diff --git a/resources/lang/en_US/firefly.php b/resources/lang/en_US/firefly.php
index b0d2efd35f..aceb221eac 100644
--- a/resources/lang/en_US/firefly.php
+++ b/resources/lang/en_US/firefly.php
@@ -967,4 +967,19 @@ return [
 
     // sandstorm.io errors and messages:
     'sandstorm_not_available'              => 'This function is not available when you are using Firefly III within a Sandstorm.io environment.',
+
+    // empty lists? instructions:
+    'empty_accounts_title_asset'           => 'Let\'s create an asset account!',
+    'empty_accounts_intro_asset'           => 'You have no asset accounts yet. Asset accounts are your main accounts: your checking account, savings account, shared account or even your credit card.',
+    'empty_accounts_imperative_asset'      => 'To start using Firefly III you must create at least one asset account. Let\'s do so now:',
+    'empty_accounts_create_asset'          => 'Create an asset account',
+    'empty_accounts_title_expense'         => 'Let\'s create an expense account!',
+    'empty_accounts_intro_expense'         => '',
+    'empty_accounts_imperative_expense'    => '',
+    'empty_accounts_create_expense'        => '',
+    'empty_accounts_title_revenue'         => 'Let\'s create a revenue account!',
+    'empty_accounts_intro_revenue'         => '',
+    'empty_accounts_imperative_revenue'    => '',
+    'empty_accounts_create_revenue'        => '',
+
 ];
diff --git a/resources/views/accounts/index.twig b/resources/views/accounts/index.twig
index 84f653aacb..102627d313 100644
--- a/resources/views/accounts/index.twig
+++ b/resources/views/accounts/index.twig
@@ -5,32 +5,38 @@
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block content %}
+    {% if accounts.count > 0 %}
+        <div class="row">
+            <div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12">
+                <div class="box" id="account-index-{{ what }}">
+                    <div class="box-header with-border">
+                        <h3 class="box-title">{{ subTitle }}</h3>
 
-    <div class="row">
-        <div class="col-lg-12 col-md-12 col-sm-12">
-            <div class="box" id="account-index-{{ what }}">
-                <div class="box-header with-border">
-                    <h3 class="box-title">{{ subTitle }}</h3>
-
-                    <!-- ACTIONS MENU -->
-                    <div class="box-tools pull-right">
-                        <div class="btn-group">
-                            <button class="btn btn-box-tool dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown"><i class="fa fa-ellipsis-v"></i></button>
-                            <ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
-                                <li><a href="{{ route('accounts.create', what) }}"><i class="fa fa-plus fa-fw"></i> {{ ('make_new_' ~ what ~ '_account')|_ }}
-                                    </a></li>
-                            </ul>
+                        <!-- ACTIONS MENU -->
+                        <div class="box-tools pull-right">
+                            <div class="btn-group">
+                                <button class="btn btn-box-tool dropdown-toggle" data-toggle="dropdown"><i class="fa fa-ellipsis-v"></i></button>
+                                <ul class="dropdown-menu" role="menu">
+                                    <li><a href="{{ route('accounts.create', what) }}"><i
+                                                    class="fa fa-plus fa-fw"></i> {{ ('make_new_' ~ what ~ '_account')|_ }}
+                                        </a></li>
+                                </ul>
+                            </div>
                         </div>
+
+
                     </div>
 
+                    <div class="box-body table-responsive no-padding">
+                        {% include 'list.accounts' %}
+                    </div>
 
                 </div>
-                <div class="box-body table-responsive no-padding">
-                    {% include 'list.accounts' %}
-                </div>
             </div>
         </div>
-    </div>
+    {% else %}
+        {% include 'empty.accounts' with {what: what} %}
+    {% endif %}
 {% endblock %}
 
 {% block styles %}
diff --git a/resources/views/empty/accounts.twig b/resources/views/empty/accounts.twig
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..1f027086ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/resources/views/empty/accounts.twig
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<div class="row">
+    <div class="col-lg-6 col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-xs-12 col-lg-offset-3 col-md-offset-3">
+        <div class="box box-success">
+            <div class="box-header with-border">
+                <h3 class="box-title">{{ ('empty_accounts_title_'~what)|_ }}</h3>
+            </div>
+
+            <div class="box-body table-responsive">
+                <p>
+                    {{ ('empty_accounts_intro_'~what)|_ }}
+                </p>
+                <p>
+                    {{ ('empty_accounts_imperative_'~what)|_ }}
+
+                </p>
+                <p style="text-align: center;">
+                    <a class="btn btn-lg btn-success" href="{{ route('accounts.create', ['asset']) }}">{{ ('empty_accounts_create_'~what)|_ }}</a>
+                </p>
+            </div>
+
+        </div>
+    </div>
+</div>
\ No newline at end of file