SINGLE PROPRIETOR'S AND PARTNER'S ACCOUNTS
RETAIL BUSINESS
1. In this section we demonstrate complete sets of books for a retail business, showing every necessary step in bookkeeping from the opening of the business. The first set represents a small business in which the simplest methods are adequate. The business is owned by a single proprietor who opens a retail grocery store.
2. Opening the Books. Remembering that bookkeeping is the art of recording the transactions of a business, the first thing to be done is to make the proper opening entry of the books. Being the opening entry, it should record the first fact of importance, which is that the business has been opened. Since bookkeeping should exhibit the exact financial standing of the business, the next step will be a complete statement of assets and liabilities.
It is customary to make this opening entry on the first page of the journal. The entry should be a plain statement of facts which can be readily understood by anyone.
3. Books Used. In this set, the books used are Journal, Cash Book, and Ledger. In addition a counter book or blotter, corresponding to a day book, is used. This is a rough book in which are recorded sales on account, cash purchases, and sometimes payments on account. The entries are merely memoranda of transactions, made when they occur, to be later entered in the regular books. No bookkeeper being employed, it would be inconvenient for the proprietor or his clerk to go to the desk and make a detailed entry every time a sale is made, and so the transaction is entered in pencil in the blotter. Bookkeeping records must be permanent, and should always be made in ink; and it is advisable, when possible, to have all entries made in one handwriting.
A sample page of the blotter, which illustrates its use, is shown (p. 3). The marks // indicate that the item has been transferred to journal or cash book.
4. The ledger used is one with journal ruling. In posting, each item is entered in the ledger. This is a very satisfactory plan for a small business, as the items of which each charge is composed can be seen at a glance. More space is required for an account, but the saving in time in making statements is a distinct advantage, especially when the proprietor is his own bookkeeper. With the ordinary style of ledger, it is necessary to refer to books of original entry to find the items.
Ledger with Journal Ruling
5. Statements. Customers frequently request detailed statements of account which will give full particulars of each transaction, including each item. At other times the proprietor sends statements to his customers, with a request for payment. When this is done, it is not necessary to enter each item, a statement of the balance due being sufficient unless an itemized statement is requested by the customer.
6. The business is opened by William Webster on the 21st day of November, 190-. He is to conduct a retail grocery business, and has rented a store from Wm. Bristol at a monthly rental of $30.00. His resources consist of cash $600.00; merchandise, consisting of a miscellaneous stock of groceries, $964.50; personal accounts due him as follows: Henry Norton, $25.00; L. B. Jenkins, $22.70. His liabilities consist of two accounts due for goods purchased, as follows: Brewster & Co., Rochester, N. Y., $115.20; Warsaw Milling Co., $64.00. The opening entry, which furnishes a permanent record of these facts, is shown (p. 4).
7. Proprietor's Account. The proprietor's account is an account representing capital when the business is owned by a single proprietor. When the business is started, this account is opened in the name of the proprietor (Wm. Webster, Proprietor), and to it is credited his net investment. From time to time the books are closed and the proprietor's account then receives credit for the net profits or is debited with the net losses of the business.
Day Book
Opening Entry in Journal
AIR-LINE MEAT-CARRYING SYSTEM FOR A LARGE RETAIL MARKET
Lamson Consolidated Store Service Co.
When the proprietor withdraws money or goods from the business for his personal use, the amount may be charged to his investment or proprietorship account, or to a personal account (Wm. Webster, Personal) opened in his name. The latter method is recommended by some writers for the reason that the proprietor's personal expenses, or those of his family, are then separated from the expenses or capital expenditures of the business. As a customer of the business, he is placed on the same basis as any other individual. But the personal account must be closed some time; he must pay it in cash, or close it into profit and loss so that it finally operates to reduce his net investment.
It appears, therefore, that the question whether withdrawals are charged to the investment or a personal account is largely a matter of personal preference.
