Start here: Plain in five minutes

What Plain does, how it's laid out, and the quickest path to your first invoice.

Updated 3 November 2026 · Plain 0.110.0

Plain is accounting software for small businesses in New Zealand. It keeps your sales, bills, bank, GST and reports in one place.

Today is the first screen you see after signing in.

How Plain is laid out

  • Sidebar (left): Today, Money (Sales, Purchases, Banking, Contacts), People & tax (Tax & filings), and Reporting & control (Reports, Approvals, Audit trail, Accounting tools, Settings).
  • Top bar: search ("Search or jump to…"), the language menu, + Create, notifications and your profile.
  • Need a hand? Every screen has a link at the bottom of the sidebar to ask Plain or open this help centre.

The quickest path

  1. Finish guided setup (about five minutes). See Guided setup.
  2. Add your first customer and send an invoice. See Create an invoice.
  3. Add your bank account and import a statement. See Import a bank statement.
  4. Invite your bookkeeper or accountant. See Invite your team.

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