Group reporting for multi-entity groups
One set of numbers for a business made of several companies.
Quick answer
Businesses with several companies need consolidated monthly reports for owners, boards and lenders. The cost-effective approach for most groups is to keep each company on Xero, QuickBooks or Sage and add a consolidation layer such as Joiin, which handles account mapping, eliminations and currencies. Move to a multi-entity ERP only when operations, not just reporting, require it.
Typical group structures
- A holding company with trading subsidiaries
- A trading company with property held in a separate company
- UK parent with overseas subsidiaries in other currencies
- Groups formed by acquisition, often on different ledgers
What good group reporting looks like
- Consolidated P&L, balance sheet and cash flow within days of month end
- Each company's performance side by side
- Budget versus actual at group level
- One pack for the board, with commentary
Learn the mechanics in intercompany eliminations and our worked example, and compare approaches in multi-entity accounting software.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an ERP for multiple companies?
Usually not for reporting. A consolidation app on top of your existing ledgers is cheaper and faster to set up. ERPs make sense when operations across companies need to be integrated.