8. The opening entries having been made, the books are now ready for the recording of the regular transactions of the business. The following transactions are shown in the model set, but the blotter is omitted, all transactions being entered in the journal and cash book. The sample page of the blotter described in Article 3 is sufficient to illustrate its use.
SAMPLE TRANSACTIONS
9.
Journal Entrees Recording all Transactions
Journal Entries Recording all Transactions
Journal Entries Recording all Transactions
Cash Book
Journal Ruled Retail Ledger
Journal Ruled Retail Journal
Journal Ruled Retail Ledger
Journal Ruled Retail Ledger
Journal Ruled Retail Ledger
Journal Ruled Retail Ledger
At the close of business, Nov. 30, a trial balance of the ledger accounts is taken. No attention is paid to the accounts which are closed, the open accounts being only included in the trial balance.
The proprietor wishes to know whether the business has made or lost money, and what the gross and net profits (or the losses) have been. To obtain this information the books are to be closed. Before this process can be completed, it is necessary to know the value of goods now in stock—that is, to take an inventory.
INVENTORY
10. An inventory is taken by counting, measuring, or weighing all goods in stock. The stock is listed on journal paper or in a day book, listing first the quantity; second, the name of the article; third, the price; fourth, the value of each item.
Inventory Sheet
Trial Balance
11. Pricing. In taking an inventory, all goods must be priced at cost—never at the selling price. If selling prices are used, credit is being taken for profits which cannot be earned until the goods are sold. It may even be found advisable at times to list goods at less than cost. Some classes of goods deteriorate; at other times the stock may contain merchandise that was purchased on a high market, on which prices have been materially lowered. To price such goods at actual cost prices is creating fictitious values. Conservatism is necessary in pricing an inventory, for the taking of credit for unearned profits is wrong in principle.
This inventory shows the cost of goods in stock to be $1,042.77.
12. Closing the Books. This is the process of balancing all revenue accounts, and transferring the balances to the profit and loss account, the balance of the account being finally transferred or closed into the capital, surplus, or deficiency account, as the case may be. We have learned that in a single proprietorship, profit and loss is finally closed into capital or investment account.
ERECTING SHOP IN THE WORKS OF THE BALDWIN LOCOMOTIVE WORKS, PHILADELPHIA, PENNA.
This being a trading business, the first step is to open a trading account for the purpose of finding the gross profit. The accounts now in the ledger to be closed into trading account are merchandise, inventory, and purchases, which are entered on the debit side; and sales account, which is entered on the credit side. The present inventory is now entered on the credit side; the two sides of the account are footed; and the difference or balance represents the gross gain or loss.
13. The trading account shows a credit balance or gross profit of $92.00. This balance is now closed into profit and loss, being entered on the credit side. The only revenue account now open is expense, which shows a debit balance of $38.00. This is a revenue expenditure, representing a loss, and is therefore transferred to the debit or loss side of profit and loss account.
Profit and loss shows a credit balance or net profit of $54.00. The balance closes into the account of the proprietor, where it is entered on the credit side increasing his net investment to $1,487.00.
NOTE—Complete postings from page 4 of the journal.
14. A balance sheet should now be prepared; and if our work is correct in every particular, the present worth will correspond in amount with the net investment shown by the proprietor's account.
| Balance Sheet, Nov. 30 | |||
| Assets | |||
| Cash | $535.62 | ||
| Accounts Receivable | 57.63 | ||
| ———— | |||
| $593.25 | |||
| Merchandise Inventory | 1,042.77 | 1,042.77 | 1,636.02 |
| ———— | |||
| Liabilities | |||
| Sundry Accounts Payable | 149.02 | 149.02 | |
| ———— | |||
| Present Worth | $1,487.00 | ||
Closing Entries, Trading and Profit and Loss Accounts
EXERCISE
15. On a certain date the assets and liabilities of John Noble are as follows:
Assets: cash, $450.00; inventory, $762.50; due from sundry debtors—John Lane $30.00, Henry Watson $17.60, D. B Olin $27.60.
Liabilities: due sundry creditors—Perkins & Co. $90.00, F. C. Watkins $54.00.
