Features of Synder Taking Your Experience to the Next Level

This article describes the key advanced features of Synder. They help you automate accounting, improve data accuracy, and simplify reconciliation.

For each feature, you’ll find a short overview, how it works, and common use cases.

The guide covers Smart Rules (Per Transaction), Product Mapping, Mapping Groups (Summary Sync), Revenue Recognition, Transaction Reconciliation, and Invoicing.

Use this guide if you:

  • Want an overview of the advanced Synder features available to you.
  • Need help choosing the right feature for your accounting workflow.
  • Are troubleshooting data accuracy, categorization, or reconciliation issues.
  • Work with multiple sales channels or subscription-based revenue.

Smart Rules

Smart Rules automate how transactions are recorded in your accounting system by applying custom logic during sync. This feature is available for QuickBooks Online and QuickBooks Desktop in Per Transaction sync mode.

How it works

Smart Rules follow simple if–then logic in two phases:

  1. A transaction is synced from your payment processor or e-commerce platform to your accounting system.
  2. The created QuickBooks entity is updated based on your predefined conditions and actions.

Note: for more details on how Smart Rules work and what problems they solve, see this guide. You can also use the Recipe tab in Synder Smart Rules to test a ready-made rule before creating your own.

Common use cases

Class assignment

If an item in QuickBooks Online or Desktop already has a class assigned, Synder applies it automatically when the product names match. Use Smart Rules when you need to apply classes based on different conditions.

With Synder you can apply classes to transactions, to product lines, and to expenses automatically.

Locations tracking

Assign a default location for each platform in Synder settings. If you need more flexibility, use Smart Rules to apply locations to synced transactions based on other conditions. Both options are described in the linked guide — choose the one that fits your workflow.

Income categorization and inventory tracking

Income categorization depends on the linked item. If your general Product/Service settings aren’t enough, use Smart Rules instead. Rules let you edit items, change income categories, and assign the correct item so your QuickBooks inventory stays up to date.

You can also update products based on metadata, description, and other fields.

Expenses and fees categorization

You can have Synder apply categories to expenses automatically based on the description, vendor, or other conditions. You can also categorize processing and application fees.

Tax assignment

If your general tax settings aren’t enough, use Smart Rules to apply the right tax rate based on conditions you define. For example, all sales may be tax-inclusive, but gift cards should stay tax-exempt. Or you may want to assign taxes by the customer’s shipping address, product name, or another field.

Send reminders and notifications to your customers

Build rules to send invoice payment reminders before and after the due date, and to automate marketing campaigns.

Product Mapping

Product Mapping matches products between your sales platform and your accounting system. As a result, income is categorized correctly across both systems.

How it works

  • Synder tries to match automatically. Synder categorizes transactions based on the linked item details. When product names match exactly between your accounting system and the payment or e-commerce provider, the transaction goes to the correct Revenue account by default. See Synder Product/Service settings for details.
  • If no match is found and you don’t want Synder to create a new item, you can map products or SKUs manually.
  • Once mapped, future transactions follow the mapping automatically.

Common use cases

Use Product Mapping if:

  • Product names don’t match across systems.
  • Multiple platforms use different naming conventions.
  • You use SKUs in the sales platform but item names in the accounting software.
  • You want accurate Profit & Loss reporting.

For step-by-step instructions on mapping items between platforms, see this guide.

Mapping Groups (Summary Sync)

Mapping Groups control how transaction lines are grouped and displayed in summarized entries (journal entries or invoices). With manual mapping groups, you can fine-tune how transactions are categorized in your books.

How it works

Groups filter transaction data by conditions such as transaction type, accounting category, integration, description, memo, amount, and other available fields.

Each transaction line is assigned to one group based on priority. To map specific transactions to different accounts, separate them with a tailored set of conditions.

Common use cases

Use manual mapping groups when you need a more detailed breakdown in summaries — for example, to separate different types of fees, sales, or adjustments.

Example: Use manual groups to split platform fees
You start with one default group for all platform fees. To break those fees into different categories, set up additional groups based on description or other parameters and map them accordingly.

For more details on how manual groups work and how to build them, see this guide.

Revenue Recognition (Synder RevRec)

Synder can fully automate revenue recognition for Stripe subscriptions.

Supported integrations:

  • QuickBooks (Per Transaction or Summary Sync).
  • Xero, Sage Intacct, Oracle NetSuite (Summary Sync).

The RevRec module automates a complex accounting process with no manual journal entries. Use it if:

  • You sell subscriptions or recurring services.
  • Revenue must be recognized over time.
  • You need compliance with accounting standards.

How it works

Synder posts the funds to a Deferred Revenue account first. Then it gradually transfers the amount to the mapped Income accounts based on the recognition schedule. Learn more about the recognition flow in this guide.

Example RevRec schedule:

Example journal entry posted every month to recognize revenue:

Synder RevRec integrates directly with Stripe. If you use PayPal, another subscription tool, or enter invoices in QuickBooks manually, you can still use RevRec by importing invoices from an Excel spreadsheet.

Important notes

  • Synder offers different methods for discount recognition, depending on whether you need to track discount amounts. See this guide for the variances.
  • You can choose whether to recognize one-time invoices or skip them.
  • RevRec is available starting from the Pro plan. Contact support to enable it on your account and schedule a call.

Transaction Reconciliation

The Transaction Reconciliation tool simplifies and streamlines reconciliation. You can use it as an audit-level validation of financial data before closing the books.

How it works

The tool compares data in your accounting software against the original records from your payment platform. As a result, you can see exactly which transactions matched, which have amount differences, and which are missing.

Synder runs a three-pass comparison based on transaction IDs. When it finds a match, it groups the related rows by ID and compares the total amounts. Results are organized into the following tabs:

  • If totals match, the group goes to the Matched tab.
  • If totals differ, it goes to the Discrepancy tab.
  • If no match is found, the transaction goes to the Not Matched tab.

For a deeper analysis of the feature and step-by-step usage, see this guide.

Invoicing

The Invoicing feature lets you create and manage one-time and recurring invoices, and syncs them automatically to QuickBooks. Payments are powered by Stripe and Square (you must connect Stripe or Square in Synder first).

How it works

  • Create the invoice and send it to the customer directly through Synder.
  • Make the invoice recurring and set the frequency that fits your billing cycle.
  • Synder generates the invoice automatically and records it in QuickBooks.
  • Once payment is received, it is synced to QuickBooks and applied to the invoice automatically.

For more details, see how to manage recurring invoices and how to pay QuickBooks invoices online with credit cards using Synder.

Reach out to the Synder team via online support chat or email with any questions — we’re always happy to help.

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