Answers to the bookkeeping questions our support team hears most often. For other topics, browse the rest of the Troubleshooting section, or see Getting Help.

Why can’t I add more accounts to my chart of accounts?

This almost always traces back to account codes: each account type has a code range (assets 1000s, income 4000s, and so on), and a crowded or manually renumbered chart can run a type out of room. Freeing up or renumbering codes resolves it — or turn off Show Account Codes in Organization Settings if your organization doesn’t use codes at all. See Chart of Accounts.

Where did my prior year’s money go? There’s no “carry over” transaction.

Prior-year money isn’t a transaction — it’s equity. Your accumulated balance lives in the Carry Over Funds equity account on the balance sheet, and each year’s net income rolls into it when you close the year. A negative net income (a planned deficit spent from reserves) is normal for a PTA and shows up the same way. See Reading Your Balance Sheet and Profit & Loss and Closing the Fiscal Year.

Do I need a finalized budget before I can record income?

No. Transactions and budgets are independent — you can record and categorize income and expenses from day one and add the budget whenever your board approves it. Budget line items come from your chart of accounts, so set up accounts first. See Budget Management.

Can BeeKeeper print checks? Will my existing check stock work?

Yes — you can write and print checks directly from a bank account, and a calibration tool lets you align printing to your existing voucher check stock. See Writing & Printing Checks.