The following transactions take place:
April 1: Sold to Wm. Aultman on account, 1 bbl. apples $4.50; 10 bu. corn @ 48c. Bought from Mills & Sweet, 114# cheese at 11c.
April 2. Sold to Henry Watson on account, 10 bu. potatoes @ 75c; D. B. Olin paid his account in cash; sold for cash, miscellaneous merchandise $17.20.
April 3. Sold to Andrew Nevin on account, 20# lard at 11c, 14-1/2# ham at 15c; sold to Homer Miller on account, 1/4 bbl. flour, $1.55, 3 doz. eggs @ 26c, 20# sugar @ 5-1/4c; sold for cash, miscellaneous merchandise $18.60.
April 4. Paid Perkins & Co., cash 90.00; sold Marvin Stetson 1 bbl. apples $4.50, 2# coffee @ 40c, 1# tea @ 60c; Wm. Aultman paid his account in full; sold for cash, miscellaneous merchandise $16.30.
April 5. Bought from Geneva Milling Co. 100 bbls. flour @ $3.25; sold to D. Wiseman 2 bbls. salt @ $1.10, 10# sugar @ 5-1/2c; sold for cash, miscellaneous merchandise $14.90.
April 6. Sold F. C. Watkins 20 bu. corn @ 35c, 10# butter @ 30c, 1 vinegar cask $1.50; paid F. C. Watkins cash $42.50; Henry Watson paid his account in full; paid 1 month's rent $35.00; paid clerk hire $7.00; sold for cash, merchandise $27.90.
At the close of business, the merchandise inventory was $987.75.
Using journal, cash book, and ledger, open the books, enter and post these transactions Make a trial balance and a balance sheet, showing present worth. Does the business show a profit or a loss, and how much? How is the amount determined from the balance sheet?
Close the books into the proper accounts, showing gross and net profit and loss. To what account is the profit or loss transferred?
RETAIL COAL BOOKS
16. The proprietor wishes to retire from the grocery business, and, having an opportunity to sell the stock at inventory value, does so, receiving $1,042.77 in cash. He immediately pays sundry accounts payable, $149.02. He collects all accounts receivable except the amount due from L. B. Jenkins, $24.45. This leaves him with assets consisting of cash $1,462.55; due from L. B. Jenkins, $24.45; and no liabilities.
He next engages in the retail coal business, investing his entire assets. He rents an office and yards at $40.00 per month, and engages a teamster who owns a team and wagon, paying him $24.00 per week.
17. In this business there are introduced a sales book, with which the student is familiar, and a form of ledger known as center ruled (p. 25). This form at first appears slightly confusing; but there is considerable advantage in having the debit and credit columns side by side, as balances can be calculated more readily.
18. The cash book used is one having three columns. On the debit side the third column is used for cash sales. The footing is carried forward until the end of the month, or any other time when a trial balance is desired, when the amount is posted in one item. All bills are paid by check, the money received being deposited in the bank.
19. An auxiliary book used in this business is a scale book, in which are recorded the weight of wagon, gross and net weights. Weighing the delivery wagons used by the business each morning is sufficient; this weight can be used on each load hauled for the day. And on deliveries made by the regular wagons, it is not necessary to record the weight of each load in the scale book; knowing the tare, the net weight can be recorded in the sales book.
The principal use of the scale book is to record the weights of coal sold at the yards and hauled by the purchaser. When a wagon comes to the yard for a load of coal, it is of course necessary to obtain first the weight of the empty wagon; and it is important that both this and the gross weight be permanently recorded to prevent later disputes. The scale or weight book is usually made with sheets of from four to six weight tickets, perforated, having stubs which are exact duplicates of the tickets. The perforated ticket is given to the customer and the stub remains in the book as a permanent record.
Since it is necessary to enter the weights in two places, and because this duplication of work is liable to result in errors, a better plan would be to omit the stub and make the book with carbon duplicate tickets. Even with the old style of book a sheet of carbon paper can be placed between two sheets and two copies of the ticket made at one writing; the record sheet to remain in the book. See illustration, p. 26.
