Learning what the words BALANCE SHEET mean
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(a) Mr B. Entillee is the proprietor of a small building contracting firm.  He does not understand the term 'balance sheet' and asks you to explain to him, whether the following items should be on his balance sheet.  Indicate the nature of the items, e.g. current asset, long-term liability, not applicable etc.
  (b) Would it be possible for a fixed asset in one business, to be a current asset in another type of business?  Explain why.
 
take a peep at the answer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Answers to balance sheet questions
 a)
 

Stock of sand, cement, bricks Current assets and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
Air compressor bought for cash Fixed asset and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
Air compressor  bought  on credit Fixed asset and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
Air compressor hired Not a balance sheet item. If an item is not owned by the business then it can not be counted in it's fixed assets. An asset hired for temporary use is not owned by the business hiring it and therefore is not accounted for as a fixed asset. However the cost of hiring it will be an expense in the profit and loss account.
Wheelbarrow Fixed asset and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
Lorry Fixed asset and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
Fuel This is not a balance sheet item. It belongs in the profit and loss account along with all the other expenses incurred.
The wife's washing machine This is not owned and used by the business and can not be counted as an asset on the balance sheet. It is treated like any other withdrawal of assets from the business as drawings. 
The most common form of assets withdrawn is cash taken by the owner.
Bank overdraft Is a current liability and therefore is a balance sheet item
£250 owing from a customer Is a debtor and belongs under current assets in the balance sheet
Lorry road license Is an expense and not an asset and therefore belongs in the profit and loss account
Envelopes These small value items are expected to be used up quickly and are not therefore called fixed assets which are expected to last 
for a number of years. They are used up during normal business operations and are therefore treated as an expense. They would appear as stationary in the profit and loss account
Cash Current asset and therefore belongs on the balance sheet
£2,500 owing to aunty Is a liability. If it needs to be paid back within a year it is a current liability. Otherwise it is a long term loan. Either way it belongs on the balance sheet.
 
b)
It would be possible for a current asset in one business to be a fixed asset in another or indeed a type of asset can be a fixed asset and a current asset in the same business.
A fixed asset is used in the business. A current asset is purchased or made in order to be sold.
A computer retailer will hold computers for sale in stock and these are current assets.
It will also use a computer to record payroll and other accounting transactions and for word processing purposes. This computer will be a fixed asset.
A vegetable retailer's van is a fixed asset. Yet the same vehicle was a current asset in the books of the van sales business.
 Try your luck with a complex question?
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 A complex BALANCE SHEET exercise
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Identify clearly what transaction has taken place in each case.  [transactions A - J]
                                      A      B      C     D     E     F      G     H     I      J
  Assets
Land & Blgs      120   120   120  100  100  100  100  100  100  100  100

Equipment          60      60     60    60    60    60    60    60    60    60    54

Stocks                 50     40     40     40    40    40    40    12    12    44    44

Debtors               35     35     35     35    35      5      5   37    37    37    37

Prepayments         7       7       7       7      7      7      7     7      7      7      7

Bank                    15    30     25     55      5    35      3     3    16    16    16

Cash                      3      3       2       2       2     2      2    14      1      1      1
                          290  295   289   299   249 249   217  233  233  265  259
 

Liabilities
Capital             141   146   140   150   150 150   150  166   166   166 160

Loan                100   100   100   100     50   50     50    50     50      50  50

Creditors           42     42    42     42      42   42     10    10    10       42  42
 
Accruals              7       7       7       7      7      7       7      7      7         7    7
                        290   295   289   299   249  249  217   233  233    265 259

take a peep at the answer
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Answers to complex balance sheet question
A)Sold stocks for £15 cash and banked the cash. Stocks originally cost £10 and the profit of    £5 shows in the increase in capital. Capital = capital introduced + profits - drawings

B)£5 has been withdrawn from the bank and £1 from cash. Because capital has gone down we can assume that this is caused by drawings increasing and can therefor deduce that the £6 withdrawn is drawings.
C)Sold land and buildings valued at £20 for £30 and banked the £30.The profit of £10 shows in the increase in capital.

D)Repaid £50 of the loan using bank funds.

E)Received £30 form customers (debtors) and banked the money.

F)Paid £32 to suppliers (creditors) using bank funds

G)Sold stock costing £28 for a total of £44.  £32 is on credit terms and £12 is a cash sale.
The profit of £16 shows as an increase in capital.

H)Banked £13 from cash

I)Purchased £32 stock on credit terms.

J)Provided depreciation of £6. This reduces both the profit (seen as a decrease in capital) and equipment.