank, receivables |
| Current liability |
Payable within one year |
Sales tax, tips payable, payroll tax |
| Depreciation |
Fixed asset value reduction |
Equipment depreciation |
| Direct costs |
Costs tied to products sold |
Food cost, product cost |
| Equity |
Owner investment & retained earnings |
Owner capital |
| Expense |
Normal business expenses |
Rent, utilities, payroll |
| Fixed asset |
Long-term physical assets |
POS terminals, kitchen equipment |
| Inventory |
Products/ingredients held for sale |
Food inventory, retail stock |
| Liability |
General debts/obligations |
Loans payable |
| Non-current asset |
Long-term assets, slow to convert |
Long-term deposits |
| Non-current liability |
Debts due after one year |
Long-term loan |
| Other income |
Income outside normal sales |
Interest income, vendor rebates |
| Overhead |
Indirect operating costs |
Admin, office costs |
| Prepayment |
Expenses paid in advance |
Prepaid rent, prepaid insurance |
🔗 How POS Transactions Connect to Chart of Accounts
A properly configured POS automatically maps business activity to accounts.
| POS Activity |
Accounting Account |
| Cash sale |
Cash Drawer |
| Card sale |
Credit Card Clearing |
| Sales tax collected |
Sales Tax Payable |
| Tip collected |
Tips Payable |
| Gift card sold |
Gift Card Liability |
| Gift card redeemed |
Reduce Gift Card Liability |
| Food sold |
Food Sales |
| Beverage sold |
Beverage Sales |
| Inventory reduced |
Inventory Asset |
| Cost recognized |
Cost of Goods Sold |
| Refund issued |
Refunds / Returns |
| Discount applied |
Discounts Given |
| Service charge |
Service Charge Income/Payable |
| Delivery fee |
Delivery Fee Income |
🍴 Restaurant — Full Chart of Accounts
💰 Restaurant Assets
| Code |
Account Name |
| 10100 |
Cash Drawer |
| 10110 |
Petty Cash |
| 10200 |
Bank – Checking |
| 10300 |
Credit Card Clearing |
| 10400 |
Online Order Clearing |
| 11000 |
Accounts Receivable |
| 12000 |
Food Inventory |
| 12100 |
Beverage Inventory |
| 12200 |
Liquor Inventory |
| 15000 |
Kitchen Equipment |
| 15100 |
Furniture and Fixtures |
| 15200 |
POS Hardware |
💳 Restaurant Liabilities
| Code |
Account Name |
| 20100 |
Accounts Payable |
| 21000 |
Payroll Payable |
| 22000 |
Sales Tax Payable |
| 22100 |
Alcohol Tax Payable |
| 23000 |
Tips Payable |
| 23100 |
Service Charge Payable |
| 24000 |
Gift Card Liability |
| 25000 |
Customer Deposit |
📈 Restaurant Income
| Code |
Account Name |
| 40100 |
Dine-In Food Sales |
| 40200 |
Takeout Food Sales |
| 40300 |
Delivery Food Sales |
| 40400 |
Catering Sales |
| 40500 |
Bar Sales |
| 40600 |
Beverage Sales |
| 40800 |
Online Order Sales |
| 40900 |
Banquet Sales |
| 41000 |
Delivery Fee Income |
| 41100 |
Service Charge Income |
📦 Restaurant Direct Costs / COGS
| Code |
Account Name |
| 50100 |
Food Cost |
| 50200 |
Beverage Cost |
| 50300 |
Liquor Cost |
| 50500 |
Packaging Cost |
| 51000 |
Waste / Spoilage |
💸 Restaurant Expenses
| Code |
Account Name |
| 60100 |
Rent Expense |
| 60200 |
Payroll Expense |
| 60400 |
Utilities |
| 60800 |
Delivery Platform Fees |
| 60900 |
Merchant Processing Fees |
| 61300 |
Insurance |
| 61400 |
Licenses and Permits |
| 61900 |
POS Support Fees |
🛒 Retail Store — Chart of Accounts
| Code |
Account Name |
Type |
| 10100 |
Cash Register |
Asset |
| 10200 |
Bank Checking |
Asset |
| 10400 |
Marketplace Clearing |
Asset |
| 12000 |
Merchandise Inventory |
Inventory |
| 12200 |
Consignment Inventory |
Inventory |
| 22000 |
Sales Tax Payable |
Liability |
| 23000 |
Gift Card Liability |
Liability |
| 40100 |
Product Sales |
Income |
| 40200 |
Online Sales |
Income |
| 40300 |
Marketplace Sales |
Income |
| 40400 |
Wholesale Sales |
Income |
| 50100 |
Cost of Merchandise Sold |
Direct cost |
| 50400 |
Inventory Shrinkage |
Direct cost |
| 60600 |
Marketplace Commission |
Expense |
🚚 Food Truck — Chart of Accounts
| Code |
Account Name |
| 10100 |
Truck Cash Drawer |
| 10300 |
Card Payment Clearing |
| 15000 |
Food Truck Vehicle |
| 40100 |
Food Truck Sales |
| 40200 |
Event Sales |
| 50300 |
Propane / Cooking Fuel Cost |
| 60100 |
Fuel Expense |
| 60200 |
Vehicle Maintenance |
| 60300 |
Commissary Kitchen Rent |
| 60400 |
Event Permit Fees |
| 60500 |
Parking / Location Fees |
💼 Service Business — Chart of Accounts
For salons, repair shops, consultants, clinics, cleaning services, professional offices.
| Code |
Account Name |
| 40100 |
Service Income |
| 40200 |
Consultation Income |
| 40300 |
Repair Income |
| 40400 |
Membership Income |
| 40500 |
Subscription Income |
| 50100 |
Direct Labor Cost |
| 50200 |
Materials Used |
🏥 Healthcare / Diagnostic Center
| Code |
Account Name |
| 11000 |
Patient Receivables |
| 11100 |
Insurance Receivables |
| 12100 |
Reagent Inventory |
| 15000 |
Lab Equipment |
| 15100 |
Imaging Equipment |
| 40100 |
Consultation Income |
| 40200 |
Diagnostic Test Income |
| 40300 |
Lab Income |
| 40400 |
Imaging Income |
| 40500 |
Pharmacy Sales |
| 60100 |
Doctor Fees |
💻 Software / SaaS Business
| Code |
Account Name |
| 10300 |
Payment Gateway Clearing |
| 23000 |
Deferred Revenue |
| 40100 |
Software License Sales |
| 40200 |
Subscription Revenue |
| 40300 |
Support Revenue |
| 40400 |
Custom Development Revenue |
| 40500 |
Implementation Revenue |
| 50100 |
Hosting Cost |
| 50200 |
Payment Gateway Fees |
| 60100 |
Developer Payroll |
⭐ Recommended Simple Setup for Small Restaurant
💡 Start Simple
For a small restaurant, do not start with too many accounts. This clean starter setup is enough to produce meaningful reports without making accounting too complicated.
| Code |
Account Name |
| 10100 |
Cash Drawer |
| 10200 |
Bank Checking |
| 10300 |
Credit Card Clearing |
| 12000 |
Food Inventory |
| 20100 |
Accounts Payable |
| 22000 |
Sales Tax Payable |
| 23000 |
Tips Payable |
| 24000 |
Gift Card Liability |
| 30100 |
Owner Equity |
| 40100 |
Food Sales |
| 40200 |
Beverage Sales |
| 40300 |
Delivery Sales |
| 50100 |
Food Cost |
| 50200 |
Beverage Cost |
| 60100 |
Rent |
| 60200 |
Payroll |
| 60300 |
Utilities |
| 60400 |
Merchant Fees |
| 60500 |
Advertising |
| 60600 |
Repairs and Maintenance |
✅ Design Advice
📌 Best Practices
| Good Practice |
Why |
| Simple enough for store owners |
Too many accounts confuse daily operation |
| Detailed enough for accountants |
Reports need useful categories |
| Consistent with tax reporting |
Makes year-end work easier |
| Mapped correctly to POS events |
Avoids wrong sales/tax/tip reporting |
| Separated by sales type |
Dine-in, takeout, delivery, catering |
| Separated by cost type |
Food, beverage, liquor, packaging |
| Not overcomplicated at the start |
Accounts can be added later |
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