What Is Accounting Anyway?

Posted: May 24, 2009 | Comments: 0 | Views: 43 | Bookmark and Share

They do a lot more than that, though. Sometimes referred to as "bean counters" they also keep their eye on profits, costs and losses. Unless you're running your own business and acting as your own accountant, you'd have no way of knowing just how profitable - or not - your business is without some form of accounting.

No matter what business you're in, even if all you do is balance a checkbook, that's still accounting. It's part of even a kid's life. Saving an allowance, spending it all at once - these are accounting principles.

What are some other businesses where accounting is critical? Well, farmers need to follow careful accounting procedures. Many of them run their farms year to year by taking loans to plant the crops. If it's a good year, a profitable one, then they can pay off their loan; if not, they might have to carry the loan over, and accrue more interest charges.

Every business and every individual needs to have some kind of accounting system in their lives. Otherwise, the finances can get away from them, they don't know what they've spent, or whether they can expect a profit or a loss from their business. Staying on top of accounting, whether it's for a multi-billion dollar business or for a personal checking account is a necessary activity on a daily basis if you're smart. Not doing so can mean anything from a bounced check or posting a loss to a company's shareholders. Both scenarios can be equally devastating.

Accounting is basically information, and this information is published periodically in business as a profit and loss statement, or an income statement.

For more information on accounting , please visit :

http://bytelan.com/wordpress/whatdoesreconcileinaccountingterms.php

(ArticlesBase SC #934455)

Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    RSS
    Print
    Email
    Re-Publish

    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/accounting-articles/what-is-accounting-anyway-934455.html

    Article Tags:

    what does reconcile in accounting terms means

    ,

    accounting enron scandal

    ,

    accounting

    ,

    bookeeping

    ,

    income tax tax return

    ,

    income statement

    ,

    general ledger

    ,

    accounting software

    ,

    accounting methods

    ,

    fortune 1000

    ,

    accpac

    ,

    quicktax

    ,

    intuit

    How to Claim Outstanding Student Loans as a Deduction

    Learn how to claim outstanding student loans as a deduction in this video that will help you prepare for tax returns. (00:41)

    How to Obtain a SBA Loan

    http://www.frugalbrothers.com I have received many requests to talk about getting the funds to start or expand a small business. Here is some info on how the SBA works. Distributed by Tubemogul. (08:47)

    How to Understand Participant Loan, and Roth account

    Understand the present advantages of an Unlimited Solo 401k Vs Self Directed IRA . Part 4 of 5. (03:09)

    Learn about Home equity loans

    Khan Academy Presents: Simple example of borrowing from equity to fuel consumption (08:36)

    Don't Get Caught in a Phishing Scam

    This kind of phishing has nothing to do with a fishing pole. The crooks who send out phishing emails go after your bank accounts, take out loans in your name, and ruin your credit. (04:48)

    John Tahan

    Accounting has been defined as, by Professor of Accounting at the University of Michigan William A Paton as having one basic function: "facilitating the administration of economic activity. This function has two closely related phases: 1) measuring and arraying economic data; and 2) communicating the results of this process to interested parties."

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 964
    John Tahan

    Anyone who's worked in an office at some point or another has had to go to accounting. They're the people who pay and send out the bills that keep the business running.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 26
    John Tahan

    If everyone involved in the process of accounting followed their own system, or no system at all, there's be no way to truly tell whether a company was profitable or not. Most companies follow what are called generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, and there are huge tomes in libraries and bookstores devoted to just this one topic. Unless a company states otherwise, anyone reading a financial statement can make the assumption that company has used GAAP.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 484
    John Tahan

    There are many different accounting careers in the field of accounting ranging from entry-level bookkeeping to the Chief Financial Officer of a company. To achieve positions with more responsibility and higher salaries, it's necessary to have a degree in accounting as well as achieve various professional designations. Accounting careers are very rewarding.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 54
    John Tahan

    Assets and Liabilities Making a profit in a business is derived from several different areas. It can get a little complicated because just as in our personal lives, business is run on credit as well. Many businesses sell their products to their customers on credit.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 626
    John Tahan

    In the arena of loan borrowing, there is hardly an opponent more difficult to tackle than bad credit, a second chance bad credit personal loan can be an option. Bad credit implies that your personal credit history is integral and decisive in making the personal loan available for you. Bad credit history is like very probable.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Loans l May 24, 2009 l Views: 7
    John Tahan

    Most people probably think of bookkeeping basics and accounting as the same thing, but bookkeeping is really one function of accounting, while accounting encompasses many functions involved in managing the financial affairs of a business. Accountants prepare reports based, in part, on the work of bookkeepers.

    By: John Tahan l Finance > Accounting l May 24, 2009 l Views: 107

    When someone mentions Merchant services, a big question mark comes in front of many people and this is but natural because many people do not what the concept of merchant services is.

