Accounting Categories List — Numbered Chart of Accounts Reference

One numbered reference table covering the six groups most small businesses use. Copy what fits, rename what doesn't, and delete the rest — a chart of accounts should reflect your operations, not someone else's template.

Assets — 1000 series

What the business owns or is owed. Current assets (cash, receivables, inventory) come first, then longer-lived items.

Code	Account	Notes
1010	Business Checking Account	Day-to-day operating cash
1020	Business Savings Account	Reserves and tax savings
1030	Accounts Receivable	Customer invoices not yet paid
1040	Inventory	Goods held for sale (retailers, e-commerce)
1050	Prepaid Expenses	Insurance or rent paid in advance
1060	Office Equipment	Computers, furniture, machinery
1070	Accumulated Depreciation	Contra-asset tracking equipment wear

Liabilities — 2000 series

What the business owes to others, short-term and long-term.

Code	Account	Notes
2010	Accounts Payable	Supplier bills not yet paid
2020	Credit Card Payable	Business card balances
2030	Sales Tax Payable	Tax collected, owed to authorities
2040	Payroll Liabilities	Withheld taxes and benefits owed
2050	Business Loan	Outstanding loan balances

Equity — 3000 series

The owner's financial stake: what's been put in, what's been taken out, and what's been earned and kept.

Code	Account	Notes
3010	Owner Capital	Money the owner invested
3020	Owner Draws	Money the owner withdrew
3030	Retained Earnings	Profits kept in the business

Revenue — 4000 series

Income earned. Split streams you want to compare — product vs. service revenue is the classic split.

Code	Account	Notes
4010	Product Sales	Income from goods sold
4020	Service Revenue	Income from services delivered
4030	Consulting Income	Advisory and project fees
4040	Retainer Income	Recurring client retainers
4050	Other Income	Interest, late fees, miscellaneous

Expenses — 5000 series

Operating costs. This is where most customization happens — keep the categories you question monthly, merge the rest.

Code	Account	Notes
5010	Rent Expense	Office, studio, or retail space
5020	Utilities	Electricity, water, internet
5030	Office Supplies	Consumables and small equipment
5040	Software Subscriptions	SaaS tools, hosting, domains
5050	Marketing & Advertising	Ads, branding, website costs
5060	Professional Fees	Legal, accounting, consulting
5070	Payroll Expense	Wages and salaries
5080	Travel Expense	Mileage, flights, lodging for work
5090	Business Insurance	Liability, professional indemnity
5100	Home Office Expense	Deductible portion for remote workers
5110	Professional Development	Courses, books, conferences
5120	Contractor Payments	Freelancers and subcontractors
5130	Shipping & Postage	Outbound shipping costs
5140	Bank & Payment Fees	Processor fees, bank charges

Cost of goods sold — 6000 series

Direct costs of what you sell. Separating COGS from operating expenses reveals gross profit.

Code	Account	Notes
6010	Cost of Goods Sold	Direct cost of products sold
6020	Materials & Supplies	Raw materials for production
6030	Freight-In	Inbound shipping on inventory

Make it yours

A template is a starting point — review each account before adopting it, and delete what you'll never use. The LedgerLeaf generator can produce a tailored, copy-ready subset for freelancers, e-commerce, or service businesses. And remember the honest limit: this list is a drafting aid, not accounting advice. For tax questions, talk to a qualified accountant.