A simple, step-by-step guide to help you set up your categories, months, and workflows — even if you've never budgeted before.
Before you begin: Make sure you have your bank transactions exported as a CSV file. LedgerPro is optimized for CSV imports.
Download your LedgerPro file
Check your email for the download link sent immediately after purchase.
Open in Microsoft Excel
Double-click the file to open it in Excel (desktop version recommended).
Enable editing
Click the "Enable Editing" button in the yellow banner at the top of Excel.
Pro Tip
LedgerPro is built for Excel — Google Sheets will break formulas. Use Microsoft Excel for the best experience.
Review the default categories
Go to the "Chart of Accounts" tab and see the pre-built income and expense categories.
Rename, add, or delete categories
Tailor categories to your life: "Freelance Income", "Groceries", "Rent", etc.
Organize by type
Keep income separate from expenses. Use subcategories for clarity.
Pro Tip
Your categories power your P&L and monthly tabs — keep them clean and specific for better insights.
Navigate to the current month tab
Click on the tab for the current month (e.g., "January").
Enter your income
Record paychecks, freelance payments, and other income sources.
Log bills and spending
Add expenses like rent, utilities, groceries, and discretionary spending.
Add notes for clarity
Use the notes column to remember context for transactions.
Pro Tip
Start where you are — no need to backfill the whole year. Focus on this month and build momentum.
Navigate to "New Transactions"
This is your staging area for all incoming transactions.
Find Query and Refresh under the Load section
Use the Query and Refresh feature to load your transactions efficiently.
Copy and paste into the Bank Statement tab
Copy the newly uploaded transactions and paste them into the Bank Statement tab. Double check there are no duplicates — duplicates are the quickest way to fail reconciliation.
Pro Tip
This tab eliminates screenshots and scattered data. All transactions flow through one clean pipeline.
Identify mixed transactions
Find transactions that combine personal and business expenses.
Use the Journals tab to split
Break down the transaction by category with proper debits and credits.
Verify the journal balances
Ensure debits equal credits for audit-ready records.
Pro Tip
This is the secret to stress-free tax time. Clean journals = easy reporting and confident tax filing.
Stay accurate and confident by reconciling weekly instead of waiting until month-end
Download your bank statement
Get the monthly statement from your bank (PDF or CSV).
Match transactions line-by-line
Compare your LedgerPro entries with your bank statement.
Flag and resolve discrepancies
Identify missing or duplicate entries and correct them.
Pro Tip
Reconciliation = confidence. When your books match your bank, you know your numbers are right.
Navigate to the P&L tab
Your Profit & Loss statement updates automatically.
Review income vs expenses
See exactly where your money came from and where it went.
Identify trends and opportunities
Spot spending patterns and make informed decisions.
Pro Tip
This is where everything comes together. Your P&L tells the story of your financial year in one view.
Follow this guide and you'll have complete control over your finances in no time. Choose your tier and get started today.
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