# How to enter opening balances in Snad To enter opening balances in Snad, open **Accounting**, then **Balances**, and press **Update**. Type each figure in the **Opening balance** column next to its account, check the **Balance** column, then press **Save**. ## Before you start - A Snad account, with the Accounting app in your plan. - Permission to view and update balances for your user ([how to set permissions](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/roles-permissions)). - The accounts exist in your chart of accounts ([how to add an account](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/chart-of-accounts)). ## Steps 1. **Open the Balances screen.** In the sidebar, choose **Accounting**, then **Balances**. A table of your sub-accounts and their balances opens. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/opening-balances#adv-parent-accounts) ![The Snad Balances screen: the accounts table with Opening balance, Debit, Credit and Balance columns](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/opening-balances/list-en.webp) Image key: (1) **Balances** in the sidebar · (2) The **Opening balance** column 2. **Press Update.** Press **Update** above the table and the figures turn into fields you can type in. To reach one account, type part of its name in the filter field. ![The Update button and the name filter above the balances table](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/opening-balances/update-en.webp) Image key: (1) The filter-by-name field · (2) The **Update** button 3. **Type the opening balance.** Type the figure in the account's **Opening balance** field. The **Balance** column updates at once: opening + debit − credit. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/opening-balances#adv-sign) ![An opening balance typed on one account of the balances table, with the Balance column updated](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/opening-balances/typed-en.webp) Image key: (1) The **Opening balance** field · (2) The **Balance** column after the update 4. **Save the balances.** Press **Save** in the bar at the bottom of the page; it turns on after your first edit. To drop your edits, press **Cancel**. [Details](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/opening-balances#adv-many-accounts) ![The Save and Cancel bar at the bottom of the Balances screen after editing figures](https://www.snad.io/images/guide/opening-balances/save-en.webp) Image key: (1) The **Save** button · (2) The **Cancel** button ## Messages that block saving | Message | Cause | Fix | |---|---|---| ## Advanced details ### Debit or credit balance **Balance** = **Opening balance** + **Debit** − **Credit**. So a debit balance is typed as a positive number and a credit balance as a negative one. The fields accept negative numbers, so put a minus sign before the figure for credit-side accounts, such as liabilities and capital. ### Which accounts the table lists The table lists sub-accounts only, the ones entries are posted to. A parent account does not appear in it. Add a missing account first in the chart of accounts ([how to add an account](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/chart-of-accounts)), then come back to this screen. ### Saving many accounts at once Snad saves the edited accounts in batches of 30 and shows a progress ring while it works. It comes with the message “Don't close this page while we process your data”. Wait for the ring to finish before you leave. ### The Debit and Credit columns In **Update** mode the **Debit** and **Credit** columns become editable too, and saving them changes the account's totals. To enter an opening balance, use the **Opening balance** column only and leave the other two as they are. Later movements on the accounts are recorded with a [journal entry](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-journal-entry). ## Common questions ### How do I change an opening balance I entered earlier? Open **Balances**, press **Update**, change the figure in **Opening balance**, then press **Save**. The steps are the same as the first time. ### Does Snad check that the opening balances balance? This screen does not check the balance when you save. Review the [trial balance](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/trial-balance) or an [account statement](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/account-statement) afterwards to see your account totals. ### Why can't I see a certain account in the balances table? The table lists sub-accounts only. If your account is a parent, enter the balance on one of its sub-accounts. ### I don't see the Update button. What now? The button shows only to users allowed to update balances. Ask your account admin to grant it in [roles and permissions](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/roles-permissions). ### Can I use a journal entry instead of this screen? This screen is for the opening balance. Movements on the accounts after you start are recorded with a [journal entry](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-journal-entry). ## Read next - [Add an account to the chart of accounts](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/chart-of-accounts) — Add a main account and sub-accounts to the chart of accounts in Snad: name, type and budget group, then save. Six short steps with screenshots. - [Create a journal entry](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/create-journal-entry) — Create a journal entry in Snad: add the accounts, enter debit and credit until they match, then save. Six short steps with screenshots, plus line details. - [View the trial balance](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/trial-balance) — View the trial balance in Snad: check that debit and credit match, read opening and closing balances, then export it. Seven short steps with screenshots. - [View the balance sheet](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/balance-sheet) — View the balance sheet in Snad: pick the date, compare it with an earlier one, check it balances and print it. Seven short steps with screenshots. - [Set accounting settings](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/accounting-settings) — Set accounting settings in Snad: link the customer, supplier and cash accounts, then the accounts of each branch and warehouse. Six steps with screenshots. - [View an account statement](https://www.snad.io/en/guide/account-statement) — View any account statement in Snad: pick the account and period, read the opening balance, movements and closing balance, then print or export it. - [Snad accounting software](https://www.snad.io/en/accounting) — Chart of accounts, entries and reports in one place. [Open this screen in Snad](https://app.snad.io/dashboard/accounting/balances) - **URL:** https://www.snad.io/en/guide/opening-balances - **Last reviewed:** 2026-11-04 --- ## About the publisher **Snad (سند)** — a private Saudi software company based in Madinah, founded 2025. Legal form: Sole proprietorship. Commercial registration: 7038154642 VAT number: 310959226500003 Only official domain: snad.io > Snad is a private commercial business-management platform. It is not a > government body, not a bank, and not a government services portal, and it > is not affiliated with any government entity. Any site or app with a > similar name is unrelated to Snad.