CENTER RULED LEDGER
20. Uncollectable Accounts. In the closing entries of the last model set, we have shown that the gross trading profits are represented by the balance of trading account. All profits from other sources are credited directly to profit and loss account; likewise all other losses are charged directly to profit and loss. One such source of loss is uncollectable accounts. To charge the loss resulting from an uncollectable account against trading profits would create a false showing in respect to the trading profits during the current period, for the reason that the account may represent sales made during a former period.
Scale Book
SAMPLE TRANSACTION
21. The transactions which follow represent the business for the period covered:
EXERCISE
22. Open the books, using cash book, sales book, journal, and ledger. Enter each transaction, and make all postings to ledger. Take off a trial balance of the ledger accounts.
At the close of business, Dec. 15, the inventory is taken, and shows the following quantities on hand:
| 38 | tons | nut | @ 4.25 |
| 14 | " | egg | @ 4.25 |
| 9 | " | pea | @ 3.75 |
| 18½ | " | run of mine | @ 3.25 |
Close all accounts representing trading transactions into a trading account, and find the gross trading profit or loss.
Close trading and revenue expenditure accounts into profit and loss account.
Close net profits into proprietor's account.
Bring down the balances in the ledger and take a new trial balance.
SALES TICKETS
23. In a retail business it is necessary for the sales person to record purchases at the time the goods are selected by the customer. When but one or two clerks are employed, it is possible to record these sales in a counter book or blotter; but in a larger business employing several clerks, this method would be extremely inconvenient. The bookkeeper would be obliged to wait for the books; and even if two sets of counter books were provided for use on alternate days, the work would always be at least one day behind.
The increase in the volume of business transacted, and the multiplicity of transactions in a retail store, have been responsible for the introduction of many labor-saving methods and devices. One of these now used in all large stores and in many small ones, is the sales ticket.
The sales ticket is to all intents and purposes a small invoice blank. Sales tickets are put up in pads or in book form, and are numbered in duplicate. The number is prefixed by a letter—as H 10—which is intended to indicate either the department or the sales person. When a sale is made, the ticket or bill is made in duplicate by means of carbon paper; one copy is given to the customer, and the other retained. If it is a cash sale, the copy retained goes to the cashier with the money; if a sale on account, to the bookkeeper to be charged.
These sales tickets are also used for taking orders for future delivery, both copies being retained until the order is filled. When delivery is made, one copy goes to the customer as a bill. Aside from the time saved, the sales ticket is a great convenience, as its use gives the customer a bill for every purchase.
DEPARTMENTAL RECORDS
24. When the goods sold are divided into departments, it is here customary to record carefully the purchases and sales for each department. These records are provided for by the use of purchase and sales books having as many columns as there are departments. Let us suppose that the business under consideration is a single proprietorship, and that the goods sold are clothing, shoes, and furnishings. Each class of goods is kept in a separate department, sales and purchases being recorded by departments.
25. Purchase and sales books of a special design are used, each having three special columns. It will be noted that neither purchases nor sales are recorded in detail, but that both purchase invoices and sales tickets are recorded by number, and only the totals extended in the proper column. The charges and credits are posted to personal accounts from the purchase and sales books. All purchase invoices are filed in numerical order. The sales tickets are kept in bundles, each day's tickets by themselves. The tickets of each department and each sales person are also kept by themselves. If it becomes necessary at any time to know the items of an invoice or sales ticket, it is an easy matter to refer to the files under the proper date and number for the desired information.
The combined totals of the three department columns must equal the footing of the total column. All footings are carried forward until the end of the month, when the totals are posted directly to purchase and sales accounts, completing the double entry. In the ledger, purchase and sales accounts are kept with each department; but when the books are closed, the results from all departments are combined in the trading account. Instead of recording cash sales in a special column in the cash book, all receipts of this kind are entered in the regular cash received column. These sales are not posted from the cash book, but are entered in the sales book daily. Thus they are carried forward in the footings, and at the end of the month the totals of the sales book represent all sales, both on account and for cash.