    By: DataInformationcenter l Finance > Accounting l Feb 09, 2010

    In Walnut Creek, a small business with CPA service needs can turn to an accounting firm capable of taking the load off their shoulders. The accountant may handle accounting, bookkeeping and more, so the workforce may focus more on the job at hand.

    By: Jeff Paul l Finance > Accounting l Feb 07, 2010 l Views: 11

    In and beyond Walnut Creek, accounting accuracy and efficiency should be given close attention. A sound bookkeeping of accounting records could not be stressed enough in facilitating the growth of business.

    By: Jeff Paul l Finance > Accounting l Feb 07, 2010 l Views: 9

    The fact that H M Revenue and Customs’ website describes the area known to tax consultants as ‘status disputes’ as ‘employment status’ tells you that the majority of people are employed rather than self-employed. The question of status, however it is referred to, is whether somebody is self-employed or an employee. The penalties for not operating payroll when you should are severe and can amount to several times the amount of tax involved.

    By: Arthor Greenwald l Finance > Accounting l Feb 07, 2010 l Views: 11

    A 401(k) Plan Audit (or other employee benefit plan audit) is often thought of as a painful (and costly) regulatory requirement. In fact, it should offer an avenue to uncover operational flaws that, if corrected timely, lead to long-term savings - both in terms of time and costs incurred.

    By: Scott M Dufek, CPA l Finance > Accounting l Feb 06, 2010 l Views: 10

    There were monumental changes in both the economy and economic policies this past year. While business activity continued to decline during the first half of the year, by mid-year the economy began to grow.

    By: Robert Genetski, Ph.d. l Finance > Accounting l Feb 05, 2010 l Views: 19

    If you are considering retiring in Thailand you need to be fully familiar with (A) Why Consider Retiring In Thailand? (B) Owning A Share of A Condominium In Thailand (C) Purchasing A Property In Thailand In The Name Of A Thai Partner (D) Understanding The Thai Culture

    By: Patricia Ellis l Finance > Accounting l Feb 05, 2010 l Views: 10

    BRAINTREE AND NEWTON, MASS... Rodman & Rodman, P.C., Certified Public Accountants and Business Strategists with offices in Braintree and Newton, will offer a complimentary “Social Networking and Your Business” seminar on Thursday, February 18, 2010 from 7:30 a.m. To 9:30 a.m. At 50 Braintree Hill Office Park in Braintree.

    By: Steve Dubin l Finance > Accounting l Feb 04, 2010 l Views: 7
    John Tahan

    This diet formula is a plan you need. We have plans for everything these days. That is how we can fit 100 different things into each day. While to an extent this seems a bit over doing it, some things do need to be planned. I don't know why we don't plan our diets.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Feb 07, 2010 l Views: 1
    John Tahan

    offers a custom diet plan which works 11 days a cycle, 4 meals a day. On the internet since 2004 by Internet Made Simple Company, CA, US. Many other names besides the official name are you used to promote the product

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 25, 2010 l Views: 11
    John Tahan

    Is smoking good or bad? Almost all people will unanimously agree that smoking is bad, because it is bad indeed! But even certain 'bad' things have their advantages, and smoking is no exception in this regard. I know you will find it hard to believe, but if you are an overweight person then smoking can indeed help you a lot! Smoking will help you lose weight by speeding up your body's metabolism.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 14
    John Tahan

    These days, obese people suffer less from obesity related problems and more from the side effects of weight loss products that they use. If you don't exercise caution when buying a weight loss product, it can be harmful for your health. Doing your due diligence and arming yourself with the correct knowledge is very much essential, especially when it comes to weight loss.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 13
    John Tahan

    Everyday I see so many people asking questions in forums about the latest fad diets, even though they have already joined a weight loss programs. If you are also one who runs after fad diets

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 9
    John Tahan

    A lot of fad diets recommend people to increase their meat intake, especially the ones that suggest low-carb diets. Take for example the Atkins diet, which recommends you to follow a diet which is high in fat and low on carbohydrates. The rationale behind this logic is that increasing the amount of protein intake is the surest way to lose weight, and that meat is the best source of protein. But is that really true? In this article I will tell you how far meat can help you lose weght.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 22
    John Tahan

    Probably one of the most difficult goals to achieve in life is that of weight loss. Weight loss is difficult, but even more difficult is keeping the weight off. While there are several ways to lose weight, not all options work for everybody. For some people, plain diet and exercise will help them lose weight. For others, simply dieting and exercising aren't enough; they will need to take weight loss supplements and perhaps work a bit harder than others.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 19
    John Tahan

    There is no dearth of diet programs whether online or offline. Even if you limit your search to the world wide web only, you will still find an avalanche of diet programs. What is harder is finding a diet plan that would be ideal for your health, help you lose weight and not harm your body in any way.

    By: John Tahan l Health > Nutrition l Jan 16, 2010 l Views: 32

    Add new Comment

     
    * Required fields
    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    1