THE HELP DESK
BetterBooks FAQ: good questions, straight answers
This BetterBooks FAQ answers the questions people ask before they start: how sign-in works, what company setup needs, what the Sage Intacct and QuickBooks Online imports cover, and who can edit the books.
Getting startedDo I need another password?
No. BetterBooks uses IOP for sign-in and registration. If you already have an IOP identity, use it. Access to a company still requires the appropriate membership.
Getting startedWhat do I need to set up a company?
Start with your IOP identity and a company name. You can review the plan and chart template before creating it. Book, currency, calendar and integration choices remain explicit accounting setup steps; they are not guessed from your email.
IntegrationsDoes BetterBooks connect to Sage Intacct?
BetterBooks includes an inbound Sage Intacct integration. Source objects and settlement scenarios have different levels of coverage. Review the coverage and exception information for your company, then reconcile imported balances against Sage.
IntegrationsWhat about QuickBooks?
The integration is QuickBooks Online. It should not be confused with QuickBooks Desktop Enterprise. Connector setup and import coverage depend on the provider and company configuration.
IntegrationsWill exploring BetterBooks change my Sage data?
The Sage review workflow is inbound. Use read-only source access. Changes made locally in BetterBooks are distinct from source data; do not assume they write back to Sage.
AccountingCan I stop using my current accounting system?
Not simply because an import has completed. Validate source coverage, reconcile balances and reports, and confirm your required operating workflows before deciding on a transition. Keep your source system authoritative during review.
AccountingCan everyone edit the books?
No. Company membership, book access, permissions and accounting controls determine what each person can see and do. Imported records and posted accounting may have additional restrictions.
DevelopersIs there a public API key signup?
There is no self-service public API-key flow documented here. BetterBooks uses authenticated API access and company/book authorization. The developer guide explains the current application contract and deployment-specific API reference.
Core accountingCan I change a posted journal like a draft?
Posted accounting and drafts have different controls. Use the permitted correction or reversal workflow; do not treat posted history as an editable spreadsheet.
Core accountingDoes recording a payment send money to a vendor?
No. A ledger payment record and a bank disbursement are different events. Confirm the configured payment provider and execution workflow before making any assumption about funds movement.
Core accountingDoes an imported receipt prove an invoice is paid?
Only when the supported application evidence and posting state establish that settlement. Review exceptions and partial coverage; do not infer settlement from matching amounts alone.
Planning & insightWhy can two reports show different numbers?
First compare entity scope, book, dates, currency and accounting basis. Then review posting state, source coverage and report-specific filters before concluding that a balance is wrong.
Planning & insightWill an EBITDA adjustment change the source books?
The analysis is separate from source-system accounting. BetterBooks calculation and adjustment review does not write the adjustment back to Sage. Keep analysis distinct from any separately authorized journal correction.
Core accountingDoes a recurring template guarantee automatic posting?
No. Inspect the template type, execution outcome and resulting document state. Preparation, approval, posting and payment are distinct steps.
Core accountingIs a bank feed the same as a reconciliation?
No. A feed supplies transaction information. Reconciliation compares the statement with book activity and explains outstanding differences.
Core accountingDoes the close cockpit replace professional review?
No. It organizes the accounting work. Materiality, accruals, estimates and the final sign-off still require the judgment of your finance team.
Financial operationsDoes a purchase order create an expense?
A commitment is not automatically an expense. Receiving, billing and posting determine the accounting treatment according to the configured workflow.
Financial operationsDoes quantity alone establish inventory value?
No. Costing method, value layers, dates and postings matter. Reconcile both quantities and financial valuation before relying on inventory reports.
Financial operationsIs this a payroll or full project-management replacement?
No such claim is made. These workspaces focus on project accounting, time and margin review. Validate scheduling, payroll and industry-specific requirements separately.
Financial operationsIs invoiced revenue always earned revenue?
No. Billing, cash collection and revenue recognition are distinct. The appropriate treatment depends on the contract and applicable accounting policy.
Financial operationsCan I use book depreciation as my tax depreciation?
Not automatically. Tax rules can differ from financial reporting. Review the required tax adjustments and schedules with your tax professional.
Financial operationsDoes approval mean reimbursement is complete?
No. Approval, accounting recognition and cash disbursement should be reviewed as separate events.
Planning & insightDoes every positive variance mean good performance?
No. Revenue and expense variances have different interpretations. Review the account type, sign convention and business explanation.
Planning & insightCan I just add together each entity’s statements?
Not always. Intercompany balances, currency translation and accounting-policy differences can require adjustments. Confirm the consolidation configuration and reconcile its output.
Planning & insightDoes a foreign-currency amount equal the base-currency amount?
No. Preserve the currency, exchange rate and date. Review realized and unrealized effects using the appropriate accounting workflow.
Platform & controlDoes an IOP login grant access to every company?
No. Identity establishes who the user is. Membership, book scope and effective permissions determine access to the accounting data.
Platform & controlDoes a successful sync mean all data was imported?
No. A successful run can cover only the supported object families and scope. Inspect coverage, exceptions, counts and reconciliation results before concluding that the dataset is complete.
Platform & controlDoes a tax report mean a return has been filed?
No. Preparation, review, filing and remittance are different steps. Confirm supported filing arrangements and keep evidence of acceptance outside any unverified workflow.
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