{"id":29442,"date":"2026-09-30T09:04:30","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:04:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/?p=29442"},"modified":"2026-09-30T09:04:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-30T13:04:33","slug":"what-is-accounts-payable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-accounts-payable\/","title":{"rendered":"What is accounts payable? Definition, examples, and how it works"},"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-us\/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\tWhat is accounts payable? Definition, examples, and how it works\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\tLearn what accounts payable means, how AP is recorded, how it affects cash flow, and what to look for in accounts payable software.\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=\"2026-09-30T09:04:30-04:00\">September 30, 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=\"What is accounts payable? Definition, examples, and how it works\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-accounts-payable\/\"\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-us\/blog\/author\/yassirmalik\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/03\/Yassir-Malik.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"yassir-malik-profile-picture\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Yassir Malik<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/author\/lauraslingo\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Laura Slingo\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/03\/laura-slingo-headshot.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Laura Slingo<\/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<section class=\"wp-block-sage-article-update\"><div class=\"sage-article-update__inner\"><p>This article was originally published on April 4, 2025 and has been refreshed and re-published with new content on September 30, 2026.<\/p><\/div><\/section>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your business buys something on credit and hasn&#8217;t paid for it yet, that unpaid balance is called Accounts Payable (AP). The same term also covers the finance function that manages related obligations like reviewing invoices, getting them approved, and paying them on time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable is more than a bookkeeping balance. It shows how much your business currently owes suppliers and how much of your available cash may already be committed to upcoming payments. For example, a business may have $20,000 in its bank account but also have $8,000 in supplier invoices due that month. Tracking accounts payable shows how much of that cash will be needed for upcoming payments, so the business can plan around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding what AP means, how it is recorded, and how payment timing affects cash can help you keep your books accurate and your supplier obligations under control.<\/p>\n\n\n<section id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-sage-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"sage-key-takeaways__inner\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unpaid supplier invoices for credit purchases are usually shown among current liabilities until they are settled.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>AP can describe a liability or the team and processes used to review invoices, approve them, and make supplier payments.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Payment terms influence the timing of cash outflows, making payables an important part of short-term cash planning.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accurate AP records, clear approval controls, and the right software can make it easier to track what is owed and manage supplier payments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-here-s-what-we-ll-cover\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here&#8217;s what we&#8217;ll cover<\/h2>\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-does-accounts-payable-mean-in-accounting-nbsp\" data-level=\"2\">What does accounts payable mean in accounting?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-does-accounts-payable-do-nbsp\" data-level=\"2\">What does accounts payable do?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-accounts-payable-versus-bills-payable\" data-level=\"2\">Accounts payable versus bills payable<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-are-some-accounts-payable-examples-nbsp\" data-level=\"2\">What are some accounts payable examples?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-is-accounts-payable-recorded-in-accounting-nbsp\" data-level=\"2\">How is accounts payable recorded in accounting?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-how-does-accounts-payable-affect-cash-flow\" data-level=\"2\">How does accounts payable affect cash flow?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-should-accounts-payable-software-help-you-do-nbsp\" data-level=\"2\">What should accounts payable software help you do?&nbsp;<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-frequently-asked-questions-about-accounts-payable\" data-level=\"2\">Frequently asked questions about accounts payable<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-does-accounts-payable-mean-in-accounting-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does accounts payable mean in accounting?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In accounting, accounts payable is the amount your business owes suppliers or vendors for goods or services already received on credit. AP stands for accounts payable and can refer either to this liability or to the finance function that manages supplier invoices and payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The AP balance normally appears under current liabilities. A payable is created when your business receives goods or services now but agrees to pay the supplier later; the amount remains in accounts payable until that payment is made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-does-accounts-payable-do-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does accounts payable do?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The accounts payable function keeps track of what your business owes and helps make sure valid supplier invoices are recorded, approved, and paid according to agreed terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Day to day, AP teams may:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Verify supplier invoices and supporting information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Record approved amounts as liabilities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Route invoices to the appropriate people for approval.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Schedule and process payments based on due dates and payment terms.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Review supplier balances and resolve mismatches, duplicate invoices, or other exceptions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These steps help keep accounts payable records accurate and supplier payments under control. The full <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-process\/\">accounts payable process<\/a> covers the workflow from receiving an invoice through approval and payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-accounts-payable-versus-bills-payable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accounts payable versus bills payable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No, not always. Accounts payable is the common accounting term for amounts owed to suppliers for goods or services bought on credit, while \u201cbills payable\u201d can be used differently depending on the accounting system or context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-first-column\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Comparison point<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Accounts payable<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Bills payable<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Typical meaning<\/strong><\/td><td>Amounts owed to suppliers for goods or services purchased on credit.