Quick start — Your first 10 minutes
This section walks you through the fastest, safest way to set up Ledger Start and record your first transactions. If you only have a few minutes, follow these 5 clear steps and return later for advanced options.
Step-by-step
- Download the official package from a verified source and verify cryptographic signatures if available.
- Create your first account: choose a recognizable name and set a strong passphrase.
- Back up your recovery phrase to an offline, fire-proof medium—never store it in cloud storage.
- Enter a sample transaction to familiarize yourself with the fields (date, category, amount, notes).
- Review the ledger summary and export a backup (CSV/Excel) to your device.
Why these steps matter
Following these steps ensures you have a recoverable account, clear audit trails, and a safe backup strategy. Ledger Start is powerful and lightweight, but defaults assume you know how to secure credentials—this checklist helps close that gap.
Installation & setup
System requirements
Ledger Start runs on Windows, macOS, and Linux. For Office-style integration, export features generate standard CSV and XLSX files compatible with Microsoft Office and Google Workspace.
Install
Download the installer for your platform, open it, and follow the GUI prompts. If you prefer command line installation on Linux, use the package manager commands provided in the release notes.
Office export and links
To use Ledger Start files in Microsoft Office: export an XLSX, then open it in Excel. For direct collaboration, create a shared workbook in OneDrive and import the CSV. Use the built-in "Export → Excel" flow to ensure column headers and date formatting are preserved.
Key features (at a glance)
Transaction ledger
Full, searchable list of transactions with tags, categories, attachments, and cross-references.
Reporting & export
One-click exports to CSV/XLSX, printable PDF reports, and scheduled summary emails.
Security model
Ledger Start uses local encrypted storage by default. Sensitive keys are derived using industry-standard key-stretching and optional hardware-backed storage. For the highest security posture, enable hardware key storage and never expose recovery material to networked devices.
Security best practices
Immediate actions
- Write your recovery phrase on durable paper and store in two separate secure locations.
- Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible for exported cloud access.
- Regularly export encrypted backups and verify restores on a secondary device.
Advanced
For enterprise usage, integrate with centralized key management or HSMs and set up role-based access rules. Use signed, time-stamped exports for audits.
Troubleshooting & FAQs
Common issues
If imports fail, check date formatting and decimal separators (regional settings can change CSV parsing). If the app won't start, run the installer in repair mode or consult the log files in the user data directory.
Contacts & support
Open the Help menu and choose "Contact support" for live chat or email. Provide a sanitized export (no recovery phrases) and the log bundle to speed diagnosis.
Tip: Keep a small, regularly updated test account for learning new features without affecting production data.
Appendix — Formatting & Office tips
Export hints
- Choose ISO date format (YYYY-MM-DD) for best cross-region import compatibility.
- Use UTF-8 encoded CSV files when sharing internationally to avoid character corruption.
Colour and presentation
When preparing reports for stakeholders, use the full-colour palette provided by Ledger Start to highlight variances and exceptions. Keep graphs simple and annotate outliers.
Closing summary
Ledger Start is designed to get you recording reliable financial entries quickly while providing export compatibility with Office tools. Follow the security checklist, keep backups, and use the export options for collaboration and audits.