Bookkeeping For Dummies

The fast and easy way to master the art of bookkeeping If you're a business owner or an employee who manages finances, the latest edition of Bookkeeping For Dummies is for you. This handy guide gives you clear and concise information on how to keep track of accounts, prepare balance sheets, organize ledgers or journals, create financial statements, and so much more. Packed with the most up-to-date bookkeeping practices, tax information, and small-business laws, Bookkeeping For Dummies is an accessible, invaluable resource you'll turn to again and again. Accurate and complete bookkeeping is crucial to any -business owner but jumping in headfirst without knowing your accounts from your balance sheets can confuse even the most astute businessperson. That's where Bookkeeping For Dummies helps! Written in the familiar and friendly tone that has defined the For Dummies brand for more than twenty years, this clear and comprehensive guide covers everything you'll encounter as you set out to tackle your company's books, ensuring you're on the right track and saving you tons of headaches along the way. So what are you waiting for? It's time to hit the books! Offers easy-to-follow instructions to keep track of your business' financial well-being Covers managing assets and liabilities Includes updated QuickBooks screenshots and Excel spreadsheets Provides guidance on producing balance sheets and creating financial statements Whether you're just starting out with bookkeeping or a bookkeeper who needs to brush up on your skills Bookkeeping For Dummies sets you up for success.

The fast and easy way to master the art of bookkeepingIf you're a business owner or an employee who manages financesthe latest edition of Bookkeeping For Dummies is for you.This handy guide gives you clear and concise information on how tokeep track of accounts, prepare balance sheets, organize ledgers orjournals, create financial statements, and so much more. Packedwith the most up-to-date bookkeeping practices, tax informationand small-business laws, Bookkeeping For Dummies is anaccessible, invaluable resource you'll turn to again and again.Accurate and complete bookkeeping is crucial to any -businessowner--but jumping in headfirst without knowing your accountsfrom your balance sheets can confuse even the most astutebusinessperson. That's where Bookkeeping For Dummies helps!Written in the familiar and friendly tone that has defined the ForDummies brand for more than twenty years, this clear andcomprehensive guide covers everything you'll encounter as you setout to tackle your company's books, ensuring you're on the righttrack and saving you tons of headaches along the way. So what areyou waiting for? It's time to hit the books!* Offers easy-to-follow instructions to keep track of yourbusiness' financial well-being* Covers managing assets and liabilities* Includes updated QuickBooks screenshots and Excelspreadsheets* Provides guidance on producing balance sheets and creatingfinancial statementsWhether you're just starting out with bookkeeping--or abookkeeper who needs to brush up on yourskills--Bookkeeping For Dummies sets you up forsuccess.

Introduction 1Part I: Basic Bookkeeping: Why You Need It 5Chapter 1: So You Want to Do the Books 7Chapter 2: Getting Down to Bookkeeping Basics 15Chapter 3: Outlining Your Financial Road Map with a Chart of Accounts 27Part II: Keeping a Paper Trail 41Chapter 4: Ledgers: A One-Stop Summary of Your Business Transactions 43Chapter 5: Keeping Journals 55Chapter 6: Computer Options for Your Bookkeeping 71Chapter 7: Controlling Your Books, Your Records, and Your Money 81Part III: Tracking Your Day-to-Day Operations with Your Books 99Chapter 8: Buying and Tracking Your Purchases 101Chapter 9: Counting Your Sales 113Chapter 10: Employee Payroll and Benefits 127Chapter 11: Employer-Paid Taxes and Government Payroll Reporting 149Part IV: Preparing the Books for Year's (or Month's) End 163Chapter 12: Depreciating Your Assets 165Chapter 13: Paying and Collecting Interest 175Chapter 14: Proving Out the Cash 185Chapter 15: Closing the Journals 199Chapter 16: Checking Your Accuracy -- By Trial and Hopefully No Error 211Chapter 17: Adjusting the Books 221Part V: Reporting Results and Starting Over 231Chapter 18: Developing a Balance Sheet 233Chapter 19: Producing an Income Statement 245Chapter 20: Completing Year-End Payroll and Reports 259Chapter 21: Satisfying the Tax Man 271Chapter 22: Prepping the Books for a New Accounting Cycle 289Part VI: The Part of Tens 297Chapter 23: Top Ten Ways to Manage Your Business Cash with Your Books 299Chapter 24: Top Ten Most Important Accounts for Any Bookkeeper 303Appendix: Glossary 307Index 311