How to set up OHADA accounting for your small business
A step-by-step guide to getting your chart of accounts, journal entries, and financial reports right — without hiring an expensive consultant.
If you run a business in any of the 17 OHADA member states — Cameroon, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, and beyond — you are legally required to keep your books according to the OHADA Uniform Act on Accounting. But most small business owners have no idea where to start.
The OHADA chart of accounts (SYSCOHADA) is a standardized framework that organizes your financial data into classes: Class 1 for equity, Class 2 for fixed assets, Class 4 for third-party accounts (customers and suppliers), Class 6 for expenses, and Class 7 for revenue. You don't need to memorize all of them — a good accounting tool will set this up for you.
The key reports you need to produce are the Balance Sheet (Bilan), the Income Statement (Compte de résultat), and the TAFIRE (cash flow statement). Under SYSCOHADA Révisé (2017), even small businesses must produce these at year-end.
With SawaSuite, the OHADA chart of accounts is pre-configured. Every sale, purchase, and payment you record automatically generates the correct journal entries. At year-end, you can generate your Balance Sheet and Income Statement in one click — no accountant required for the basics.
The most common mistake? Mixing personal and business expenses. Open a separate bank account for your business, even if it's a Mobile Money line. Record every transaction, no matter how small. Your future self (and the tax inspector) will thank you.