Pocket Accountant
Frequently asked questions
A little clarity for your everyday books. Browse by topic or search for the answer you need.
What is Pocket Accountant?
Pocket Accountant helps freelancers and small businesses keep income, expenses, receipts, invoices, and business finances organized in one place.
Who is Pocket Accountant designed for?
It’s designed for freelancers, independent professionals, and small business owners who want a clearer view of their everyday finances.
Can I use it for freelance work?
Yes! Use it to organize client invoices, business expenses, receipts, and trips alongside your other bookkeeping records.
Is it useful when I’m starting a business?
Yes. You can begin with your current records and build a bookkeeping routine as your business grows.
Do I need an accounting background?
You can start with everyday records. If you’re unsure how to classify something, ask for guidance before finalizing it.
How do I create an account?
Visit pocketaccountant.app, create your account, verify your email, and follow the business setup steps.
What should I have ready for setup?
Have your business details and the financial records you want to enter handy. You can add more records later.
Can I change my business information later?
Yes. Update your business information in Settings or revisit the Setup Wizard when your details change.
Do I need to enter my entire business history?
No. Start with the period you want to organize, then add earlier records as needed.
Can I move from spreadsheets to Pocket Accountant?
You can start recording activity in Pocket Accountant. Choose a clear starting date and check existing entries to avoid recording the same activity twice.
Can I use Pocket Accountant on a computer?
Yes. You can access Pocket Accountant through your desktop or laptop’s web browser.
Can I use it on an iPhone?
Yes. Open pocketaccountant.app in your iPhone’s browser to use the mobile-friendly web app.
Can I use it on Android?
Yes. You can use the web app on Android, and the Android app uses the same Pocket Accountant account.
Can I use it on a tablet?
Yes. The web interface adapts to tablets as well as phones and desktop screens.
Do I need a separate account for each device?
No. Sign in with the same Pocket Accountant account when using another device.
Do I have to install an app?
No. You can use Pocket Accountant directly through a web browser.
Can I sign in with Google?
Yes. Pocket Accountant supports Google sign-in as well as email and password.
What if I don’t receive my verification email?
Check your spam folder and confirm the email address you entered. If it still hasn’t arrived, contact hello@pocketaccountant.app.
What if I forget my password?
Use the password-recovery option on the sign-in screen and follow the email instructions.
What should I do if I can’t sign in?
Check your email and sign-in method. If the issue continues, send the error message to hello@pocketaccountant.app without including your password.
Is there a free plan?
Yes! Starter is $0 and includes core bookkeeping tools.
What does Starter include?
Starter includes a dashboard, transactions, chart of accounts, journal entries, invoices, bills, customer and vendor records, and manual mileage.
Is Starter just a free trial?
No. Starter is the free plan. You can upgrade when you need Pro features.
What does Pro add?
Pro adds bank feeds, reconciliation, financial reports, budgets, Pocket Assistant, receipt and bill autofill, route planning, and tax-planning assistance.
How much does Pro cost?
Website pricing is $20 monthly or $198 yearly. Check checkout for the price that applies to your purchase.
Is annual billing available?
Yes. Website annual billing is $198 upfront, saving $42 compared with twelve $20 monthly payments.
Where can I upgrade or manage my subscription?
Open Upgrade while signed in. Manage app-store purchases through the store that billed you.
Can I cancel Pro?
Yes. Cancel through your billing provider. Pro continues until the applicable paid period ends.
What happens after Pro ends?
Your account returns to Starter. Canceling Pro and deleting your account are separate actions.
How do I ask about a refund?
Contact the provider that billed you. For website billing help, email hello@pocketaccountant.app. Refund eligibility depends on the applicable terms.
Can I connect my bank?
Yes. Pro supports connections to eligible financial institutions through Plaid.
Do I have to connect a bank account?
No. You can enter your records manually without connecting a bank.
Will my bank be supported?
Search for your institution in the connection flow. Availability depends on the institution and the connection options offered.
