Balance Sheet Essay

Balance Sheets
A balance sheet is a statement of a firm's assets, liabilities and owners' equity at a specific date (i.e. it is a "snapshot" of the financial strength of a business at a particular moment in time).
It summarises the financial state of the business at that date. When added together, the liabilities and owners' equity represent the sources of capital (i.e. it tells us where the money came from) and the assets represent the uses of the capital (i.e. it tells us how the money was spent).
The two sides of the account must always balance, since every penny raised as capital must have been used for some purpose and must be accounted for.
Assets
An asset is an item that will give present or future monetary benefits to a business as a result of economic events. Therefore, an asset is basically an item or money that the business owns.
There are two main types of classification of assets - fixed assets and current assets.
a) A fixed asset
b) A current asset
Fixed Assets
A fixed asset is acquired for the purpose of use in the business and is likely to be used by the business for a considerable period of time (more than 12 months).
There are three categories of fixed assets:
a) Tangible fixed assets (physical items such as land, buildings, machinery, and vehicles, the purchase of which is known as 'capital expenditure').
b) Intangible fixed assets (non-physical items, which are very difficult to place a value on, such as brand names, goodwill and patents).
c) Financial fixed assets (investments that the business has, such as shares and debentures in other companies).

A current asset is either part of the operating cycle of the enterprise or is likely to be realised in the form of cash within 12 months.

There are five categories of current assets:
a) Cash in the bank.
b) Cash on the premises ("petty cash").
c) Debtors (customers who have purchased goods on credit, and have not yet paid).
d) Stock (raw materials, work-in-progress and unsold finished goods).
e) Prepayments (where the business has paid in advance for the use of an item, rent for example).
Liabilities
A liability is the amount outstanding at the balance sheet date, which the business is under obligation to pay. Therefore, a liability is basically an item or money that the business owes to a third party.
There are two main types of classification of liabilities:
a) long-term liabilities
b) current liabilities
Long-term liabilities
A long-term liability is a source of long-term borrowing and will exist on the balance sheet for more than 12 months. There are three categories of long-term liability:
a) Bank loans.
b) Mortgages (essentially a long-term loan to purchase land and buildings).
c) Debentures.
Current Liabilities
A current liability can be simply defined as amounts of money owing to third parties which will be settled within 12 months. They arise mainly through the process of day-to-day trading and there are five categories.
a) Bank overdraft.
b) Creditors (suppliers who the business has not yet paid).
c) Accruals (debts for which a bill has not yet been received).
d) Corporation tax (owed to the Government).
e) Dividends payable.
Shareholders funds
There are several other items that appear on a Balance Sheet - most notably shareholders' funds (also called 'owners equity') and reserves.
These items show us where the business got its original capital from (i.e. the money it used to start-up), how much money the shareholders have a claim on within the business and what the business has done with any retained profits over the years.
It also shows us the effect of a rise in value (an appreciation) of any of the assets owned by the business.
In a sense, owners' equity is a liability of the business, in as much as it is a claim on the assets. However, it differs from other liabilities in that it does not have a definite date by which it is to be repaid and it is not a fixed amount.
The owners' equity is usually

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