26. The cash book in this set presents some new features. Instead of using both pages of the book, one page is used for both debit and credit. The bank account is also kept in the cash book, debit and credit columns being provided for this purpose. Deposits are entered in the bank debit column and in the cash credit column. Checks are entered in the bank credit column and posted to individual accounts.
The other books used are the journal and ledger. The journal is used only for adjusting entries which cannot be made through the other books.
SAMPLE TRANSACTIONS
27. The business is opened by C. D. Walker, who invests $3,500.00 cash, which he deposits in the bank. The following transactions are recorded:
| Balance Sheet, Jan. 20 | |||
| Assets | |||
| Cash | |||
| Bank | $2,983.58 | ||
| Office | 97.45 | ||
| ———— | $3,081.03 | ||
| Accounts Receivable | |||
| Martin | 36.00 | ||
| Crane | 3.00 | ||
| Whipple | 17.50 | ||
| Lewis | 10.00 | ||
| Johnson | 20.00 | ||
| ———— | |||
| 86.50 | |||
| Merchandise (Inventory) | 582.00 | ||
| ———— | $3,749.53 | ||
| Liabilities | |||
| Accounts Payable | |||
| Farwell | 132.00 | ||
| Barr | 22.20 | 154.20 | 154.20 |
| ———— | ———— | ———— | |
| Present Worth | $3,595.33 | ||
Adjustment Journal and Department Purchase Book
Departmental Sales Book
Cash Book Including Bank Account
Center Ruled Ledger
Center Ruled Ledger
Center Ruled Ledger
Center Ruled Ledger
Center Ruled Ledger
Trial Balance
EXERCISE
28. Take a trial balance of the ledger accounts as they appear after the books are closed Jan. 20.
At the close of business, Feb. 28, we find that the following transactions have been recorded:
Purchased clothing from Hart, Schaffner & Marx, $1,500.00; from Brokau Bros., $720.00.
Purchased furnishings from Barr Dry Goods Co., $60.00, from Rosenthal & Co., $437.50.
Purchased shoes from Brown Shoe Co., $460.00.
Sold on account, clothing, $600.00; furnishings, $224.40; shoes, $112.00.
Sold for cash, clothing, $789.50; furnishings, $302.90; shoes, $447.25.
Received cash on account, $672.20.
Received returned goods: clothing, $15.00; shoes, $7.00.
Deposited cash in bank, $2,230.00.
Paid cash for expenses, $10.00.
Gave checks as follows: Hart, Schaffner & Marx, $1,176.00; Brokau Bros., $705.60; Brown Shoe Co., $294.00; Farwell & Co., $132.00; Barr Dry Goods Co., $22.20; Rosenthal & Co., $428.75; rent, $50.00; expenses, $100.00.
Cash discounts earned on accounts paid as follows: Hart, Schaffner & Marx, $24.00; Brokau Bros., $14.40; Brown Shoe Co., $6.00; Rosenthal & Co., $8.75.
Take a new trial balance as the ledger accounts appear after posting these transactions.
The inventory, Feb. 28, is:
| Clothing | $1,790.50 |
| Furnishings | 176.40 |
| Shoes | 136.25 |
| ———— | |
| $2,103.15 |
Close the books, make statement of trading and profit and loss account. Make a balance sheet.
What were the gross profits for this period?
What were the net profits?
What is the proprietor's present worth?
PARTNERSHIP
29. Legal authorities define a partnership as a combination by two or more persons, of capital, labor, or skill, for the transaction of business for their common profit.
Partnerships may be formed for the purpose of conducting any legitimate business or undertaking, and are created by contract, expressed or implied, between the parties. Partnership agreements need not be in writing, but may be made by oral assent of the parties. Even though they are legal if made orally, partnership agreements should always be made in writing.
