Spreadsheet-First Track (No LedgerLoom Yet)

This section teaches you how to complete Workbook Chapters 1–4 using only a spreadsheet (Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice Calc).

Why do this first?

LedgerLoom is like a “spelling and grammar checker” for accounting work: it can catch mistakes and enforce rules, but it should never replace your understanding. If you can build the accounting cycle in a spreadsheet first, then LedgerLoom becomes easy to interpret.

What you will build in your spreadsheet

By the end of this section, you will be able to:

1. Record transactions as journal entries (debits and credits).

2. Summarize the journal into an unadjusted trial balance.

3. Add adjusting entries and produce an adjusted trial balance.

4. Create closing entries and produce a post-close trial balance.

LedgerLoom will later verify these same steps automatically.

Key accounting rules (keep these visible)

Rule 1 — Debits must equal credits in every entry. If an entry is unbalanced, it is not valid double-entry accounting.

Rule 2 — The trial balance is the “whole book in one table.” If your journal is correct, then your trial balance totals will match: Total Debits = Total Credits.

Rule 3 — Adjusting entries do not change cash. They update accrual-based balances (prepaids, accruals, depreciation, etc.).

Rule 4 — Closing resets temporary accounts. Revenue, expenses, and dividends/draws should be zero after closing. Only balance sheet accounts remain in the post-close trial balance.

Your spreadsheet layout (recommended)

Optional template (download): LedgerLoom Workbook spreadsheet template (XLSX)

Optional CSV-aligned template (download): LedgerLoom Workbook CSV-aligned template (XLSX)

See also: Optional: Check Your Work Pack (Ch01 Startup) (optional completed spreadsheet + reference outputs). Create a workbook with these tabs:

• COA (Chart of Accounts)

• Journal_Transactions

• Journal_Adjustments

• Ledger (optional but helpful)

• TB_Unadjusted

• TB_Adjusted

• Closing

• TB_PostClose

You can do this in any spreadsheet software. The goal is clarity, not fancy formatting.

Chart of Accounts (COA) tab

Create a COA table with at least these columns:

• Account

• Type (Asset / Liability / Equity / Revenue / Expense / Dividends-or-Draws)

• NormalBalance (Debit or Credit)

This COA becomes your “dictionary.” Every journal line must use a valid Account from the COA.

Journal format (Transactions + Adjustments)

Both journal tabs should use the same structure:

• Date

• EntryID (a unique ID per entry; example: T001, T002, A001…)

• Memo

• Account

• Debit

• Credit

Each entry can have multiple lines, but all lines with the same EntryID must balance: Sum(Debit) = Sum(Credit).

How this connects to LedgerLoom later

LedgerLoom uses CSV templates that mirror this journal structure. When you later run LedgerLoom, you will:

1. Fill the same journal data (usually in a spreadsheet),

2. Export to CSV, and

3. Run ledgerloom check and ledgerloom build to verify your work.

In other words: you do the accounting; LedgerLoom checks it.