Are bank transactions automatically approved?
You review bank activity and choose what to approve and import into your books.
Can Pocket Accountant help categorize transactions?
Yes. Pro offers categorization guidance so you can review the suggested activity and account before completing a record.
What if a suggested category looks wrong?
Choose the category that fits the transaction’s purpose. Ask for help if you’re unsure before approving it.
How can I avoid duplicate transactions?
Compare the date, amount, and merchant with your existing records before importing or entering the same activity again.
Why might my bank feed and bookkeeping totals differ?
Check the dates, approved imports, missing entries, and duplicates first. A bank-feed item may still need review before entering your books.
What if my bank connection stops working?
Check Bank Feed for connection instructions. If you’re still stuck, email support with the bank name and error message.
Does disconnecting a bank erase earlier transactions?
Previously imported records may remain. Disconnecting generally stops future syncing; it is separate from deleting your bookkeeping records.
Can I upload receipts on Starter?
Yes. Manual receipt uploads are available on all plans. Pro adds AI Scan & Autofill.
Which receipt file types can I upload?
The receipt uploader accepts JPG, PNG, WEBP, and PDF files.
Can I photograph a paper receipt?
Yes. You can use the receipt capture option on a compatible device or upload a clear receipt photo.
What can AI receipt scanning help fill in?
Pro can help fill in receipt details such as the merchant, date, and amount. Review the results before saving.
Can I enter receipt details myself?
Yes. Manual upload lets you enter and review the details yourself, without AI scanning.
How do I review several uploaded receipts?
After a multiple-file upload, use Previous and Next to review each receipt and its details.
Can I attach a receipt to an existing transaction?
Yes. You can attach it to an existing transaction instead of creating another entry for the same purchase.
Does uploading a receipt finish recording the expense?
Review its details and account, then create a transaction or attach it to the correct existing transaction.
How can I improve receipt scanning results?
Use a clear, well-lit image showing the full receipt. Avoid glare, blur, folds, and cropped totals.
What if a receipt upload fails?
Check the file format and any size warning, then retry. If it still fails, send support the error message and file type.
Can I create customer invoices?
Yes. Pocket Accountant includes tools for creating professional invoices and organizing customer records.
Can I keep track of customer payments?
Yes. Invoice tools help you keep payment activity and amounts owed in view.
Can I track invoice due dates?
Yes. Keep invoice due dates accurate so you can review what’s coming due.
What should I check before sending an invoice?
Check the customer details, description, amounts, due date, and payment instructions before sending it.
What should I do about an overdue invoice?
Confirm the invoice is still unpaid, then send your customer a clear reminder with the invoice number and balance.
Can I record business bills?
Yes. You can record bills and track vendor details, due dates, and payment activity.
Can I keep customer details in the app?
Yes. Pocket Accountant includes customer records to support your invoicing workflow.
Can I organize vendor information?
Yes. Vendor records help you keep the businesses you buy from organized alongside their bills.
Can the app help fill in bill details?
Yes. Pro includes bill scan autofill. Check the extracted details against the original bill before saving.
What’s the difference between an invoice and a bill?
An invoice requests payment from your customer. A bill records an amount your business owes a supplier.
Which financial reports can I review?
Pro includes Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow reports.
What does a Profit & Loss report show?
It summarizes recorded income and expenses for a period, helping you understand the resulting profit or loss.
What does a Balance Sheet show?
It shows the business’s assets, liabilities, and equity at a particular date.
What does a Cash Flow report show?
It helps you understand movements of cash into and out of the business over a period.
Can I choose the dates for my reports?
Yes. Select the reporting period and check it before comparing totals.
Can I share reports with my accountant?
Yes. Export supported reports as PDF or CSV, then share the files with your accountant.
Why doesn’t profit equal my bank balance?
Profit and cash measure different things. Timing, unpaid invoices, borrowing, and other movements can make the amounts differ.
Why might a report look incomplete?
Check the date range and whether the relevant records have been entered, reviewed, and included correctly.
