Balance Sheet
Balance Sheet is a statement which shows the financial position of the business on a particular day.
According to A. Palmer
“The Balance Sheet is a statement at a particular date showing on one side the trader’s property and possessions and on the other hand the liabilities”.
Thus we can say that
- Balance sheet is a statement not an account.
- It is prepared to show the financial position of the business.
- It records all the assets and liabilities of the business.
- It shows the financial position on a particular day not for a period of time.
Need and Importance of Preparing a Balance Sheet
A Balance Sheet serves the following purposes:
- The true financial position of the business can be ascertained at a particular point of time.
- Reveals the amount of assets owned by the business for example machinery, cash, debtors and so on.
- Show the liabilities of the business such as total creditors, share capital etc.
- To adjudge weather the firm is solvent or not.
- Opening entries for the next financial year are based on the Balance Sheet of the previous year.