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# Set up your chart of accounts
Start your categories one of three ways: let AI draft a chart for your business, import the one you already have, or build it yourself one category at a time.
## Choose how to start
Your **chart of accounts** is the list of categories every transaction is filed under. When a company has none yet, the **Category Manager** shows **Set up your chart of accounts** with three choices.
1. In the left navigation, click **Accounting** › **Category Manager**.
2. Pick one of the three cards.
| Choice | Best when | What happens |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Generate with AI** | You're starting fresh and want a complete chart quickly | ZeraBooks drafts a numbered chart tailored to your business. You review everything before it's saved. See [Generate categories with AI](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/ledger-and-categories/generate-categories-with-ai). |
| **Import CSV, Excel, or PDF** | You're moving from QuickBooks, Xero, Sage or a spreadsheet | ZeraBooks reads your existing chart, and you review it before importing. See [Import a chart of accounts](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/ledger-and-categories/import-a-chart-of-accounts). |
| **Start from scratch** | You want to build every category yourself | You add your banks and cards, then the **New Category** form opens. See [Add, edit and deactivate categories](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/ledger-and-categories/add-edit-and-deactivate-categories). |
## Add your banks and cards first
Every path starts by asking for the bank accounts and credit cards you'll upload statements for. ZeraBooks never invents these; it only uses the real accounts you add.
1. Type a name you'll recognize, such as "Chase Checking" or "Amex Business Card". No full account number or bank login is needed.
2. Choose **Bank** or **Card**, and the currency if it isn't your home currency.
3. Click **Add account**, and repeat for each account.
4. Click **Continue**.
If you already have some accounts, ZeraBooks asks "Is that every account you'll upload statements for?" Click **Yes, that's all of them** or **No, I need to add more**.
{% hint style="info" %}
**Tip:** You can skip this step and add accounts later from **Banks & Cards**. On **Start from scratch**, the button reads **Skip for now** until you add an account. See [Add bank and credit-card accounts](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/banks-and-cards/add-bank-and-credit-card-accounts).
{% endhint %}
Only need to add a bank account or card, not categories? Click **Just need to add a bank or credit-card account?** under the three cards.
## Frequently Asked Questions
Which option should I pick?
If you have a chart of accounts in another system, import it so your categories stay the same. If you're starting a new business or a new set of books, **Generate with AI** is the fastest. Pick **Start from scratch** only if you want full control from the first category.
Can I change the categories after setup?
Yes. Add, rename, renumber or deactivate categories at any time in the **Category Manager**. You can also import more categories later: click the arrow next to **New Category**, then **Import Categories…**.
Why don't I see the three choices?
They only appear while the company has no categories of its own. Once you have a chart, use **New Category** to add categories, or its arrow for **Import Categories…**.
Does ZeraBooks connect to my bank when I add an account?
No. Adding an account only creates the place its statements go. You bring transactions in by uploading statements in **Banks & Cards**. See [Upload a statement](https://www.zerabooks.com/help/banks-and-cards/upload-a-statement).
Which currencies can a bank account or card use?
Your home currency, USD, CAD or EUR. Choose it before you upload: statements upload in the account's currency, and it locks once the first statement lands.
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