{"id":30042,"date":"2026-05-18T12:21:03","date_gmt":"2026-05-18T11:21:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/?p=30042"},"modified":"2026-05-20T10:51:36","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T09:51:36","slug":"how-to-read-a-general-ledger-report","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-read-a-general-ledger-report\/","title":{"rendered":"The general ledger report: what it is and how to read it"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThe general ledger report: what it is and how to read it\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tCan you quickly scan your company&#8217;s financial status to guide upcoming decisions? A general ledger report helps you do that with clarity and confidence.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-05-18T12:21:03+01:00\">18 May, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"The general ledger report: what it is and how to read it\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/how-to-read-a-general-ledger-report\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/author\/laurencematone\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/03\/Profile_LM-350x350.jpeg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Laurence Matone\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Laurence Matone<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does this month&#8217;s cash flow reflect your revenue performance?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Are certain expense categories starting to creep out of control?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a quick, reliable overview of your company&#8217;s financial patterns, the general ledger report is your go-to tool.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you&#8217;re not reading it correctly\u2014or not reading it at all\u2014you could be missing warning signs or opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This article explains the GL report in simple, practical terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether you&#8217;re checking for accuracy, preparing for tax reporting, or planning your next move, the GL report prepares you to take action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-a-general-ledger-report\" data-level=\"2\">What is a general ledger report?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-components-of-a-general-ledger-report\" data-level=\"2\">Components of a general ledger report<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-to-read-a-general-ledger-report\" data-level=\"2\">How to read a general ledger report<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-types-of-general-ledger-reports\" data-level=\"2\">Types of general ledger reports<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-other-general-ledger-reports\" data-level=\"2\">Other general ledger reports<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-importance-of-general-ledger-reports\" data-level=\"2\">Importance of general ledger reports<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-make-your-general-ledger-work-for-you\" data-level=\"2\">Make your general ledger work for you<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-a-general-ledger-report\"><strong>What is a general ledger report?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A general ledger report is a summary or snapshot of the data stored in your company&#8217;s general ledger (GL).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, before we can explain the GL report, we need to ask: What is a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/glossary\/what-is-a-general-ledger\/\">general ledger<\/a> in accounting?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The GL is the master record of all the financial transactions driving your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It organises transactions by all the accounts your company maintains, such as cash, sales, expenses, and payroll.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Each account page shows every debit and credit entry over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, the GL itself can be lengthy, with data arranged in near-identical columns throughout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is because it combines all the sub-ledgers that your business maintains, such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cash account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sales account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Expense account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Liability account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Equity account<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although all these accounts are mapped out in the GL&#8217;s index\u2014known as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/chart-of-accounts-non-profit-organisation\/\">Chart Of Accounts<\/a>(COA)\u2014it&#8217;s still hard to scan all the data with the human eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And especially difficult if you&#8217;re looking for patterns or totals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The GL report presents the information in a readable format by pulling together detailed entries for one or more accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It lays out dates, descriptions, amounts, and running balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You can generate GL reports for any time frame, though typically companies prepare reports on a quarterly and annual basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The reports are your reference documents for preparing end-of-period financial statements like the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/glossary\/what-is-a-balance-sheet\/\">balance sheet<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/income-statement-template\/\">income statement<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-components-of-a-general-ledger-report\"><strong>Components of a general ledger report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s take a closer look at how a GL report is organised and how the details track the flow of funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Although it&#8217;s simpler than the full general ledger, it still captures the key facts of each transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The essential elements include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Account name:<\/strong> this appears at the top of each section and indicates which account the transactions relate to, such as &#8220;Utilities Expense&#8221; or &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-accounts-receivable\/\">Accounts Receivable<\/a>.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Date of transaction:<\/strong> usually the first item in each row, this shows when the transaction took place.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Description:<\/strong> this gives a brief explanation of what the transaction was for\u2014such as a client payment or utility bill.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Debit and credit columns:<\/strong> these show the numerical value of each transaction and whether it increased or decreased the balance. Together, they show where value is coming from (credit) and where it\u2019s going (debit).&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Balance column: <\/strong>this shows the running total in the account after each transaction.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Total (optional):<\/strong> some reports include a total at the end of the period to show the overall debit and credit activity or the ending balance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-how-to-read-a-general-ledger-report\"><strong>How to read a general ledger report<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now that you know the key elements, you may be tempted to jump to the part of the report that most interests you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, if you skim or consult the document selectively, you could miss patterns, errors, or inconsistencies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get the full benefit of a GL report, review it systematically rather than jumping between sections. It shows how each transaction affects account balances and helps you spot trends or anomalies. Here&#8217;s a step-by-step approach:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-review-the-chart-of-accounts\"><strong>1. Review the chart of accounts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Skim through the whole report to understand the structure and categories of accounts your business uses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The chart of accounts gives you an overview of how the accounts relate to each other and their collective role in your operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-examine-transaction-dates\"><strong>2. Examine transaction dates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check that transactions are in chronological order and match the period listed in the report title.