Plus & Minus Tutorials

Welcome to the Plus & Minus Tutorials hub. This is where we break down core accounting concepts and show you how to structure your system so management gets the information it needs to run the company.

Getting Started Tutorials

• Chart of Accounts Tutorial: How to Design Your Chart of Accounts —
  Learn what a chart of accounts is, how the five major account categories work, and how to assign account numbers that make reporting easier.
• Debits and Credits in Accounting Software —
  A practical, plain-English explanation of how debits and credits work inside accounting software and how they affect your financial statements.
  (Watch the video)

Core Accounting Guides

• Mastering Journal Entries: From Manual Records to Digital Debits and Credits —
  How journal entries work, from handwritten records to the debits and credits inside accounting software.
• Year-End Close Checklist: 10 Essential Steps for Accountants —
  Ten steps for closing the books accurately before tax season.

Job Costing and Inventory

• Job Costing in Construction, Part 1: Tracking Costs and Profit —
  Set up job cost tracking so you are ready for the questions every project raises.
• Job Costing in Construction, Part 2: Revenues and Income Statements —
  How to record revenues and produce income statements for your jobs.
• Death by Inventory: Beating the 25% Carrying Cost —
  Why inventory costs money even when it sits on the shelf, and how to bring that cost down.
• What to Look for in Inventory Software —
  Three questions to ask any inventory software vendor before you commit.

Switching Systems

• Five Signs Your Business Has Outgrown QuickBooks (And What to Do Next) —
  How to tell when entry-level software has become the bottleneck.
• How to Buy Accounting Software: 4 Critical Questions to Ask Before You Buy —
  Four questions to ask a vendor before you commit.
• What Happens After You Buy —
  The Plus & Minus onboarding process step by step, from pre-conversion review and data mapping to training and support.

If you are evaluating accounting software as well as learning the fundamentals, you may also find these resources helpful:

• Best Accounting Software for Small Businesses (2026 Guide)
• Plus & Minus as a QuickBooks Alternative
• Free Tools: assessments, calculators, and checklists