Hello there, @skerr@trumbullna.
I'd be happy to share with you the steps in correcting beginning balance error in QuickBooks Online (QBO).
Before we proceed, allow me to provide factors that cause incorrect beginning balance:
- An incorrect opening balance is entered when the QBO account is created.
- There are added transactions that are older than the opening balance but the original opening balance entry has not been edited to reflect the change.
- Reconciled transactions are edited, deleted, moved, or unreconciled. This changes the ending balance of your last reconciliation, which impacts the beginning balance of the next one.
- Transactions are manually reconciled, so they didn't show up on the next reconciliation.
To fix this, let's first review your original opening balance. It will affect all following reconciliations if it’s incorrect.
Once done, you'll now have to check your bank statement to confirm you're reconciling the correct account and month.
Then, you also have to ensure that all of your transactions are categorized before you begin reconciling.
Next, you have to review any discrepancy report and make the necessary changes to correct the balance.
Once everything is fine, you can now start reconciling.
For more details about the process above, please see this article: Fix issues for accounts you've reconciled in the past in QuickBooks Online. This also includes a guide on the things you need to review once the reconciliation is done.
Also, getting a handy copy of your previous reconciliation report is a breeze. This will serve as your guide to avoid mistakes in doing future reconciliation.
If you have any other concerns about fixing the beginning balance issue, feel free to add a reply below. I'd be happy to assist you once more. Take care always.
