This book is the first of seven books which introduces the basic principles of accounting. It introduces accounting, the fundamental accounting equation, and four core financial statements. Students will learn the basics of accounting, such as debits and credits, the journal, and trial balance, income measurement, revenue and expense recognition, and the reporting cycle. With a foundation in these basics of accounting readers are introduced to financial statement preparation, the accounting cycle, closing entries, classified balance sheets, the importance of business liquidity, and the concept of the operating cycle.

Part 1: Welcome to the World of Accounting

1. Accounting Information
1.1 Accounting Defined
1.2 Financial Accounting
1.3 Managerial Accounting
1.4 A Quality Information System
1.5 Inherent Limitations

2. The Accounting Profession and Careers
2.1 Accounting and Professional Ethics

3. The Fundamental Accounting Equation
3.1 Assets
3.2 Liabilities
3.3 Owners’ Equity
3.4 Balance Sheet

4. How Transactions Impact the Accounting Equation
4.1 Edelweiss Collects an Account Receivable
4.2 Edelweiss Buys Equipment With Loan Proceeds
4.3 Edelweiss Provides Services to a Costumer on Account
4.4 Edelweiss Pays Expenses With Cash
4.5 Generalizing About the Impact of Transactions
4.6 Distinguishing Between Revenue and Income

5. The Core Financial Statements
5.1 Financial Statements
5.2 Income Statements
5.3 The Statement of Retained Earnings
5.4 Balance Sheet
5.5 Statement of Cash Flows
5.6 Articulation
5.7 Unlocking the Mystery of Articulation

Part 2: Information Processing

6. Accounts, Debits and Credits
6.1 Accounts
6.2 Debits and Credits
6.3 The Fallacy of “+/-” Nomenclature
6.4 The Debit/Credit Rules
6.5 Assets/Expenses/Dividends
6.6 Liabilities/Revenues/Equity
6.7 Analysis of Transactions and Events
6.8 Determining an Account’s Balance
6.9 A Common Misunderstanding About Credits

7. The Journal
7.1 Illustrating the Accounting Journal
7.2 Special Journals
7.3 Page Numbering
7.4 But, What are the Account Balances?

8. The General Ledger
8.1 Posting
8.2 To Review

9. The Trial Balance
9.1 Debits Equal Credits
9.2 Financial Statements From the Trial Balance

10. Computerized Processing Systems
10.1 What do they Look Like

11. T-accounts
11.1 Comprehensive T-accounting Illustration
11.2 Chart of Accounts
11.3 Control and Subsidiary Accounts

Part 3: Income Measurement

12. "Measurement Triggering” Transactions and Events
12.1 The Meaning of “Accounting” Income
12.2 More Income Terminology
12.3 An Emphesis on Transactions and Events

13. The Periodicity Assumption
13.1 Accounting Implications

14. Basic Elements of Revenue Recognition
14.1 Payment and Revenue Recognition

15. Basic Elements of Expense Recognition
15.1 Payment and Expense Recognition

16. The Adjusting Process and Related Entries
16.1 Illustration of Prepaid Insurance
16.2 Illustration of Prepaid Rent
16.3 I’m a Bit Confused – Exactly When do I Adjust?
16.4 Illustration of Supplies
16.5 Depreciation
16.6 Unearned Revenues
16.7 Accruals
16.8 Accrued Salaries
16.9 Accrued Interest
16.10 Accrued Rent
16.11 Accrued Revenue
16.12 Recap of Adjustments
16.13 The Adjusted Trial Balance
16.14 Alternative Procedures for Certain Adjustments

17. Accrual- Versus Cash-Basis Accounting
17.1 Modified Approaches
17.2 Illustration of Cash-Versus Accrual Basis Accounting

Part 4: The Reporting Cycle

18. Preparing Financial Statements
18.1 An Illustration
18.2 Considering the Actual Process for Adjustments
18.3 Financial Statements
18.4 Computerization
18.5 A Worksheet Approach
18.6 An Additional Illustration

19. The Accounting Cycle and Closing Process
19.1 The Closing Process
19.2 Post Closing Trial Balance
19.3 Revisiting Computerization

20. Reversing Entries

21. Classified Balance Sheets
21.1 Assets
21.2 Liabilities
21.3 Equity
21.4 Other Entity Forms
21.5 Notes to the Financial Statements

22. Business Liquidity and the Operating Cycle
22.1 Working Capital
22.2 Current Ratio
22.3 Quick Ratio