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Lesson 155 min read

Fundamentals of Accounting

Accounting Equation, Journal Entries & Financial Statements

The Accounting Equation

Assets = Liabilities + Owner's Equity

This equation must always balance!

Assets

Resources owned by the business

  • Cash
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Inventory
  • Equipment
  • Land & Buildings

Liabilities

Amounts owed to others

  • Accounts Payable
  • Notes Payable
  • Loans Payable
  • Unearned Revenue

Owner's Equity

Owner's claim on assets

  • Capital (Investment)
  • Revenues (+)
  • Expenses (-)
  • Drawings (-)

Expanded Equation

Assets = Liabilities + Capital + Revenue - Expenses - Drawings

Debit & Credit Rules

Remember: Debit is the LEFT side, Credit is the RIGHT side of an account. Every transaction has at least one debit AND one credit that are equal.

DEBIT Increases (+)

  • A Assets
  • E Expenses
  • D Drawings

Memory tip: "DEA" or "ADE"

CREDIT Increases (+)

  • L Liabilities
  • O Owner's Equity
  • R Revenue

Memory tip: "LOR" or "LORE"

Account TypeNormal BalanceTo IncreaseTo Decrease
AssetsDebitDebitCredit
LiabilitiesCreditCreditDebit
Owner's EquityCreditCreditDebit
RevenueCreditCreditDebit
ExpensesDebitDebitCredit

Journal Entries

The Accounting Cycle

  1. Analyze transactions
  2. Journalize (record in journal)
  3. Post to ledger
  4. Prepare trial balance
  5. Adjusting entries
  6. Financial statements
  7. Closing entries

Journal Entry Format

Date: March 15, 2024

Cash

10,000

Service Revenue

10,000

To record revenue earned for services

Example: Purchased Equipment with Cash

Equipment (Asset +)

50,000

Cash (Asset -)

50,000

Example: Paid Utilities Expense

Utilities Expense (+)

5,000

Cash (Asset -)

5,000

Financial Statements

1. Income Statement

Shows profitability over a period of time

Revenue

- Cost of Goods Sold

= Gross Profit

- Operating Expenses

= Net Income (or Net Loss)

2. Balance Sheet

Shows financial position at a specific date

Assets

  • Current Assets
  • Non-Current Assets

Liabilities + Equity

  • Current Liabilities
  • Long-term Liabilities
  • Owner's Equity

3. Statement of Changes in Equity

Shows changes in owner's investment

Beginning Capital

+ Additional Investment

+ Net Income (or - Net Loss)

- Drawings

= Ending Capital

4. Statement of Cash Flows

Shows cash inflows and outflows

  • Operating Activities: Day-to-day business operations
  • Investing Activities: Buying/selling long-term assets
  • Financing Activities: Loans, owner investments, dividends