Accounting
Manage your double-entry bookkeeping according to Swiss SME standards.
Overview
Accounting in Slonge Billing is based on the Swiss SME chart of accounts and offers:
- Chart of Accounts: Pre-built templates or custom accounts
- Journal: Double-entry bookkeeping with debit/credit
- VAT Support: Swiss value-added tax rates
- AI Booking Assistant: Automatic booking suggestions
- Reports: Balance sheet and income statement
Permissions
| Role | View Accounting | Manage Accounting |
|---|---|---|
| Employee | ❌ | ❌ |
| Accountant | ✅ | ✅ |
| Administrator | ✅ | ✅ |
Chart of Accounts
Chart of Accounts Templates
During setup, you can choose a template:
| Template | Description | Account Count |
|---|---|---|
| Minimal | For micro-businesses | ~20 accounts |
| Standard SME | Complete Swiss SME framework | ~60 accounts |
| IT & Consulting | Optimized for service providers | ~40 accounts |
| Freelancer | For self-employed | ~25 accounts |
Setting Up Chart of Accounts
- Go to Accounting > Accounts
- Click on Set Up Chart of Accounts
- Select a template
- Customize as needed
Account Numbers (Swiss Standard)
| Range | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1xxx | Assets |
| 2xxx | Liabilities |
| 28xx-29xx | Equity |
| 3xxx-5xxx | Revenue |
| 6xxx-8xxx | Expenses |
Chart of Accounts Hierarchy
Slonge Billing reflects the full Swiss SME chart-of-accounts hierarchy. Every account sits on one of four levels, recognizable by the number of digits:
| Level | Example | Meaning | Bookable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 1 | Top-level category (e.g. Assets) | ❌ |
| Main Group | 10 | E.g. Liquid Assets | ❌ |
| Group | 100 | E.g. Cash | ❌ |
| Account | 1000 | E.g. Cash CHF | ✅ |
Key points:
- Only entries at the Account level (4 digits) are bookable. Classes, main groups, and groups exist purely for structure and appear in the balance sheet / income statement as subtotal rows.
- In the account list, levels are visually indented and styled — you can see at a glance what is a bookable line and what is a group header.
- All pre-built chart-of-accounts templates (Minimal, Standard SME, IT & Consulting, Freelancer) follow this hierarchy and can be extended with your own accounts and groups.
Creating an Account
- Go to Accounting > Accounts
- Click on New Account
- Fill in:
| Field | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Number | 4-digit account number | 1020 |
| Name | Account designation | Bank |
| Type | ASSET, LIABILITY, EQUITY, REVENUE, EXPENSE | ASSET |
| VAT-relevant | Does this account relate to VAT? | Yes/No |
Journal Entries
Creating a Booking
- Go to Accounting > Journal
- Click on New Entry
- Fill in:
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Date | Booking date |
| Document Number | Automatic or manual |
| Reference | External reference (e.g., invoice number) |
| Memo | Description |
- Add journal lines:
| Account | Debit | Credit | VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1020 Bank | 1000 | - | - |
| 3400 Revenue | - | 925.93 | 8.1% |
| 2200 VAT | - | 74.07 | - |
- Verify: Debit = Credit
- Save
Booking Templates
Common bookings:
Expense by Bank:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 6xxx Expense | Amount | - |
| 1020 Bank | - | Amount |
Invoice Created:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1100 Debtors | Gross | - |
| 3xxx Revenue | - | Net |
| 2200 VAT | - | VAT |
Payment Received:
| Account | Debit | Credit |
|---|---|---|
| 1020 Bank | Amount | - |
| 1100 Debtors | - | Amount |
AI Booking Assistant
Automatic Suggestions
The AI assistant analyzes:
- Expense description
- Receipt text (OCR)
- Previous bookings
And suggests matching accounts.
Usage (Assistant Page)
- Go to Accounting > Journal > Assistant
- Select unbooked expenses
- Review the suggestions
- Confirm or correct
- Book
Bookkeeping Chat (NEW)
You can also chat with the AI assistant in natural language. A green chat button appears in the bottom right corner when you're in the Accounting section.
Open: Click the green button or press Alt+B
Example Commands:
| Command | Action |
|---|---|
| "Book CHF 108 Swisscom to telephone" | Creates booking suggestion |
| "What account for office supplies?" | Suggests matching account |
| "Show unbooked expenses" | Lists pending receipts |
| "How do I book a cash expense?" | Explains the booking process |
Confirming a Booking:
- Review the booking suggestion in the chat
- Click Book to post directly
- Or Edit to adjust details
Tips:
- The more precise your description, the better the suggestion
- Include amount, currency, and purpose
- The assistant learns from your previous bookings
Note: AI features available from Standard plan.
Swiss VAT
VAT Rates
| Code | Rate | Description |
|---|---|---|
| CH_NORM_8_1 | 8.1% | Standard rate |
| CH_REDUCED_2_6 | 2.6% | Reduced rate |
| CH_SPECIAL_3_8 | 3.8% | Special rate (accommodation) |
| CH_EXEMPT | 0% | Tax exempt |
| CH_NOT_SUBJECT | 0% | Not subject to tax |
VAT Calculation
For expenses, VAT is included in the gross amount:
Net = Gross / (1 + VAT rate)
VAT = Gross - Net
Example (8.1%):
- Gross: CHF 108.10
- Net: CHF 100.00
- VAT: CHF 8.10
Input VAT
Input VAT on purchases is booked to account 1170 (Input VAT).
Closing
Month-End Close
- Review all bookings
- Create reports
- Lock the period (optional)
Year-End Close
- Create balance sheet and income statement
- Book the annual result
- Export for tax/auditor
Slonge Billing automates this flow with a guided wizard under Accounting → Year-End Close: 10 automatic checks, posting the net result to account 2990, locking the period, and producing a complete accountant binder (PDF binder always; optional AbaConnect XML / CSV / Receipts ZIP). See Year-End Close for details.
Related Features
- Reports – Balance sheet and income statement
- Expenses – Source documents
- Invoicing – Revenue bookings
Frequently Asked Questions
What is double-entry bookkeeping?
Every booking has at least two lines: debit and credit must be equal. This ensures consistency.
Can I correct bookings?
Yes, as long as they're not locked. After closing, you should make reversing entries.
How do I export for my accountant?
Under Accounting > Export you can export data in Abacus or ASR format.
What does "VAT-relevant" mean?
Accounts where VAT-liable transactions or input tax are booked.