<\/td><td>Meaning can vary; it may be used for supplier bills or, in some contexts, a more formal written obligation to pay.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Terminology<\/strong><\/td><td>A widely used accounting term with a clear meaning.<\/td><td>Less consistently defined across accounting systems and sources.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>What to check<\/strong><\/td><td>Supplier invoices and amounts recorded as accounts payable.<\/td><td>How the term is defined in the relevant accounting system, agreement, or source.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because \u201cbills payable\u201d is not used consistently, don\u2019t assume it always represents a separate type of liability from accounts payable. Check the terminology being used in the specific accounting context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-some-accounts-payable-examples-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are some accounts payable examples?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable examples include inventory, supplies, and services that a business receives now and pays for later under agreed credit terms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, consider a retailer that receives $5,000 of inventory from a supplier with payment due in 30 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When the inventory arrives and the purchase is recorded, the retailer has received $5,000 of value but has not yet paid for it. The business therefore records a $5,000 accounts payable liability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Until the retailer pays the invoice, that $5,000 remains part of the AP balance. When the retailer pays the supplier, the liability is cleared and cash leaves the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other common examples of accounts payable include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Office supplies purchased from a vendor on credit.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Professional services that have been completed and invoiced but not yet paid.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cleaning or maintenance services invoiced after the work is completed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In each example of accounts payable, the business has received the goods or services and still owes the supplier for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-is-accounts-payable-recorded-in-accounting-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is accounts payable recorded in accounting?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable bookkeeping uses double-entry accounting to record both what the business received and what it now owes. When an invoice creates a new AP liability, accounts payable increases with a credit. When the business pays the invoice, accounts payable decreases with a debit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using the $5,000 inventory purchase above, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-journal-entry\/\">accounts payable journal entry<\/a> would look like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-data\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Transaction<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Account<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Debit<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Credit<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Inventory received on credit<\/strong><\/td><td>Inventory<\/td><td>$5,000<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Accounts payable<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>$5,000<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Supplier invoice paid<\/strong><\/td><td>Accounts payable<\/td><td>$5,000<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>Cash<\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td>$5,000<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first entry records the inventory received and the new liability. The second clears that liability when the supplier is paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-how-does-an-invoice-move-through-accounts-payable-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does an invoice move through accounts payable?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A typical invoice moves through five stages in the AP workflow:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Receive the invoice.<\/strong> The supplier sends an invoice for goods or services provided.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Verify the details.<\/strong> The business checks the amount and supporting records, such as a purchase order or receiving information where applicable.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Record the payable.<\/strong> The approved invoice is entered into the accounting records as an amount owed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Schedule payment.<\/strong> The payment date is set according to the supplier\u2019s agreed terms and the business\u2019s payment controls.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Pay and clear the liability.<\/strong> When payment is made, the AP balance is reduced and the invoice is marked as settled.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Regular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-reconciliation\/\">accounts payable reconciliation<\/a> can help confirm that supplier balances, invoices, payments, and accounting records agree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This forms part of the wider <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-account-reconciliation\/\">account reconciliation<\/a> process, which helps check that balances in your accounting records agree with the supporting information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-how-does-accounts-payable-affect-cash-flow\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does accounts payable affect cash flow?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable affects cash flow because it creates a gap between receiving goods or services and paying for them. During that period, the business still has the cash, but it also has an upcoming obligation that needs to be planned for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using agreed payment terms can give a business time to coordinate outgoing payments with incoming cash. But that does not mean paying as late as possible is always the best choice. Paying after the agreed due date can lead to fees or supplier disputes, while paying early may make sense when a supplier offers a worthwhile discount.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The goal is to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-management-best-practices\/\">manage payment timing<\/a> in line with agreed terms, available cash, supplier relationships, and any early payment discounts offered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-what-is-the-accounts-payable-turnover-ratio-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is the accounts payable turnover ratio?