Checkbook Ledgers

NOTE-- Goldenseal construction accounting software is the successor to MacNail, which we retired in 2000. Goldenseal is an integrated business management program that includes general accounting, job costing, payroll and project billing, plus construction cost estimating, contract writing and simple scheduling. It uses checking transactions to serve the same function as MacNail checkbook ledgers.

Checkbook Ledgers

Use the Checkbook Ledger to enter all payments from (and deposits to) your checking account. It will help you to track your business cash flow, and it will always let you know your current account balance.
The Checkbook Ledger is also useful for retrieving information about your business (see pages 94 to 105).
Use a different Checkbook Ledger for each of your bank accounts. You may also want to use more than one Ledger in a year for your more active accounts.
You will always have one 'main' Ledger. This should be the Ledger that you use most often. If no other Ledger is specified, the main Ledger will be used.

Ledger Types

MacNail includes two different types of Checkbook Ledgers (see page 54).
* Full Ledgers include 'lookup formulas' that refer to the Master Index. They also include job cost categories.
* Quick Ledgers do not have 'lookup formulas' or job cost categories.

Getting Started

To start a Checkbook Ledger for a new account, choose *New Accounting File from the FILE menu. When asked for an account balance, enter $0.00. Enter a starting check number of 101 (or the first check number, if different).

To start a Checkbook Ledger on an existing account, first decide at which check numbers you will start. Use your existing system to figure a starting balance. Then choose *New Accounting File, and type in the first check number and starting balance.