Balance Sheet
The balance sheet is the company's financial position at a point in time. In other words, a snapshot of where you stand, financially. Here you will list your assets and liabilities and then subtract the difference, which is called owner's equity (or net worth). Accountants look at the balance sheet as an equation where assets = liabilities + owner's equity. This is known as the "accounting equation".
You can a balance sheet template and other financial forms at the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce
site. It is included with the small business startup kit. Below is a sample of a fictitious balance sheet:
| Your
Company |
| Balance
Sheet |
| 1/1/2008 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Assets |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Current Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Cash |
|
|
|
|
$8,500 |
|
|
| Accounts
Receivable |
|
$2,250 |
|
|
|
|
| Less: |
Reserve for Bad Debts |
|
0 |
|
2,250 |
|
|
| Merchandise
Inventory |
|
|
|
16,250 |
|
|
| Prepaid Expenses |
|
|
|
500 |
|
|
| Notes Receivable |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| |
Total Current Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
$27,500 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Fixed Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Vehicles |
|
62,000 |
|
|
|
|
| Less: |
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
5,500 |
|
56,500 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Furniture and
Fixtures |
|
7,200 |
|
|
|
|
| Less: |
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
500 |
|
6,700 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Equipment |
|
155,000 |
|
|
|
|
| Less: |
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
8,650 |
|
146,350 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Buildings |
|
800,000 |
|
|
|
|
| Less: |
Accumulated Depreciation |
|
15,500 |
|
784,500 |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Land |
|
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| |
Total Fixed Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
994,050 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Other Assets: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Goodwill |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| |
Total Other Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
0 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Assets |
|
|
|
|
|
$1,021,550 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Liabilities
and Capital |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Current
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Accounts Payable |
|
|
|
$4,710 |
|
|
| Sales Taxes
Payable |
|
|
|
600 |
|
|
| Payroll Taxes
Payable |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Accrued Wages
Payable |
|
|
|
380 |
|
|
| Unearned Revenues |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Short-Term Notes
Payable |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| Short-Term Bank
Loan Payable |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| |
Total Current Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
$5,690 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Long-Term
Liabilities: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Long-Term Notes
Payable |
|
|
|
86,000 |
|
|
| Mortgage Payable |
|
|
|
0 |
|
|
| |
Total Long-Term Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
86,000 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total Liabilities |
|
|
|
|
|
91,690 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Capital: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Owner's Equity |
|
|
|
102,000 |
|
|
| Net Profit |
|
|
|
827,860 |
|
|
| Total Capital |
|
|
|
|
|
929,860 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Total
Liabilities and Capital |
|
|
|
|
|
$1,021,550 |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Return to Financial Statements from Balance Sheet

|