Double-entry GL accounting, automated billing, and financial reports — built for HOA boards, not CPAs.
A real general ledger, not a glorified spreadsheet. Every feature below is included on the Pro plan.
Start with 26 pre-configured accounts covering assets, liabilities, equity, revenue, and expenses. They're the same accounts your CPA expects to see. Add custom accounts when you need them, or rename the defaults to match your existing books.
Every transaction posts to the GL automatically. Dues payments, fines, vendor invoices, special assessments — they all create proper debit/credit entries that balance to zero. Need a manual adjustment? Create journal entries directly with as many lines as you want.
Trial balance, income statement (P&L), balance sheet, general ledger detail, and budget vs. actual. Pick a date range, click generate, and export to PDF. These are the reports your accountant asks for at tax time and your board needs at every meeting.
Build annual budgets with line items mapped to your GL accounts. Set a budget for landscaping, insurance, reserves, utilities — whatever your community spends on. Copy last year's budget as a starting point and adjust. The board approval workflow keeps everyone aligned.
Already using QBO? Connect with one click and import your chart of accounts, transaction history, and opening balances. Board members authorize the connection directly from the portal — no admin help needed. Tokens are AES-256 encrypted.
Upload CSV or OFX/QFX files from any bank. The system parses dates, descriptions, and amounts automatically, then runs three-tier auto-categorization: your custom rules first, built-in keyword patterns second, and anything unmatched goes to a review queue. You approve before anything posts.
From the moment a homeowner clicks "Pay" to the line item on your budget report — every step is automatic.
Credit card or ACH through Stripe. The payment clears and a receipt goes out by email.
Cash (debit) and dues revenue (credit) — a balanced double-entry journal entry, no manual work.
The income statement, trial balance, and balance sheet all reflect the new payment immediately.
Your budget vs. actual report shows how collected revenue compares to what you planned for the year.
Spreadsheets work until they don't. QuickBooks wasn't built for HOAs. Management companies cost 3-5x more. Here's how we stack up.
| Feature | Effortless HOA | Spreadsheets | QuickBooks Only | Management Co. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Double-entry general ledger | — | |||
| Auto-posting from dues and fines | — | — | ||
| HOA-specific chart of accounts | — | — | ||
| Budget vs. actual report | Manual | |||
| Bank statement import | — | Varies | ||
| Homeowner portal included | — | — | Varies | |
| Online dues collection | — | — | Extra fee | |
| Board self-service | — | |||
| Cost for 100-home community | $300-600/mo | Free | $90+/mo | $1,000-2,000+/mo |
Common questions about HOA accounting with Effortless HOA
Effortless HOA handles the debits and credits. You handle the community.
See Pricing