> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.ezyiah.com.au/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Adding Opening Balance
> Bring a client's existing account balances into Ezyiah as a balanced opening journal
When you take on a client who already has a trading history, Ezyiah needs to know where their accounts stood on day one. That's what an opening balance is: a single balanced journal, dated to the start of a financial year, that sets every account's starting position before Ezyiah takes over reconciling.
## Finding Opening Balance
Select the client from the sidebar, either by searching for them or picking them from **All Clients**.
Under **Client Info** in the sidebar, click **Opening Balance**. This opens a screen split into two parts: the **Opening Balance Journals** already posted, and a **Balances by Account** breakdown showing every account in the client's chart of accounts.
## Reviewing balances by account
Before posting anything, this screen is worth a look on its own. **Balances by Account** lists every account the client's Chart of Accounts contains, grouped under headings like **Assets** and **Liabilities**, each with its code, name, and type. Every account shows a **Debit** and **Credit** column, both blank until an opening balance affects that account.
Use the **Financial Year** selector at the top to choose which year you're setting balances for. Opening balances are always dated 1 July of the financial year you choose, since that's the start of the Australian financial year.
Check this screen after posting a journal too. Once you've posted an opening balance, the affected accounts here show their debit or credit amount directly, so you can confirm everything landed where you expected.
## Adding an opening balance journal
An opening balance journal works the same way as any other journal in Ezyiah: it needs at least two lines, and total debits must equal total credits before you can post it.
Click **Add Opening Balances** in the top right corner. The Add Opening Balances dialog opens.
Confirm the **Financial Year** this opening balance applies to, and add an optional **Reference** if you want one on record. A note in the dialog confirms opening balances are dated 1 July of the year you choose.
For each account with an opening balance, search for the account and enter either a **Debit** or a **Credit** amount, not both. Click **+ Opening Balance Line** to add as many lines as you need.
A typical example is bringing in a director loan: debit **Cash on Hand** for the amount held in the bank, and credit a liability account like **Director Loan** for the same amount, since the business owes that cash back to the director.
The panel on the right tracks **Total Debits**, **Total Credits**, and **Out of balance** as you type. Out of balance must reach **\$0.00** before you can post, since every opening balance has to be a genuine double-entry journal.
Once the entry balances, click **Post Opening Balances**. The journal appears under **Opening Balance Journals** with its reference, financial year, total debits and credits, and number of lines. Click it to expand and see each line with its date, debit, and credit. The affected accounts in **Balances by Account** update immediately below.