&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The accounts payable turnover ratio measures how often a business pays suppliers relative to its average accounts payable balance during a period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A common formula for this is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-math\"><math display=\"block\"><semantics><mrow><mtext>Accounts&nbsp;payable&nbsp;turnover<\/mtext><mo>=<\/mo><mfrac><mtext>Net&nbsp;credit&nbsp;purchases<\/mtext><mtext>Average&nbsp;accounts&nbsp;payable<\/mtext><\/mfrac><\/mrow><annotation encoding=\"application\/x-tex\">\\text{Accounts payable turnover}\n=\n\\frac{\\text{Net credit purchases}}{\\text{Average accounts payable}}<\/annotation><\/semantics><\/math><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A higher ratio indicates more frequent supplier payments, while a lower ratio indicates less frequent payments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither result is automatically good or bad. A high ratio may reflect prompt payment, but it can also mean the business is paying earlier than its supplier terms require. A low ratio may reflect either longer negotiated terms or difficulty meeting payments. Trends should be considered alongside payment terms, cash availability, and the circumstances of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another way finance teams look at payment timing is Days Payable Outstanding (DPO), which estimates the average number of days a business takes to pay its suppliers. DPO and AP turnover measure supplier-payment activity differently, so both need to be interpreted alongside payment terms, cash availability, and the circumstances of the business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-should-accounts-payable-software-help-you-do-nbsp\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What should accounts payable software help you do?&nbsp;<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable software should help you reduce manual invoice work, keep approvals moving, track what is due, and maintain clear payment controls. Which features matter most will depend on where your existing AP process slows down or creates unnecessary manual work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-first-column\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>AP need<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Software feature<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Less manual data entry<\/td><td>Invoice and data capture<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Faster approvals<\/td><td>Approval workflows<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Better invoice checks<\/td><td>Purchase order matching, duplicate detection, and audit trails<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Clear payment visibility<\/td><td>AP reporting and due-date tracking<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Easier supplier payments<\/td><td>Payment scheduling and payment-method support<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Connected financial data<\/td><td>Accounting or enterprise resource planning integrations<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/accounting-software\/accounts-payable\/\">AP automation software<\/a> should support a clear accounts payable process rather than replace basic controls. Finance teams still need to review exceptions, unusual invoices, changes to supplier information, and other transactions that require judgment.<\/p>\n\n\n<section class=\"wp-block-sage-faq\">\n\t\n<h2 id=\"h-frequently-asked-questions-about-accounts-payable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequently asked questions about accounts payable<\/h2>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-items\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-7cf5b05c\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-s-the-difference-between-accounts-payable-and-accounts-receivable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the difference between accounts payable and accounts receivable?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable is money your business owes suppliers, while Accounts Receivable (AR) is money customers owe your business. AP is recorded as a liability, while AR is recorded as an asset.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For a closer comparison, read our guide to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-vs-accounts-receivable-guide\/\">accounts payable and accounts receivable<\/a>.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-0dd28331\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-how-does-accounts-payable-affect-the-balance-sheet-income-statement-and-cash-flow-statement\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does accounts payable affect the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement?\u00a0<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable appears as a current liability on the balance sheet. AP itself is not an expense: the related expense or asset is recorded separately when the underlying purchase is recognized.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable can also affect reported operating cash flow because changes in the amount owed to suppliers change the timing of cash payments. When a supplier is ultimately paid, cash decreases; the precise cash flow statement treatment depends on the underlying transaction.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-ce90cb1f\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-is-accounts-payable-a-credit-or-debit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is accounts payable a credit or debit?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable normally has a credit balance because it is a liability. When a new payable is recorded, AP increases with a credit; when the business pays the supplier, AP decreases with a debit.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-d5830e3c\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-s-the-difference-between-accounts-payable-and-accrued-expenses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s the difference between accounts payable and accrued expenses?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable usually relates to supplier invoices that have been received and recorded. Accrued expenses are costs the business has already incurred but has not yet been invoiced for, so the amount is recognized before the supplier bill arrives.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-sage-faq-item\" id=\"faq-item-304da82a\">\n\t<div class=\"faq-item-question\">\n\t\t\n<h3 id=\"h-what-does-an-accounts-payable-deposit-mean\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What does an accounts payable deposit mean?<\/h3>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"faq-item-answer\">\n\t\t\t\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cAccounts payable deposit\u201d is not a standard standalone accounting term. Depending on the context, it may refer to a supplier deposit or prepayment that is later applied to an invoice.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check the transaction and the terminology used in your accounting system before deciding how the amount should be classified.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable starts with a straightforward accounting idea: your business has received something of value and still owes the supplier for it. Keeping AP accurate also helps you understand upcoming payments, manage cash more deliberately, and maintain reliable financial records. Clear approvals, payment timing, reconciliation, and review controls all support that process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">See how <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/sage-business-cloud\/intacct\/product-capabilities\/core-financials\/accounts-payable\/\">Sage Intacct accounts payable software<\/a> can help reduce repetitive invoice work, manage approvals and payments, and give finance teams clearer visibility into accounts payable.<\/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\">Subscribe to our Sage Advice Newsletter<\/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>Get our latest business advice delivered directly to your inbox.