Overview
If your account balance looks off in Puzzle, it may be because the opening balance — the starting point Puzzle uses for that account — needs to be corrected. This article walks you through how to fix it.
💡 Not sure what an opening balance is or why yours might be wrong? Check out Confirming Your Opening Balance first.
How to Edit Your Opening Balance
Go to Accounting → Reconciliations in the left-hand side panel
Find the account you need to update
Click the three dots (⋯) on the far right of that account
Select the option to update the opening balance
Enter the correct amount and save
⚠️ Important: If you've already completed a bank reconciliation for this account, you may need to undo or delete it before you can edit the opening balance. Once you've made the update, you can re-reconcile — and you can cover multiple years in one go if needed.
What Are System-Generated Opening Balance Entries?
When you first connect an account in Puzzle, the system automatically creates an opening balance entry to reflect where that account started. These are different from manual journal entries — you cannot delete or void them directly.
Instead, the way to fix them is to adjust the opening balance through the reconciliation screen (using the steps above). This is the only way to correct what the system generated.
Common Issues With Opening Balances
Wrong account allocation
Sometimes the opening balance gets assigned to the wrong account — for example, showing up under Member Capital when it should be under Retained Earnings. To fix this, set the incorrect account to $0 and reallocate the balance to the correct account (e.g. Retained Earnings or the appropriate income account).
Can't delete or reverse the entry
System-generated entries can't be voided like manual ones. The fix is always to adjust through the opening balance screen, not to try and delete the entry directly.
Connected bank accounts
If the account is linked via a bank integration, you may not be able to post a manual journal entry to correct it directly. In that case, adjusting the opening balance is the right path. If you're unsure how this affects your books, check with your accountant before making changes.
💡 Not sure which account to reallocate to? It's always a good idea to consult your accountant when adjusting opening balances, especially if your books have already been used for reporting.