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Accounting Equation


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Accounting Equation for a Sole Proprietorship: Transactions 5–6




Sole Proprietorship Transaction #5.

On December 5, 2011 Accounting Software Co. pays $600 for ads that were run in recent days. The effect of this advertising transaction on the accounting equation is:


Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity     
–$600 = No Effect + –$600     


Since ASC is paying $600, its assets decrease. The second effect is a $600 decrease in owner’s equity, because the transaction involves an expense. (An expense is a cost that is used up or its future economic value cannot be measured.)


Although owner’s equity is decreased by an expense, the transaction is not recorded directly into the owner’s capital account at this time. Instead, the amount is initially recorded in the expense account Advertising Expense and in the asset account Cash. The general journal entry to record the transaction is:



Date Account Titles Debit Credit
Dec. 5, 2011 Advertising Expense 600
Cash 600


The combined effect of the first five transactions is available here:


Transaction Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity     
1 +$10,000 = No Effect + +$10,000     
2 –$100 = No Effect + –$100     
3 +$5,000 = No Effect + No Effect     
–$5,000
4 +$7,000 = +$7,000 + No Effect     
5 –$600 = No Effect + –$600     
Totals $16,300 =    $7,000 +    $9,300     


The totals now indicate that Accounting Software Co. has assets of $16,300. The creditors provided $7,000 and the owner of the company provided $9,300. Viewed another way, the company has assets of $16,300 with the creditors having a claim of $7,000 and the owner having a residual claim of $9,300.


The balance sheet as of the end of December 5, 2011 is:


Accounting Software Co.
Balance Sheet
December 5, 2011
ASSETS LIABILITIES
Cash $ 11,300 Notes Payable $ 7,000 
Equipment 5,000 OWNER’S EQUITY
. J. Ott, Capital $ 9,300*
Total Assets $ 16,300 Total Liab & Owner's Equity $ 16,300 
.
.
Beginning Owner's Equity $
+ Owner's Investment + 10,000 
+ Net Income** + (600) 
  Subtotal $ 9,400 
– J. Ott, Drawing 100 
Ending Owner's Equity, Dec. 5 $ 9,300*
.

**The income statement (which reports the company’s revenues, expenses, gains, and losses during a specified time interval) is a link between balance sheets. It provides the results of operations—an important part of the change in owner’s equity.



Since this transaction involves an expense, it will involve ASC’s income statement. The company’s income statement for the first five days of December is:


Accounting Software Co.
Income Statement
For the Five Days Ended December 5, 2011
REVENUES $
EXPENSES
Advertising Expense 600 
NET INCOME $ (600)




Sole Proprietorship Transaction #6.

On December 6, 2011 ASC performs consulting services for its clients. The clients are billed for the agreed upon amount of $900. The amounts are due in 30 days. The effect on the accounting equation is:


Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity     
+$900 = No Effect + +$900     


Since ASC has performed the services, it has earned revenues and it has the right to receive $900 from the clients. This right (known as an account receivable) causes assets to increase. The earning of revenues causes owner’s equity to increase.

Although revenues cause owner’s equity to increase, the revenue transaction is not recorded into the owner’s capital account at this time. Rather, the amount earned is recorded in the revenue account Service Revenues. This will allow the company to report the revenues on its income statement at any time. (After the year ends, the amount in the revenue account will be transferred to the owner’s capital account.) The general journal entry to record the transaction is:



Date Account Titles Debit Credit
Dec. 6, 2011 Accounts Receivable 900
Service Revenues 900


The combined effect of the first six transactions can be viewed here:


Transaction Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity     
1 +$10,000 = No Effect + +$10,000     
2 –$100 = No Effect + –$100     
3 +$5,000 = No Effect + No Effect     
–$5,000
4 +$7,000 = +$7,000 + No Effect     
5 –$600 = No Effect + –$600     
6 +$900 = No Effect + +$900     
Totals $17,200 =    $7,000 +   $10,200     


The totals tell us that at the end of December 6, the company has assets of $17,200. It also shows the sources of the assets: creditors providing $7,000 and the owner of the company providing $10,200. The totals also reveal that the company has assets of $17,200 and the creditors have a claim of $7,000 and the owner has a claim for the remaining $10,200.


Below is the balance sheet as of midnight on December 6:


Accounting Software Co.
Balance Sheet
December 6, 2011
ASSETS LIABILITIES
Cash $ 11,300 Notes Payable $ 7,000 
Accounts Receivable 900 OWNER’S EQUITY
Equipment 5,000 J. Ott, Capital $ 10,200*
Total Assets $ 17,200 Total Liab & Owner's Equity $ 17,200 
.
.
Beginning Owner's Equity $
+ Owner's Investment + 10,000 
+ Net Income** + 300 
  Subtotal $ 10,300 
– J. Ott, Drawing 100 
Ending Owner's Equity, Dec. 6 $ 10,200*
.

**The income statement (which reports the company’s revenues, expenses, gains, and losses during a specified time interval) is a link between balance sheets. It provides the results of operations—an important part of the change in owner’s equity.



The Income Statement for Accounting Software Co. for the period of December 1 through December 6 is:


Accounting Software Co.
Income Statement
For the Six Days Ended December 6, 2011
REVENUES
Service Revenues $ 900
EXPENSES
Advertising Expense 600
NET INCOME $ 300


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