--- title: "Set up reporting categories and GL codes" slug: "set-up-and-manage-reporting-categories-and-gl-codes-1" updated: 2026-06-16T16:31:22Z published: 2026-06-16T16:31:22Z canonical: "mysupport.roller.software/set-up-and-manage-reporting-categories-and-gl-codes-1" --- > ## Documentation Index > Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mysupport.roller.software/llms.txt > Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further. # Set up reporting categories and GL codes Reporting categories help organize venue data, making it easier to analyze revenue trends and patterns in reporting and manage your bookkeeping. By creating reporting categories and assigning GL codes, you can view your top-performing categories in Analytics and simplify your accounting processes in ROLLER. This guide shows you how to create reporting categories and assign general ledger codes (GL codes) to each category. > [!NOTE] > The [permission](/v1/docs/create-and-manage-staff-roles-and-permissions) **Can manage reporting categories** is required for staff members to create, edit and delete reporting categories. Administrator and manager system roles automatically have this permission enabled and any [custom roles](/v1/docs/create-and-manage-staff-roles-and-permissions) based on these roles. [Embedded content](https://fast.wistia.com/embed/iframe/h9eifeibuo) ## Which reports are they used for? - Reporting categories appear in the [Revenue analytics dashboard](/v1/docs/revenue-analytics-dashboard), helping you view at a glance your top performing reporting categories, depending on how you've set up them up (eg Admissions, Parties, Food & beverage). - If you're using cash accounting, reporting categories appear in the [Detailed product sales report.](/v1/docs/detailed-product-sales-report) - If you're using accrual accounting, reporting categories appear in the [Detailed product sales report](/v1/docs/detailed-product-sales-report), [Revenue recognition report](/v1/docs/revenue-recognition-report), [Trial balance report](/v1/docs/reports-overview-find-the-report-you-need) and [Ledger summary report.](/v1/docs/ledger-summary-report) > [!NOTE] > Assign all products to a reporting category. Keeping these categories updated is important; any new products should be added promptly to prevent inaccurate data from unassigned items. ## Create your reporting categories 1. From **Venue Manager**, go to **Reports** > **Reporting categories** 2. At the top of the page you can see: - **Total products:** The total number of products you have in ROLLER - **Unassigned**: The number of active products that are not assigned to reporting categories. Reporting may be ineffective if you don't assign all your products to reporting categories. - **Unassigned (Archived):** The number of archived products that are **not** assigned to reporting categories. 3. Select **Create a category.** 4. Fill out the following fields: - Category name (eg Admissions, Concessions, Food & beverage) - The GL code (eg Admissions 101) 5. Select the product(s) to assign to the reporting category. The product and all its variations are included. 6. Select **Save.** 7. (Optional) To add a subcategory, select the **options menu** (3 dots), then select **Add subcategory**. You can only add a subcategory before you save your new category. 8. To add additional reporting categories, select **New category**, then repeat the previous steps. 9. To delete a category, select the **options menu** (3 dots) for a category, then select **Delete**. Once deleted, you can't get your categories back. > [!NOTE] > The products you add or remove in the reporting categories section will automatically update in the each product's setup page and vice versa. It may take a few minutes for updates to appear in all places in ROLLER. ![2.gif](https://cdn.us.document360.io/23700755-951c-4b69-8afe-ec8b33c6c689/Images/Documentation/360001198095.gif) ## Assign a reporting category in product settings After setting up your reporting categories, you can assign them when creating individual products. 1. From Venue Manager, go to **Products** > **Create** **product**. If editing a product, go to **Products** > **All** **products**, then select the product you want. 2. Scroll to **Additional** **options**, then select **Reporting** **category**. From the drop-down choose the category you want, then **Save**. > [!NOTE] > What you assign in the product settings will automatically appear in **Reports** > **Reporting** **categories,** and vice versa. It may take a few minutes for your updated categories to appear in ROLLER reports. ## Learn more - View the [ROLLER Academy video on reporting categories.](https://academy.roller.software/reporting/use-reporting-categories-in-roller) - Learn [how reporting categories are different from product categories](/v1/docs/what-s-the-difference-between-product-and-reporting-categories) in ROLLER. ## Related - [Create and manage products](/create-and-manage-your-products.md) - [Install an EPSON receipt printer (ROLLER Connect)](/install-an-epson-receipt-printer-roller-connect.md) - [Deferred revenue report](/deferred-revenue-report.md) - [How can I identify products without a reporting category?](/how-can-i-identify-products-without-a-reporting-category.md) - [Add the overlay checkout experience to your website](/add-the-overlay-checkout-experience-to-your-website.md)