glossary
Khata Book: what every Indian shopkeeper should know
A khata book is how millions of Indian shops manage customer credit. Here is how it works and why digital khata books are now the smarter choice.
What is a khata book?
Khata (खाता) means account in Hindi. A khata book is literally an account book — the ledger where a shopkeeper records every transaction with every customer. Think of it as a running tab for each person who shops at your store.
The typical paper khata book has one page per customer. Each visit where goods are taken on credit is noted: date, items, amount. When the customer pays, the amount is deducted. The balance at any time shows what is still owed.
Paper khata book vs digital khata book
| Feature | Paper Khata Book | ExtinctBook (Digital) |
|---|---|---|
| Search a customer | Flip through pages | Type name, instant |
| Total outstanding | Add up manually | Live, automatic |
| Payment reminders | Call each customer | WhatsApp with payment link |
| Works offline | Always | Yes, syncs when online |
| Lost or damaged | Data gone | Cloud backup |
| Daily profit | Manual tally | One tap |
Try ExtinctBook — the digital khata book
ExtinctBook is a free digital khata book app for Android. Unlimited customers, unlimited entries, WhatsApp reminders — no credit card required.
before you go
Frequently asked questions
What is a khata book?
A khata book is an account ledger used by Indian shopkeepers to record customer transactions. Each customer gets a page or section where purchases, credit given, and payments received are noted.
What is the best khata book app in India?
ExtinctBook is one of the best khata book apps in India. It is free, works offline, sends automatic WhatsApp payment reminders, and shows a daily profit summary. Available on Android.
Is a khata book the same as bahi khata?
They refer to the same concept. Khata book is commonly used in everyday speech, while bahi khata is the traditional term from Marwari and Gujarati merchant traditions. Both mean an account ledger.
How does a digital khata book help recover money faster?
A digital khata book like ExtinctBook sends automatic WhatsApp reminders with a payment link when payment is due. Studies show digital reminders with payment links recover 2-3x faster than manual phone calls.
Also read: What is Udhar Khata? · What is Bahi Khata? · ExtinctBook vs Khatabook