30. Partnership Agreements. These should state the date on which the agreement is entered into, the name of the contracting parties, the name by which the partnership is to be known, and the address of the place of business. Following should be a statement of the nature of the business, the amount and form of investment of each partner, the duration of the partnership, the basis of division of profits, provisions for the dissolution of the partnership, definition of the duties of active partners, and a provision for the division of the assets in the event of dissolution or at the termination of the partnership.
31. Kinds of Partners. Partners are of different kinds, depending on the nature of the partnership agreement and the extent of their liability, expressed or implied, as between themselves or in respect to third persons. The usual classification of partners is as follows: ostensible, secret, nominal, silent, and dormant.
Ostensible partners are those whose names are disclosed to the public as actual partners.
Secret partners are those whose names are not disclosed to the public, though participating in the profits.
Nominal partners are those who allow their names to be used as partners, though they may have no actual interest in the business. The fact of their being known as partners makes them liable to third parties.
Silent partners are those who, while sharing in the profits, take no active part in the management of the business. Their names may or may not be known. Silent partners may also be secret partners,
Dormant partners are those, who are both silent and secret partners. They are usually included in a general term like Company, Sons, or Brothers.
32. Participation in Profits. The most simple partnership from an accounting standpoint is one in which the investments of the several partners are equal, and profits are to be divided equally.
This condition does not exist in all partnerships. The members of the partnership may invest unequal amounts and share in the profits on the basis of their investment. The investment may be equal, but one partner may receive an extra share of the profits in return for work performed in lieu of a salary. The investment may be unequal, but the one with the smaller investment may share equally in the profits in return for work performed. It is not unusual for a silent partner to furnish all of the capital and share equally in the profits with an ostensible partner who assumes full responsibility for the management of the business.
33. Interest on Investment. When the investment of the partners is unequal, it is customary to allow interest on the capital invested and to charge interest on all withdrawals. The interest on capital must be credited, and the interest on withdrawals must be charged, before profits can be distributed.
34. Capital and Personal Accounts. In a partnership a special account should be opened in the name of each partner to represent his investment (for example, John Smith, Capital). To this account is credited his net investment. When the books are closed, the account is credited with his share of the profits, and debited with his withdrawals.
A personal account should be opened in the name of each partner, to which is debited all withdrawals, either of money or goods. Even when the capital invested is equal, some partnership agreements provide that interest shall be charged on all withdrawals, particularly when the business is of such a nature that goods traded in are likely to be withdrawn by the partners, or when, for any reason, withdrawals are likely to be unequal. The balance of the partner's personal account is closed into his capital account when the books are closed. Before closing this account, it should be credited with interest on capital account and charged with the interest provided on withdrawals.
35. Opening the Books. When the books of a partnership are opened, the essential features of the partnership agreement should be written at the top of the first page of the journal. Next following the partnership agreement, are the entries showing the nature and amount of the investment of each partner, the amounts being posted to the credit of partners' capital accounts.
36. Closing the Books. When the books of a partnership are to be closed, the revenue accounts are closed into trading and profit and loss, the same as in any other form of business organization. The net profit is then apportioned according to agreement, the share of each partner being credited to his capital account. The balance of his personal account is then carried to his capital account; the balance of that account will then show his net investment.
Illustration of Closing Entries. A, B, and C form a partnership, each investing $1,000.00, profits to be shared equally. When the books are closed, the net profits are found to be $909.60. A's personal account shows a debit balance of $46.50; B's personal account shows a credit balance of $100.00; C's personal account shows a credit balance of $52.00. The entries are as follows:
SAMPLE TRANSACTION
37. The first business taken up for consideration under the head of partnerships is a retail shoe business. The stock is kept in three classes: men's, women's, and children's shoes. Purchase and sales books, ruled to segregate transactions of each class, are used. The bank account is kept in the cash book, which is also provided with two columns for discount. All sales, whether for cash or on account, are recorded on sales tickets.
