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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.openbook.to/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Congratulations! You’re ready to record your first transaction in OpenBook. This guide walks you through recording income from subscriptions, services, or any non-inventory revenue.
This guide is for Service DAOs (SaaS, subscriptions, consulting). If you’re running a retail DAO with inventory, skip to Add Resources instead.

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The Scenario: Zenland DAO’s First Income

Let’s record Zenland DAO’s first transaction:
DetailValue
DescriptionX Premium Membership - 1 Year
Amount$48.00 USD
Payment MethodPersonal debit card
DateFebruary 9, 2026
Early-stage DAO reality: When starting out, many DAO owners receive payments to their personal accounts. This is normal! The important thing is to record these transactions transparently so token holders can verify income.

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Understanding the Double-Entry

Every transaction in OpenBook uses double-entry accounting. For income, you’ll always:
  1. Debit an Asset account (where the money went)
  2. Credit a Revenue account (what type of income it is)
For Zenland’s X Premium membership: 
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ X Premium Membership - 1 Year                               │
│ Date: February 9, 2026                                      │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Account                         Debit        Credit         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ Owner's Personal Card           $48.00                      │
│ Service Revenue                              $48.00         │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ TOTAL                           $48.00       $48.00    ✓    │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Why this works:
  • Debit to Asset = Money increased in the owner’s personal account
  • Credit to Revenue = The DAO earned this income
The books balance because Debits = Credits.

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Recording the Transaction

1

Navigate to Transactions

Go to Accounting → Transactions in the sidebar.
2

Click New Transaction

Click the + New Transaction button.
3

Fill in Transaction Details

Enter the basic information:
  • Date: Select the date the payment was received
  • Description: X Premium Membership - 1 Year
  • Location: Select your location (e.g., “Zenland Office”)
The description should be clear enough that anyone (including token holders) can understand what this income is for.
4

Add the Debit Entry (Asset)

In the Ledger Entries section, add the first line:
  • Account: Select Owner's Personal Card (or Bank Account)
  • Debit: 48.00
  • Credit: Leave empty
This records where the money went.
5

Add the Credit Entry (Revenue)

Add the second line:
  • Account: Select Service Revenue
  • Debit: Leave empty
  • Credit: 48.00
This records the type of income earned.
6

Verify Balance

OpenBook will show a balance indicator:
  • ✅ Balanced - Total Debits = Total Credits (ready to save)
  • ❌ Unbalanced - Fix your entries before saving
7

Add Attachment (Optional)

Attach proof of the transaction:
  • Screenshot of payment confirmation
  • Invoice or receipt
  • Bank statement showing the deposit
Attachments increase transparency and make it easier for token holders to verify transactions.
8

Save Transaction

Click Save Transaction.🎉 Congratulations! You’ve recorded your first income transaction.

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What Happens Behind the Scenes

When you save the transaction, OpenBook:
  1. Validates that debits equal credits
  2. Creates immutable ledger entries
  3. Updates account balances
  4. Generates a transaction number (e.g., TXN-ZEN01-2026-0001)

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Viewing Your Transaction

After saving, you can:
  • See it in Accounting → Transactions
  • View account impact in Accounting → Chart of Accounts
  • See it reflected in reports (Trial Balance, P&L)

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Common Income Scenarios

Here are templates for common service DAO income: 
Description: Pro Subscription - March 2026
Date: March 1, 2026

Debit:  Bank Account          $29.00
Credit: Service Revenue               $29.00

Description: Strategy Consulting - Client XYZ
Date: February 15, 2026

Debit:  Bank Account          $500.00
Credit: Service Revenue               $500.00

Description: Token Sale - 1000 DAO Tokens
Date: February 20, 2026

Debit:  Crypto Wallet (ETH)   $1,000.00
Credit: Token Sale Revenue            $1,000.00

Description: Ecosystem Grant from Foundation
Date: February 25, 2026

Debit:  Bank Account          $5,000.00
Credit: Grant Income                  $5,000.00

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Correction Window

Important: Transactions can only be edited within the correction window (default: 24 hours). After that, you must create a void transaction to make corrections.
This ensures:
  • Immutability of historical records
  • Clear audit trail
  • Token holders can trust that past transactions weren’t secretly modified

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For Token Holders

As a token holder, you can verify:
  • ✅ The transaction description matches the actual service
  • ✅ The amount matches market rates
  • ✅ Attachments provide proof of the transaction
  • ✅ The accounts used make sense (Asset + Revenue)
All transactions are visible on the public transparency dashboard.

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Summary: Zenland DAO First Transaction

StepWhat We Did
1. Register DAOConnected Zenland’s CreateDAO.org DAO
2. Create Legal Entity”Zenland Unregistered” with USD currency
3. Create Location”Zenland Office” (virtual)
4. Set Up AccountsVerified COA, added “Owner’s Personal Card”
5. Record IncomeX Premium Membership - $48

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What’s Next?

Record an Expense

Learn how to record expenses like subscriptions, tools, and services

View Reports

See your P&L and Balance Sheet with your new transaction
Running a Retail DAO? If you need to track inventory and sales, continue with the next steps: Add Resources → Create Products → First Sale.