๐ 1. Debits and Credits
๐น What Are They?
In double-entry accounting, every financial transaction affects at least two accounts โ one is debited, and the other is credited.
-
A debit (Dr) is an entry on the left side
-
A credit (Cr) is an entry on the right side
๐น Debit and Credit Rules by Account Type
| Account Type | Increases With | Decreases With |
|---|---|---|
| Asset | Debit | Credit |
| Liability | Credit | Debit |
| Equity | Credit | Debit |
| Revenue | Credit | Debit |
| Expense | Debit | Credit |
๐ Always balance: Total debits = total credits for each transaction
๐งพ 2. Types of Accounts
๐น A. Assets
Resources owned by the business
Examples: Cash, Equipment, Accounts Receivable
๐น B. Liabilities
Obligations the business owes
Examples: Loans, Accounts Payable, Salaries Payable
๐น C. Equity
Ownerโs claim on the business after liabilities
Examples: Capital, Retained Earnings
๐น D. Revenue (Income)
Money earned from business operations
Examples: Sales, Service Revenue
๐น E. Expenses
Costs incurred to generate revenue
Examples: Rent, Salaries, Utilities
๐ง These 5 account types form the core of all accounting systems.
๐ 3. Recording Transactions in the General Journal
๐น What is a Journal?
The general journal is the book of original entry where all transactions are recorded chronologically with a brief description.
ย
๐ 4. Posting to the General Ledger
๐น What is the General Ledger (GL)?
The ledger is where each account from the journal is maintained individually, showing all debits and credits over time.
Each account has a T-account or a running total format, which helps determine the accountโs balance.
ย
๐ Summary Table
| Step | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Identify Transaction | Determine accounts affected |
| Apply Debit/Credit Rules | Decide which account is debited/credited |
| Journal Entry | Record in general journal |
| Post to Ledger | Update each affected account in the general ledger |
| Check Balances | Confirm total debits = total credits |