James Benton, Horace Douglas, and Henry Kemp form a partnership under the firm name of Benton, Douglas & Kemp, for the purpose of conducting a retail shoe business in Buffalo, N. Y. The date of the agreement, which is to continue for ten years, is March 1, 1908. James Benton invests $1,000.00 in cash and a stock of shoes inventorying $2,000.00 as follows: men's, $800.00; women's, $700.00; children's, $500.00. Horace Douglas and Henry Kemp each invest $3,000.00 in cash. The three partners are to share equally in the profits and each is to receive a salary of $100.00 per month. The books are to be closed and net profits divided at the end of each three months' period counting from January 1, which brings the first distribution on March 31.
The following transactions are recorded during the month of March:
Henry Kemp wishes to retire from the business. His partners, Benton and Douglas, agree to pay him cash for his interest. To close the books, each partner is credited with one-half a month's salary, and the amount is charged to expense. The inventory shows the stock to be:
| Inventory | |
| Men's shoes | $759.75 |
| Women's | 835.75 |
| Children's | 519.00 |
| ———— | |
| $2,114.50 | |
Journal Showing Opening Entries for a Partnership
Cash Book with Center Column for Particulars
Departmental Sales Book
Departmental Sales and Purchase Books
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
Classified Ledger Accounts
EXERCISE
38. 1. Submit a trading and a profit and loss account as shown by the books at the close of business March 13.
2. What errors do you find in these books?
3. Submit a balance sheet.
4. Submit the journal entries to be used in apportioning the profits, and in closing partner's personal account. Show partners' capital accounts after final closing.
5. Submit proper entries when Kemp's interest is purchased, assuming that he is paid by check from the funds in hand.
6. Submit trial balance of ledger of Benton & Douglas as the accounts appear after the purchase of Kemp's interest. Remember that no additional capital is invested.
39. Sale of Partnership. When the business of a partnership is sold, the net assets must be divided among the partners according to agreement, unless the partnership is to continue for the transaction of the same or some other class of business. As a rule, the liabilities are paid (if possible), from the cash funds on hand, leaving the net assets for division.
In the division of assets, one partner will frequently agree to accept a certain class of assets in lieu of cash, but at a discount. To illustrate, one partner might accept fixtures, which cost $1,000.00, at 10% discount. Deducting 10% from the cost price of the fixtures reduces the assets just that amount, and it is necessary to debit profit and loss and to credit fixture account, with the loss.
If any class of assets, other than the goods in which the firm is trading, bring a price above cost, it is necessary to debit the purchaser and credit profit and loss with the profit. If the stock regularly traded in is sold at a profit, no special entry is required; the sale is recorded in the regular way and credited to sales account, from which it finds its way into profit and loss in the final closing of the books.
This class of transactions involves but one of the many kinds of adjusting entries, all of which necessitate careful study on the part of the bookkeeper. In making adjusting entries, full explanations should be given that their meaning or intent may not be misunderstood by one who later refers to them. It is better to err on the side of what may appear as too detailed explanation, than to leave anything to be taken for granted.
Following is an illustration of the entry involving the sale of fixtures at 10% discount:
| Profit and Loss | $100.00 | |
| Fixture Account | $100.00 | |
| 10% discount allowed on fixtures takenby A in part payment of his share of assets | ||
| A's Capital a/c | $900.00 | |
| Fixture Account | $900.00 | |
| Fixtures taken at 10% discount in part payment of his share of assets. |
40. Benton and Douglas agree to continue the business and to share profits equally. At the close of business, Dec. 31, their balance sheet showed the following:
| Balance Sheet, Dec. 31 | |||
| Assets | |||
| Cash | |||
| In office | $144.60 | ||
| In bank | 1,287.20 | $1,431.80 | |
| ———— | |||
| Accounts Receivable | 810.00 | ||
| Inventory, Merchandise | 3,769.50 | 4,579.50 | |
| ———— | |||
| Inventory, Fixtures | 2,000.00 | 2,000.00 | |
| ———— | |||
| Total Assets | $8,011.30 | ||
| Liabilities | |||
| Accounts Payable | 925.20 | ||
| ———— | |||
| Present Worth | $7,086.10 | ||
| Benton's present worth | $3,543.05 | ||
| Douglas's present worth | 3,543.05 | ||
They accept an opportunity to sell for cash the stock and fixtures, the buyer agreeing to pay 15% above cost price for the merchandise, and cost price for the fixtures. The money received from this transaction, and the money in the office at time of sale, are deposited in the bank. Checks are drawn to settle all accounts payable, $7.22 discount being earned. In liquidating the business of the firm, Benton agrees to accept the accounts receivable in part payment of his share, on condition that 10% be first charged off to cover uncollectable accounts.