<\/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=\"#gate-ab515c6e-7e90-4c2f-a67e-113872516e8b\"\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\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/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=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"Working from home with tea in hand\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\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-us\/blog\/hub\/accounting-101\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccounting 101\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-us\/blog\/hub\/boss-your-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBoss your business\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-us\/blog\/hub\/business-strategy\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tBusiness strategy\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-us\/blog\/hub\/cash-flow\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCash Flow\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-us\/blog\/hub\/staying-competitive\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tStay competitive\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\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-27719 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-accountants category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-automation tag-sage-accounting business_type-small-business business_type-growing-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=\"1215\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-1215x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1190223207-1215x810.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\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=\"2026-09-30T08:54:36-04:00\">September 30, 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\">13 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-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-process\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tWhat is the accounts payable process?\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\tLearn how the accounts payable process works, from invoice capture and matching through the full cycle of making and recording payments.\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-30322 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-accountants category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accountants tag-accounting-101 tag-boss-your-business tag-cash-flow tag-compliance tag-growing-a-business tag-sage-accounting tag-small-business tag-starting-a-business tag-staying-competitive tag-working-capital business_type-small-business business_type-accountants business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/accounts-payable-reconciliation\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0640-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0640-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0640-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0640-1214x810.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=\"2026-09-30T07:32:53-04:00\">September 30, 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\">12 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\tThe ultimate guide to accounts payable reconciliation\u00a0\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-22429 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-business-intelligence business_type-small-business business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/a-guide-to-generally-accepted-accounting-principles-gaap\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1254783885-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1254783885-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1254783885-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1254783885-1440x810.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=\"2026-09-30T06:11:54-04:00\">September 30, 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\">12 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 GAAP? Accounting principles defined\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-30327 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-accountants category-strategy-legal-operations tag-accounting-101 tag-boss-your-business tag-business-intelligence tag-cash-flow tag-compliance tag-growing-a-business tag-tax business_type-small-business business_type-accountants business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/what-is-a-deferred-tax-liability\/\"\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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1329013231-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1329013231-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1329013231-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1329013231-1215x810.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=\"2026-09-29T12:11:03-04:00\">September 29, 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\">14 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\tDeferred tax liability: A practical guide\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-27959 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-growth-customers category-money-matters category-strategy-legal-operations category-trends-insights tag-accounting-101 tag-business-intelligence tag-digital-transformation tag-ecommerce tag-small-business business_type-small-business business_type-accountants business_type-growing-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/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-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1338373163-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1338373163-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1338373163-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2023\/09\/GettyImages-1338373163-1215x810.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=\"2026-09-28T05:34:23-04:00\">September 28, 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? Benefits and disadvantages\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>Learn what accounts payable means, how AP is recorded, how it affects cash flow, and what to look for in accounts payable software.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1774,"featured_media":9177,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[{\"keyword\":\"accounts payable definition\",\"score\":72},{\"keyword\":\"accounts payable examples\",\"score\":61}]","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"[\"\",\"\",\"\"]","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"43","sage_membership_post_content_type":"article","sage_membership_post_featured_video_id":"","sage_membership_post_video_type":"trailer","sage_membership_post_featured_video_duration":"","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":[43,44],"tags":[110,195,170,299,155],"business_type":[312,41],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[150,100,98],"imagine_tag":[209,468,436,444,233,237],"coauthors":[509,1059],"class_list":["post-29442","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","category-strategy-legal-operations","tag-accounting-101","tag-boss-your-business","tag-business-strategy","tag-cash-flow","tag-staying-competitive","business_type-accountants","business_type-growing-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-us","author_name":"Yassir Malik","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-147205362.jpg","imagine_tags":{"209":"Accounting","468":"Grow your business","436":"Intacct Accounting","444":"Intacct Medium Business","233":"Medium Businesses","237":"Supply Chain Management"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice US","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29442","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1774"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29442"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29442\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":38098,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29442\/revisions\/38098"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/9177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29442"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=29442"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-us\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=29442"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}