Visual Tutorial

Accounting Equation

Accounting systems use what is known as double-entry accounting or double-entry bookkeeping. This means that every transaction will affect at least two accounts.

Double-entry accounting also means that the accounting equation should always be in balance:

Assets = Liabilities + Stockholders’ (or Owner’s) Equity

This is also true of the Balance Sheet, the financial statement that reports an organization’s assets, liabilities and stockholders’ (or owner’s) equity.

We will illustrate the effect of transactions on the accounting equation and on the balance sheet by using two digital scales. The scale on the left is used to report the total amount of assets. The scale on the right will report the total amount of the liabilities and stockholders’ equity. In U.S. organizations, the totals are reported in U.S. dollars.

After every transaction's double entry, the scales' totals must be equal.

Transaction 1.

On January 5, a new corporation is formed and the corporation issues 1,000 shares of its common stock in exchange for an investor’s $10,000.

Step 1: The corporation’s asset Cash will increase by $10,000.

Step 2: The stockholders’ equity account Common Stock will also increase by $10,000.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

Transaction 2.

On January 6, the corporation pays cash to purchase equipment having a cost of $6,000.

Step 1: The asset Cash will decrease by $6,000.

Step 2: The asset Equipment increases by $6,000.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

Transaction 3.

On January 7, the corporation borrows $15,000 from its bank. The loan will be due in 9 months.

Step 1: The corporation’s asset Cash (checking account) will increase by $15,000.

Step 2: The corporation’s liability Note Payable or Loan Payable increases by $15,000.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

Transaction 4.

On January 10, the corporation bills a client $5,000 for services it provided. Payment is to be received by February 10.

Step 1: The corporation’s asset Accounts Receivable will increase by $5,000.

Step 2: The corporation’s retained earnings will also increase by $5,000.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

If an income statement were issued at this point, it would look like this:

The balance sheet and income statement together would look like this:

Transaction 5.

On January 11, the corporation receives an invoice from a consultant it had used to assist in earning revenues. The consultant’s invoice was for the agreed upon cost of $2,000.

Step 1: The corporation’s Accounts Payable (a liability) will increase by $2,000.

Step 2: The corporation’s Retained Earnings will decrease by $2,000. (The decrease in Retained Earnings is caused by the Consulting Expense of $2,000 reported on the income statement.)

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

If an income statement were issued at this point, it would look like this:

The balance sheet and income statement together would look like this:

Transaction 6.

On January 15, the corporation pays $1,000 to its insurance agent for insurance that will begin on February 1 and will end on July 31.

Step 1: The corporation’s Cash will decrease by $1,000.

Step 2: The corporation’s asset Prepaid Insurance will increase by $1,000. (There is not an expense or decrease in Retained Earnings until February.)

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

If an income statement were issued at this point, it would look like this:

The balance sheet and income statement together would look like this:

Transaction 7.

On January 25, the corporation collects $4,000 of its Accounts Receivable pertaining to the sale on January 10.

Step 1: The corporation’s Cash will increase by $4,000.

Step 2: The corporation’s Accounts Receivable will decrease by $4,000.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

If an income statement were issued at this point, it would look like this:

The balance sheet and income statement together would look like this:

Transaction 8.

On January 31, the corporation estimates that it used $900 of utility expenses and $100 of interest expense during the month of January.

Step 1: The corporation’s Accrued Liabilities will increase by $1,000 for the accrued expenses.

Step 2: The corporation’s Retained Earnings will decrease because of the $1,000 of accrued utilities and interest expenses being reported on the income statement.

Note that the accounting equation is now in balance.

If a balance sheet were issued at this point, it would look like this:

If an income statement were issued at this point, it would look like this:

The balance sheet and income statement together would look like this:

The End

There are more resources to assist you under our topic Accounting Equation.

Restart

Turn on study mode to focus

Study Mode:
OFFON