Company accounting: start here

This guide is for a German GmbH or UG (haftungsbeschränkt) using Norman's web app. It is not a workflow for a GmbH & Co. KG, KG or another partnership. Do not select GmbH to make an unsupported legal form fit.

Start in Accounting → Setup. Setup brings together the workspaces you need; it is not a requirement to complete every card in order before recording anything.

1. Set up your books

1. Check your company details, including legal form and the fiscal period you want to work on.
2. Choose your route. Moving from another system? Start with Opening & migration: Norman can detect an SKR from the documents for you to review. Starting without old books? Choose SKR03 or SKR04 and use the new-company opening workflow where appropriate.
3. Reconcile the opening balances before continuing the same period through bank imports. Complete any missing company details before the step that requires them.

2. Keep the books current

• Invoices, receipts and transactions are your everyday work.
• Bank-to-Ledger mappings keep separate payment accounts visible in your books.
• Assets and depreciation apply when the company owns fixed assets.
• Managing-director payroll is optional and has its own scope and filing restrictions.

3. Review, close and file

1. Review and export the Ledger.
2. Prepare the annual close, resolve errors and review the test preview before locking.
3. Submit E-Bilanz when ready. Disclosure is a separate process.
4. Prepare the applicable tax returns. An E-Bilanz submission does not submit every tax return.

If you get stuck

Use Ask AI where it is shown to open contextual help. State your selected year, starting point and exact error. Ask for an explanation before requesting changes.

For unresolved accounting treatment, involve your tax advisor. For a product error, send support the affected screen, period and error text. Do not send passwords or access tokens.