Question

Goal: Ch 1, Cash-basis vs. accrual-basis accounting equation (pp. 14-15).

1. Consider the following two cash-basis equations:

1

Assets/Resources

=

Shareholders’ Equity (SHE)

2

Cash

=

Contributed Capital

+

Earned Capital

a. The second equation simply portrays assets (or resources) from the first equation as containing one component, Cash; and Shareholders’ Equity from the first equation as containing two components: 1) contributed capital, and 2) earned capital.

b. Owners contribute capital to the business, with the expectation that managers will generate profits. Think of this as external capital (i.e., capital from the outside).

c. In contrast, the firm generates earned capital from transactions with customers and vendors, which create revenues and expenses, respectively. So, earned capital is non-owner capital generated by using the firm’s internal resources. Revenues minus expenses equal profit or loss. If the firm is profitable, then earned capital grows, and if the firm is unprofitable, then earned capital shrinks. Note that profits represent potential dividend payments to shareholders (i.e., a return on their investments).

i. Key is that earned capital requires transactions with non-owner parties (i.e., arms-length transactions).

ii. For now, think of earned capital as the cumulative, life-to-date profit or loss for the business. And profit or loss is simply the difference between revenues and expenses.

2. Consider the following two accrual-basis equations:

1

Assets/Resources

=

Liabilities

+

Shareholders’ Equity (SHE)

2

Cash

+

A/R

+

Inventory

=

A/P1

+

Taxes Payable

+

STD1

+

LTD1

+

Contributed Capital

+

Earned Capital

a. The first equation now portrays two broad types of claims against the assets/resources: liabilities and SHE.

i. Liabilities represent obligations to creditors (not owners). For example, the firm may purchase inventory on credit, where they obtain the goods now, but pay the bill later. So, creditors also contribute capital to the firm, but a slightly different type of capital than owner capital.

ii. Creditor-provided capital comes with a legal contract for repayment, where owner capital has no such contract.

b. The second equation now portrays assets (or resources) as containing three components; liabilities now contain four components; and Shareholders’ Equity is the same as before.

3. Compare the cash-basis and accrual-basis equations.

a. How are they different? What is the name of the concept that captures the differences?

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4. Assume that you are the bank, and a prospective borrower provides you with two reports/equations that describe the borrower’s company: 1) the cash-basis report/equation; and 2) the accrual-basis equation.

a. Which report/equation is most useful to you, the banker?​​.

Answer 1

3. a) The major difference between the cash basis of accounting and accrual basis of accounting is recording or accounting for the non-cash liability and revenue of the business. It is evident from the first equation that the cash basis of accounting does not consider the upcoming liabilities of the business as against its resources. However, the accrual basis of accounting is done on the basis of the concept of going concern. Going concern clearly depicts that the business will continue its operations in the future and any expense and income attributed to an accounting year should be accounted in the same year. In the second equation also the cash profits earned in the business is only considered as the profits of the business, however, the concept of accrual accounting not just considers cash profits but also takes into account income receivable and expenses payable in the business. Accrual basis of accounting is based on the concept of going concept which clearly states that profit/ losses in the accounting year should be attributed in the same accounting period to depict a true and correct picture about the earned revenue in the business.

4. As a banker, the accrual basis report is more useful as it depicts the true picture of the financial health of the business. Apart, it also provides the correct picture of the cash inflows and outflows in the business which is of prior importance of the banker. Cash flows depict the liquidity of the business and therefore is of prime importance for the banker. Thereby, it is evident that as banker accrual basis of accounting will be considered as against cash basis report.