What does reconciliation help me do?
Reconciliation helps you compare records and investigate differences. Pro includes a Reconciliation Center.
What should I check when reconciliation doesn’t balance?
Start with the same account and period. Check opening balances, missing entries, duplicates, and timing before making corrections.
What is Pocket Assistant?
Pocket Assistant provides AI guidance for supported bookkeeping tasks and helps you review suggested financial activity and account choices.
What kinds of questions can I ask Pocket Assistant?
Try a specific question such as, “How should I categorize this purchase?” Include the business purpose and review the suggestion.
Does Pocket Assistant make decisions for me?
You stay in control. Review its suggestions before applying them to your records.
Can I ask for simpler explanations?
Yes. Ask a focused question in plain language, and request a simpler explanation if the answer is unclear.
What if an AI suggestion is incorrect?
Don’t apply it. Check the original record, correct the details, or ask a qualified professional when needed.
Does Pocket Accountant replace my accountant?
It supports recordkeeping and understanding your numbers. An accountant can help with judgment, complex issues, and professional advice.
What should I include in a bookkeeping question?
Describe what happened, the amount, date, and business purpose. Leave out passwords and unrelated sensitive information.
Why should I review scanned or suggested information?
A wrong date, amount, or category can affect your records. A quick review helps catch mistakes before they spread.
What’s a simple weekly bookkeeping routine?
Review recent activity, check receipts, confirm customer payments and bills, and investigate anything you don’t recognize.
How can I prepare for a conversation with my accountant?
Review your records, list unresolved questions, and gather the reports and supporting documents relevant to the period.
Can I track business mileage?
Yes. Starter includes manual mileage records, and Pro adds route planning and mileage assistance.
What information should I keep for a business trip?
Record the trip date, business purpose, route, and distance. Keep enough detail to understand the trip later.
Can Pocket Accountant help plan a driving route?
Yes. Pro includes mileage route planning with Google Maps.
Should I rely only on a planned route’s distance?
Review the estimate against the trip you actually drove. Detours and changed stops can affect the distance.
What if I forgot to record a trip?
Use reliable records to reconstruct the trip details. Avoid guessing or treating an uncertain estimate as a confirmed distance.
Can I create a business budget?
Yes. Pro includes budgeting tools to plan spending and compare actual results with your budget.
What does comparing actuals with a budget help me see?
It shows where recorded results differ from your plan, giving you a starting point for questions and adjustments.
Can Pocket Accountant help with tax planning?
Pro includes tax-estimate and planning assistance to support your preparation and discussions with a tax professional.
Are tax estimates guaranteed to match my final tax bill?
No. Estimates depend on the information and assumptions used. Review them with a tax professional for your situation.
How often should I review my budget?
A monthly review is a practical starting point. Revisit it sooner when your income, expenses, or plans change.
Can I add extra protection to my account?
Yes. Enable multi-factor authentication in Settings and use a unique password.
Will support ever need my password?
No. Never send your password or verification codes in a Facebook message, email, or support request.
What if I suspect someone accessed my account?
Reset your password, review security settings, and contact hello@pocketaccountant.app.
Does Pocket Accountant sell my personal information?
Pocket Accountant’s Privacy Policy states that it does not sell your personal information.
Who owns the business records I enter?
You own the content you submit. Pocket Accountant processes it as described in its Terms and Privacy Policy.
Can I request account deletion?
Yes. Open Settings and follow the Delete Account instructions, including the displayed deadline and billing notice.
What should I do before deleting my account?
Export the records you need and review any subscription instructions. Completed account deletion cannot be reversed.
How can I contact support?
Email hello@pocketaccountant.app with a short description of what you need help with.
What should I include when reporting a problem?
Share the page, device, browser, steps taken, and error message. Hide sensitive details in screenshots.
Where can I read the privacy and terms policies?
Visit pocketaccountant.app/privacy for the Privacy Policy and pocketaccountant.app/terms for the Terms and Conditions.