Family Office Chart of Accounts Template (Free Download)

Download our free Family Office Chart of Accounts template above. It works for single-family and multi-family offices. It includes four ready-to-use charts in one Excel workbook.‍

What Is a Chart of Accounts?

A chart of accounts (COA) is the list of every account in your general ledger. Each account has a unique number and name, and each one maps to the Balance Sheet or the Income Statement. When your team records a transaction, the COA tells them where it goes.

‍Why It Matters for a Family Office

Every report you produce starts with the COA. If the structure is weak, your team spends the close reclassifying transactions and explaining numbers to principals.

Family offices track more than a typical business does: multiple entities and custodians, partnership interests, intercompany loans and household spending. A clear COA gives each item a defined home. Your books reconcile faster, and your reports hold up to review.

‍What's in the Template

The workbook has four tabs. Start with the one that matches how you keep your books today.

  • Simplified: A conventional COA that produces a clean Balance Sheet and Income Statement from day one.
  • Combined: One general ledger for the family, its operating vehicles and its investment funds.
  • Family: Personal and household finances for a UHNW family, with numbered slots for specific custodians, entities and properties.
  • Funds: Fund entities with LP and GP capital, including co-investment and holding vehicles.

The Simplified tab covers these core groups:

  • Cash and equivalents (10000 to 12000): Checking, money market and brokerage accounts.
  • Investments and other assets (17000 to 19000): Notes receivable, partnership investments, S-Corp investments and long-term holdings.
  • Liabilities (21000 to 27000): Accounts payable, credit cards, accrued expenses and taxes, payroll liabilities and notes payable.
  • Equity (30000 to 39000): Paid-in capital, partner contributions and distributions, and retained earnings.
  • Revenue and operating expenses (40000 to 51050): Revenue, plus overhead from advertising to utilities.
  • Other income and expenses (60000 to 81000): Realized gains and losses, interest, dividends, tax-exempt income and investment income.‍

How to Structure Your Family Office COA

  1. Use a consistent numbering system. The template uses these ranges:
    • 10000 to 19999: Assets
    • 20000 to 29999: Liabilities
    • 30000 to 39999: Equity
    • 40000 to 49999: Revenue
    • 50000 to 59999: Operating Expenses
    • 60000 to 79999: Other Income
    • 80000 to 89999: Other Expenses
  2. Use five digits. Five digits leave room for sub-accounts without renumbering. In the Family tab, for example, 10101 Schwab 1 sits under 10100 Charles Schwab.
  3. Leave gaps between accounts. The template steps by 50 or 100, so you can add accounts later without breaking the order.
  4. Use dimensions for detail. Tag entities, properties and custodians with dimensions instead of adding a new account for each one. Your chart stays short and your reports stay flexible.
  5. Park unknowns in one place. Post unclassified items to Ask My Accountant (80000), and clear it before every close.‍

Need Help Mapping Your Books?

Our team can help you adapt this template to your entities during onboarding. Schedule a walkthrough.