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-analyse-descriptions\"><strong>3. Analyse descriptions<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Read the details of each transaction to understand the context and why they were necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, make sure vendor payments are consistent with your regular expenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-check-debit-and-credit-entries\"><strong>4. Check debit and credit entries<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Confirm that every transaction has both a debit and a credit component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This maintains the accounting equation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure the origin and destination of each movement are logical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, if a payment is recorded as a debit to Office Supplies, the corresponding credit should come from Cash or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-accounts-payable\/\">Accounts Payable<\/a>\u2014not from an unrelated account like Sales Revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-monitor-account-balances\"><strong>5. Monitor account balances<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Watch how each transaction changes the running balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This helps you spot rapid increases, unexpected drops, or irregular activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-review-reference-numbers\"><strong>6. Review reference numbers<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These point to the source documents\u2014such as invoices, receipts, or journal entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They help you verify that the transactions are supported by real, traceable paperwork.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-check-for-closed-accounts\"><strong>7. Check for closed accounts<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If an account is marked as closed, it usually means it was temporary (like a year-end clearing account), and its balance has been transferred elsewhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding when and why accounts close helps keep your books clean and your reporting accurate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-types-of-general-ledger-reports\"><strong>Types of general ledger reports<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different people in your company use GL reports in different ways, depending on the decisions they need to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are multiple report formats to choose from, each tailored to a specific audience and purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These are the most common types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-general-ledger-detail-report\"><strong>General ledger detail report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report provides a detailed view of every transaction within each account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accountants and auditors often rely on this format when reviewing the accuracy of financial records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It helps them trace individual entries, confirm proper categorisation, and investigate discrepancies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s also useful during audits or when preparing tax filings, as it shows exactly how each balance was built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-general-ledger-summary-report\"><strong>General ledger summary report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This version gives a high-level overview of account balances for a specific period, without showing every transaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Business owners and financial managers use it when they need a snapshot of performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s helpful for identifying overall trends, reviewing account activity at a glance, and making quick decisions about budgeting, forecasting, or resource allocation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-trial-balance\"><strong>Trial balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-a-trial-balance\/\">trial balance<\/a> lists all GL accounts along with their ending debit or credit balances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s used mainly by accountants and bookkeepers to verify that the books are balanced\u2014meaning total debits equal total credits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the totals don&#8217;t match, it signals an error in the entries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This report is often run before preparing formal financial statements like the income statement and balance sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-other-general-ledger-reports\"><strong>Other general ledger reports<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/\">Accounting software<\/a> solutions like Sage, for example, offer specialised reports for targeted use cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-account-variance-report\"><strong>Account variance report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Comparing account totals across periods to highlight unexpected changes or trends.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Useful for budgeting, forecasting, and internal reviews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-general-journal-report\"><strong>General journal report<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Showing all manual journal entries in one place for audit or review purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manual entries typically fall outside of standard workflows\u2014e.g. correcting errors, reclassifying expenses, or year-end adjustments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Used by controllers and auditors to review and validate exceptions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-transaction-detail-by-status\"><strong>Transaction detail by status<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Breaking down transactions based on their approval, posting, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-account-reconciliation\/\">reconciliation<\/a> status\u2014useful for process control or cleaning up incomplete records.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-working-trial-balance\"><strong>Working trial balance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Combining the trial balance with adjustments and notes that support tax prep tasks and external audits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-importance-of-general-ledger-reports\"><strong>Importance of general ledger reports<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whilst different people rely on GL reports for specific tasks, these reports have a broad impact on how your business operates.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They&#8217;re especially important for day-to-day operations and meeting legal obligations, for example.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GL reports help keep your financial data accurate, clear, and ready to stand up to scrutiny\u2014no matter who&#8217;s reviewing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-operational\"><strong>Operational<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From an operational perspective, GL reports support accuracy and smart decision-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They ensure every transaction is recorded correctly, keeping your accounts up to date and error-free.