Glossary
What is a ledger?
What a ledger is, how a ledger account differs from the general ledger, and what one customer's ledger looks like with a running balance.
Updated
In short
A ledger is the record of every debit and credit in one account, with a running balance. In SimpleERP every account in the chart of accounts has its own ledger page, built from posted journals.
A ledger is the record of every debit and credit posted to one account, in date order, with a running balance. The general ledger is the set of all ledger accounts a business keeps, from cash and bank to sales, rent and each customer. In many accounting packages a ledger simply means an account. The trial balance is the list of each ledger's closing balance.
Ledger: a worked example
Riverside Stores buys steel racks from Harbour Steel Furniture on credit. This is the Riverside Stores ledger in Accounts Receivable for October 2026.
| Date | Particulars | Debit | Credit | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Oct 2026 | Opening balance | $3,000 Dr | ||
| 6 Oct 2026 | Invoice INV-2026-0412 | $12,000 | $15,000 Dr | |
| 14 Oct 2026 | Payment received | $8,000 | $7,000 Dr | |
| 20 Oct 2026 | Credit note for 2 damaged racks | $1,197.60 | $5,802.40 Dr |
FAQ
Questions, answered
What is the difference between a ledger and a journal?
A journal records each transaction once, in date order, with all its debit and credit lines. A ledger sorts those same lines by account, so you can see everything that hit cash or one customer. Software posts both from one entry.
What is a general ledger?
The general ledger is the full set of ledger accounts a business keeps: assets, liabilities, equity, income and expenses. Its closing balances form the trial balance, and the trial balance feeds the profit and loss statement and the balance sheet.
How do I see a customer's ledger in SimpleERP?
Open the customer and choose Statement, or open Accounts Receivable in the chart of accounts and filter by the customer. Both show the opening balance, each invoice, payment and credit note, and the closing balance, and the statement prints on A4.
Can I export a ledger to Excel?
Yes. The account ledger and the general ledger report export to CSV, which opens in Excel or Google Sheets. Your accountant can also be invited with the Accountant role and read the ledgers directly.
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