Small business to help with accounting records.

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After viewing the videos, develop your own recorded video with the following scenario in mind:
You have been hired by a small business to help with accounting records. A group of non-accounting professionals within your organization approach you with questions they have about these records. How would you train them on the following:
• Brief summary of major concepts found in Chapters 1 and 2
• What is a trial balance and what is its purpose?
• How is the balance sheet derived from the trial balance?

While you are explaining, provide them with a fictitious numerical example demonstrating each point.

 

Sample Solution

Understanding Your Business Through Accounting (Video Script)

Hi everyone! I’m [your name], and I’m here to help you understand the basics of accounting records used by our small business.

Chapters 1 and 2: The Building Blocks

Imagine your business is like a house. Chapters 1 and 2 of our accounting book lay the foundation. Here, we establish key concepts:

  • Accounts: These are categories that track our business’s financial activity. We have accounts for things like cash, inventory, equipment, and even loans.
  • Debits and Credits: Think of these as opposite sides of the same coin. Debits represent increases in certain accounts (like assets or expenses), while credits represent decreases or sources of income.

Balancing the Scales: The Trial Balance

Now, let’s build the walls. A trial balance is a like a snapshot of our accounts at a specific point in time. It lists each account and its balance (debit or credit). The goal is for the total debits to equal the total credits. This ensures our accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Equity) holds true.

Example:

Let’s say, after a month of operation, we have:

  • Cash: $5,000 (debit)
  • Inventory: $2,000 (debit)
  • Equipment: $10,000 (debit)
  • Owner’s Investment: $12,000 (credit)
  • Accounts Payable (money owed to suppliers): $3,000 (credit)
  • Sales: $8,000 (credit)
  • Expenses: $5,000 (debit)

Trial Balance:

Account Debit Credit
Cash $5,000
Inventory $2,000
Equipment $10,000
Total Assets $17,000
Owner’s Investment $12,000
Accounts Payable $3,000
Sales $8,000
Expenses $5,000
Total Liabilities & Equity $5,000 $23,000

See how the total debits ($17,000) match the total credits ($23,000)? This doesn’t necessarily mean everything is perfect, but it’s a good starting point.

From Trial to Balance: The Balance Sheet

Finally, the balance sheet is like the blueprint of our house. It uses the information from the trial balance to show a clear picture of our financial health at a specific date. Here, we categorize accounts into three main sections:

  • Assets: What we own (cash, inventory, equipment)
  • Liabilities: What we owe (accounts payable)
  • Owner’s Equity: The owner’s investment minus expenses and any withdrawals.

Using our example, the balance sheet would look like this:

Balance Sheet Amount
Assets
Cash $5,000
Inventory $2,000
Equipment $10,000
Total Assets $17,000
Liabilities & Owner’s Equity
Accounts Payable $3,000
Owner’s Investment $12,000
Less: Expenses $5,000
Owner’s Equity $7,000
Total Liabilities & Equity $10,000

Understanding these basic concepts will help you navigate our accounting records and gain valuable insights into the financial well-being of our business. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out!

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