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This accuracy means you have a correct understanding of your business&#8217;s financial position at any given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And when you know you can trust your numbers, you can make informed decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This gives you confidence when planning your next quarter, managing cash flow, or adjusting your budget to meet growth targets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-legal\"><strong>Legal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">GL reports also play a key role in meeting legal and regulatory requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They provide a complete audit trail of your business activity, which is critical during tax season or for any formal financial review.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regulators or auditors may request GL data to confirm compliance with accounting standards.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These reports also help detect fraud by highlighting irregular entries, unusual account movements, or gaps in the transaction history\u2014issues that could otherwise go unnoticed without a full transaction record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-make-your-general-ledger-work-for-you\"><strong>Make your general ledger work for you<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A general ledger report is a powerful tool that helps you understand how your business is really doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A correct review of the report helps you catch errors, spot trends, and make informed decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For proper support of your daily operations and your legal responsibilities, use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/accounting-software\/ledger-accounting\/\">ledger accounting software<\/a> to generate correctly sourced GL reports.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The software automatically updates the ledgers referenced in your GL report, saving time and reducing the chance of errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Get MTD-compliant and claim\u00a0free hi vis<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p>Sage is showing up for tradies on site and on tax with free MTD software and free hi vis work wear. Get started in minutes and claim your kit.<\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n<p><!-- \/wp:paragraph --><\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/making-tax-digital\/hi-vis\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tid=\"cta-id-30202\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tdata-button-location=\"cta_box\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Claim your PPE<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"915\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/Large-Display.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/05\/Large-Display.jpg 915w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/bookkeeping\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBookkeeping\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/tag\/financial-education\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tFinancial education\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-31395 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-strategy-legal-operations tag-bookkeeping tag-mtd-business tag-making-tax-digital-for-income-tax business_type-small-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"A small business person working on MTD\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2026\/07\/mtd-tricks-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-07-21T13:46:52+01:00\">21 July, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/mtd-quarterly-updates-supercharge-your-business\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow MTD quarterly updates can supercharge your business. Yes, really.\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tYour MTD quarterly update isn&#8217;t just about keeping HMRC happy. From live tax estimates to easier borrowing and smarter planning, here are the fringe benefits for sole traders and landlords that nobody talks about.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-30318 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-ap-automation\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1128201585-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1128201585-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1128201585-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1128201585-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T16:58:53+01:00\">2 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">11 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tAccounts payable automation: How it works, key benefits, and why your business needs it\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-30315 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-e-invoicing business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-an-electronic-invoice\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-875247398-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Dealing with payroll tasks for the business\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-875247398-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-875247398-768x513.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-875247398-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T16:16:14+01:00\">2 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">9 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is e-invoicing? Advantages and disadvantages of electronic invoicing\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-30313 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-is-an-automated-billing-system\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-580503469-1-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"Running a business\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-580503469-1-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-580503469-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-580503469-1-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T15:54:42+01:00\">2 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat is an automated billing system?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-30307 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-bookkeeping tag-make-receive-payments business_type-small-business business_type-medium-sized-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/what-are-the-most-important-accounts-receivable-metrics-to-track\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1464824741-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1464824741-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1464824741-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1464824741-1215x810.jpg 1215w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-06-02T14:26:09+01:00\">2 June, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat are the most important accounts receivable KPIs to track?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can you quickly scan your company&#8217;s financial status to guide upcoming decisions? A general ledger report helps you do that with clarity and confidence.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1911,"featured_media":23803,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[23,127],"business_type":[4],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,74,75],"imagine_tag":[287,77],"coauthors":[752],"class_list":["post-30042","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-bookkeeping","tag-financial-education","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-gb","author_name":"Laurence Matone","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/10\/2025\/08\/Mar2025_Financial-Family-office_0497.jpeg","imagine_tags":{"287":"Accounting Individual","77":"Accounting software"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice UK","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30042","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1911"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=30042"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/30042\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/23803"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=30042"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=30042"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-gb\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=30042"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}