Bookkeeping For Small Businesses: Teach Yourself Simple Steps to Becoming a Confident Bookkeeper

Your bookkeeping bootcamp

Bookkeeping for Small Businesses is a concise introduction to the routine recording of business transactions.

Bookkeeping is about the recording of financial transactions. Computers typically support the documentation process in even small businesses, but the accurate recording of transactions remains essential to creating correct accounting outputs. For that reason, bookkeepers need to understand the principles in this book to set up and operate effective accounting systems whether or not using computers. Fortunately, bookkeeping isn't mysterious. Its 'rules' are logical and straightforward. They are readily mastered with practice, as you will quickly discover by working through this step-by-step guide covering all the essential elements of this topic.

· Assumes no prior knowledge
· Includes details on the use of computers to support your bookkeeping
· Features worked examples and carefully graded questions
· Includes three complete examination papers with fully worked solutions
· Covers the main syllabus requirements of elementary examinations in bookkeeping

Andy Lymer is a Professor of Accounting and Taxation at the University of Birmingham. He also heads up Lymer & Associates, undertaking numerous education, consultancy and publishing projects.

Is this the right book for me?

Book keeping is neither dull nor mysterious - its rules are logical and straightforward and are readily mastered by practice. Successful Bookkeeping for Small Business is a substantial yet easy to follow introduction to the principles of bookkeeping and the practical skills of recording transactions, posting the ledgers and preparing final accounts.

Written by finance and accounting experts from the University of Birmingham this book:

- Explains the purpose and use of books of original entry as the basis of the double-entry system.
- Describes the processes of recording purchases, sales and cash transactions.
- Shows how these records are used to prepare the final accounts, the manufacturing, trading and profit and loss accounts and the balance sheet to provide accurate financial statements.
- Explores petty cash, depreciation, partnership, company law, business documents and the effect of changes in IT.

Worked examples throughout allow you to put the theory into practice. There is also a wide range of carefully graded questions and exercises with sample answers. In short, it demystifies the art of bookkeeping and gives you the confidence you need to tackle your books.

Successful Bookkeeping for Small Business includes:

Chapter 1: What is book keeping?
Chapter 2: Business documents
Chapter 3: The business transaction, purchases and sales
Chapter 4: Purchase and sales transactions and ledger accounts
Chapter 5: Cash transactions
Chapter 6: The bank reconciliation
Chapter 7: Petty cash
Chapter 8: The (general) journal
Chapter 9: Writing up the books
Chapter 10: The trial balance
Chapter 11: What is profit or loss?
Chapter 12: The revenue account: the trading, profit and loss and appropriation accounts
Chapter 13: The balance sheet
Chapter 14: Adjustments in the final accounts
Chapter 15: Depreciation
Chapter 16: Clubs, societies and charities book keeping
Chapter 17: Information technology and book keeping
Chapter 18: Partnerships
Chapter 19: Limited companies
Chapter 20: The analysis and interpretations of accounts

Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and added features:

Not got much time?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

Author insights
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the authors' many years of experience.

Test yourself
Tests in the book and online to keep track of your progress.

Extend your knowledge
Extra online articles to give you a richer understanding of bookkeeping.

Try this
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.