Files Guide · v1.1

Which Files Do I Need?

The reports your bookkeeper exports each month, how to set them up in QuickBooks, and what each dashboard uses.

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1. The standard monthly package

Export every report as Excel or CSV with no filters, for the same company, period and accounting method.
#ReportSettingUsed by
1Profit and LossDisplay columns by Months, full periodAlmost every dashboard
2Balance SheetDisplay columns by Months, ending on the last day of the periodAlmost every dashboard
3Statement of Cash FlowsSame period, by Months if QuickBooks offers itCash Flow & Receivables, Cash Reconciliation, Lender Snapshot
4A/R Aging SummaryAs of the last day of the periodCash Flow & Receivables, Cash Reconciliation
5A/P Aging SummaryAs of the last day of the periodCash Flow & Receivables, Cash Reconciliation
6Expenses by Vendor SummarySame period, Total columnCost Center, Tax Preparation Readiness
7Profit and Loss by Class (and/or by Location)Same period, one total per classCost Center
8Sales by Customer SummarySame period, Total columnRevenue Analysis
9Budget (optional)Budgets vs. Actuals export, or two columns: Account, BudgetBudget vs Actual

2. Which dashboard uses which files

You can drop the whole package (or pick the whole folder). Each dashboard uses what it needs and ignores the rest.
DashboardNeedsOptional
Business (CFO)
CFO Financial Performance ReportProfit & Loss, Balance Sheet (total or by Months)Cash Flow, client profile
Monthly Trend & ForecastProfit & Loss by MonthsBalance Sheet by Months (for the cash charts)
Capital & Investment ReadinessProfit & Loss, Balance SheetMonthly versions add the worst-stretch chart
Break-even & PricingProfit & LossBy Months adds the month-by-month check
Cash Flow & ReceivablesStatement of Cash FlowsP&L, Balance Sheet, A/R Aging, A/P Aging
Budget vs ActualProfit & LossBudget file
Lender SnapshotProfit & Loss, Balance SheetStatement of Cash Flows
13-Week Cash ForecastProfit & Loss, Balance SheetMonthly versions add seasonality
KPI ScorecardProfit & LossBalance Sheet; monthly versions add trends
Tax PlanningProfit & LossBalance Sheet
Wealth & Planning
Goals & Risk Profile, Retirement, Allocation, EstateNo QuickBooks files. The client types in their own figuresClient profile
Net Worth, Owner Total Picture, Business Exit, Insurance ReviewNo QuickBooks files neededProfit & Loss (fills in owner pay and business value)
CPA & Compliance
P&L Variance ReviewProfit & Loss by MonthsNone
Revenue AnalysisProfit & Loss (by Months is best)Sales by Customer Summary
Cost CenterP&L by Class or Location, or Expenses by Vendor SummaryThe other one
Cash & Working Capital ReconciliationStatement of Cash Flows and Balance SheetP&L, A/R Aging, A/P Aging
Monthly Close & Books QualityProfit & Loss by Months and Balance Sheet by MonthsNone yet
Tax Preparation ReadinessProfit & LossBalance Sheet, Expenses by Vendor Summary
Income & Payroll Tax CalendarProfit & LossBalance Sheet

3. How to name and store the files

Folder: Clients / ClientName / 2026 / 2026-09 /
File names: ClientName_PL_by_Month_Oct2025-Sep2026.xlsx, ClientName_BalanceSheet_by_Month_Oct2025-Sep2026.xlsx, and so on, using the same names every month.
Share each client’s folder with that client only, by name. Never use an "anyone with the link" setting for financial files.

4. If something does not work

What you seeWhat to do
It says only 1 column was foundThe report was exported with "Total only". Export it again with Display columns by: Months.
A file was skippedThe page picks out the files it needs and lists the rest. If a needed file was skipped, check the report name at the top of the file.
"Files appear to come from different companies"One file belongs to another client. Check the company name at the top of each file, or press Clear loaded files and start again.
"Does not match the business on your profile"You may have picked another client’s folder. Confirm the business name on your profile.
A dashboard asks for files againFiles stay loaded while you stay in the same browser tab. Closing the tab, signing out, or pressing Clear loaded files removes them. They are never uploaded anywhere.
Excel did not loadExport the report as CSV instead.
Your files are read inside your own browser and are not uploaded or stored by the dashboards.