E1-30 Preparing the financial statements
Learning Objective 5
Estella Osage publishes an online travel magazine. In need of cash, the business applies for a loan with
National Bank. The bank requires borrowers to submit financial statements. With little knowledge of
accounting, Estella Osage, a stockholder, does not know how to proceed.
Requirements
1. What are the four financial statements that the business will need to prepare?
2. Is there a specific order in which the financial statements must be prepared?
3. Explain how to prepare each statement.
SOLUTION
Requirement 1
a. Income statement
Requirement 2
Yes, the financial statements should be prepared in the order listed above in Requirement 1.
Requirement 3
Income Statement:
a. The header includes the name of the business, the title of the statement, and the time
period. An income statement always represents a period of time, for example, a month or
a year.
b. The revenue accounts are always listed first and then subtotaled if necessary.
c. Each expense account is listed separately from largest to smallest and then subtotaled if
necessary.
d. Net income is calculated as total revenues minus total expenses.
Statement of Retained Earnings:
a. The header includes the name of the business, the title of the statement, and the time
period. A statement of retained earnings always represents a period of time, for example,
Balance Sheet:
a. The header includes the name of the business and the title of the statement but the date is
different. The balance sheet shows the date as a specific date and not a period of time.
b. Each asset account is listed separately and then totaled. Cash is always listed first.
c. Liabilities are listed separately and then totaled. Liabilities that are to be paid first are
listed first.