Financial Accounting — The Hybrid Method with LedgerLoom

Subtitle: Stop Guessing. Start Reconciling. Version: 1.0 (compatible with LedgerLoom v0.3.0)

This workbook teaches intro financial accounting using a simple hybrid workflow:

1. Draft your work in Google Sheets (fast, visual).

2. Verify your work with LedgerLoom (strict, deterministic).

3. Reconcile any differences until they match (proof, not vibes).

Our running case (the “business behind the numbers”)

Ch01–Ch04 follow a tiny service business — Harborview Bike Repair — through its first month of operations (January 2026).

You’ll see a realistic mix of events: owner funding, supplies and equipment purchases, cash + invoice revenue (A/R), payables (A/P), month-end adjustments, and finally closing the books into Equity:RetainedEarnings.

The numbers are intentionally small and clean so you can focus on reasoning:

• No sales tax/VAT/GST, no payroll, no bank fees.

• A minimal chart of accounts (we add complexity only when the chapter needs it).

Start here

Start here

• Student Quick Start (Linux, Windows, macOS)
• Workbook Learning Path (Spreadsheet + LedgerLoom)
• Workbook Onboarding: What is LedgerLoom?
• Workbook Project Layout (Files and Folders)
• Workbook Artifacts Reference
• Workbook Troubleshooting

Chapters (Ch01–Ch04)

Chapters

• Ch01A — Startup
• Ch01B — Accounting equation + transactions
• Ch02 — Journal to trial balance
• Ch03 — Adjusting entries
• Ch04 — Closing + post-close trial balance

Optional tracks and packs

These pages are optional “side quests” (helpful, but not required to finish Ch01–Ch04).

Optional tracks and packs

• Spreadsheet-First Track (No LedgerLoom Yet)
• Spreadsheet Walkthrough: Chapters 1–4 (No LedgerLoom)
• Spreadsheet-First Build Guide (Ch01–Ch04)
• Workbook Data Pack (Canonical Inputs)
• Optional: Check Your Work Packs (Ch01–Ch04)
• Workbook Ch01 — Startup (solution pack)
• Workbook Ch02 — Journal → Trial Balance (solution pack)
• Workbook Ch03 — Adjusting entries (solution pack)
• Workbook Ch04 — Closing + post-close TB (solution pack)
• Introduction: The zero-cost stack