EXERCISE
1. Show all entries required to complete the liquidation of this business.
2. At the final settlement, how much cash does each partner receive?
41. Division of Profits. When the investment of the several partners is unequal, the partnership agreement usually provides for the crediting of interest on capital, and the charging of interest on withdrawals.
A and B form a partnership, and commence business Oct. 1. A invests $7,000.00, and B invests $3,000.00. The agreement provides that interest at 6% shall be credited on capital and charged on withdrawals at the time of closing the books, profits to be shared on the basis of their investments.
The books were closed Oct. 31, with the following results:
The adjustment is made as follows:
| A's investment, | $7,000.00 | Interest for 30 days | (1 month) | $35.00 |
| A's withdrawals | 200.00 | Interest for 15 days | .50 | |
| ———— | ||||
| Net interest to be credited to A | $34.50 | |||
| B's investment, | $3,000.00 | Interest for 30 days | $15.00 | |
| B's withdrawals, | 100.00 | Interest for 10 days | .17 | |
| ———— | ||||
| Net interest to be credited to B | $14.83 | |||
The journal entry is:
| Interest | $49.33 | |
| A's personal a/c | $34.50 | |
| B's personal a/c | 14.83 | |
| Net interest credited on capital accounts. | ||
After posting the entry, our interest account shows the following:
| Interest on capital | $49.33 |
This account is, of course, closed into profit and loss, leaving net profits to be divided, $954.67, of which A receives 70%, and B 30%.
For the final closing of the books, we would close the personal accounts of A and B into their capital accounts, and close profit and loss account into their capital accounts. In actual practice the interest on withdrawals and investment would be entered and charged to profit and loss through interest account, before the net profit is brought down. In our illustration we have first brought down what appears to be the net profit, for the purpose of emphasizing the fact that the interest must be considered before profits are divided.
EXERCISE
42. C, D, and E formed a partnership Nov. 1. C invested $9,000.00 cash; D invested $7,000.00 cash; E invested $4,000.00 cash. The partnership agreement provided that profits should be shared on the basis of the capital invested by each; interest at 6% to be credited on capital and charged on withdrawals.
At the close of business the following statistics are gathered from the books:
| C's Capital a/c | Cr. | ————— | $9,000.00 |
| D's Capital a/c | Cr. | 7,000.00 | |
| E's Capital a/c | Cr. | 4,000.00 | |
| Purchases | Dr. | 15,000.00 | |
| Sales | Cr. | 12,000.00 | |
| Expense | Dr. | 160.00 | |
| Rent | Dr. | 150.00 | |
| Salaries | Dr. | 700.00 | |
| Bank | Dr. | 7,250.00 | |
| Bills Receivable | Dr. | 6,000.00 | |
| Accounts Receivable | Dr. | 7,220.00 | |
| Bills Payable | Cr. | 3,000.00 | |
| Accounts Payable | Cr. | 2,820.00 | |
| C's personal a/c | Dr. | Nov. 15 | $300.00 |
| D's personal a/c | Dr. | Dec. 1 | 200.00 |
| E's personal a/c | Dr. | Nov. 20 | 100.00 |
| Inventory | Dec. 31 | 7,000.00 |
Make trading account, profit and loss account, and journal entries to adjust interest.
Make balance sheet, and show partners' capital accounts after final closing of the books.
A VIEW OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OFFICES OF THE WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY