Chart of Accounts Templates by Industry – Free Downloads for a Clean Start

A messy chart of accounts hides the truth in your P&L. Use these starter COAs for ecommerce, services, and professional firms. Import once, then standardize naming so your team and CPA see the same structure month after month.

COA basics

Keep it concise. Revenue, COGS, Operating Expenses, Other Income/Expense. Use 4-digit numbers and consistent prefixes.

Industry presets

Ecommerce: channel sales by Amazon/Shopify, payment fees, shipping income/expense, refunds, merchant fees.
Services: consulting revenue, implementation, change orders, subcontractors, travel, software tools.
Professional firms: retainers, WIP clearing, client reimbursables, partner draws, malpractice insurance.

Download and import

Export our CSV and import in QBO. Map existing accounts, then archive duplicates. Lock naming so new accounts don’t proliferate.

FAQs

What is a chart of accounts?
It’s the structured list of accounts used to categorize every type of financial transaction.

Is the chart of accounts the same as the general ledger?
No, the chart of accounts is a list of account names, while the general ledger holds the detailed balances.

What is the purpose of setting up a chart of accounts?
It helps keep your financial data organized so reporting is simple and accurate across industries.

For specialized guidance, check out our resources on implementing an industry-specific ecommerce Chart of Accounts (COA) tailored for online sellers.

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Check out our ecommerce bookkeeping guide. Use monthly bookkeeping for smooth recurring closes. And don’t miss our bookkeeping services.

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