Essential Accounting Formulas for Financial Statements

Balance Sheet Equations

Assets = Liabilities + Equity

Current Ratio = Current Assets / Current Liabilities

Net Accounts Receivable = Gross Accounts Receivable – Allowance for Uncollectibles

Allowance for Uncollectibles = Gross Receivables x Estimated Percentage

Net Realizable Value (NRV) = Accounts Receivable – Ending Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

Equity and Stock Transactions

Issuing stock increases Equity.

Common Stock Balance = Number of Shares Issued x Par Value per Share

Additional Paid-in Capital (APIC) = Shares Issued x (Issue Price – Par Value)

Total Contributed Capital = Common Stock + Additional Paid-in Capital

Total Stock Issuance Proceeds = Increase in Common Stock + Increase in APIC

Beginning Stockholders’ Equity = Ending Stockholders’ Equity – Change in Equity

Revenue and Profit Calculations

Net Income = Sales Revenue – Expenses

Expenses = Sales Revenue – Net Income

Gross Profit = Net Sales x Gross Profit Margin

Gross Profit Percentage = Gross Profit / Sales Revenue

Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) = Net Sales – Gross Profit

Sales Revenue = Gross Profit + COGS

Net Sales = Gross Sales – Sales Returns – Sales Allowances – Sales Discounts

Retained Earnings and Dividends

Change in Retained Earnings = Net Income – Dividends

Ending Retained Earnings = Beginning Retained Earnings + Net Income – Dividends

Retained Earnings = Total Assets – Total Liabilities – Common Stock

Allowances and Bad Debts

Bad Debt Expense = Required Allowance – Existing Allowance Balance

Ending Allowance for Doubtful Accounts = Beginning Allowance + Bad Debt Expense – Write-offs

Bad Debt Expense = Required Ending Allowance Total – Current Allowance Credit Balance

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (After Write-offs) = Beginning Balance – Write-offs

Bad Debt Expense = Desired Ending Allowance – Allowance Balance After Write-offs

Debt and Interest Calculations

Interest Expense = Principal x Rate x Time

Accrual Effects: Liabilities increase by the interest amount. Expenses increase by the interest amount. Retained earnings decrease by the interest amount.

Interest Expense on Bonds = Carrying Value x Market Interest Rate

Annual Interest Payment = Face Value x Coupon Rate

Depreciation Methods

Straight-Line Method

Depreciation Expense = (Cost – Residual Value) / Useful Life

Double-Declining Balance Method

Depreciation Rate = 2 x (1 / Useful Life)

Depreciation Expense = Depreciation Rate x Book Value at Beginning of Period

Units-of-Production Method

Depreciation Rate per Unit = (Cost – Residual Value) / Total Estimated Units

Depreciation Expense = Depreciation Rate per Unit x Units Used in Year

Other Key Financial Formulas

Bond Issue Price = Face Value + Premium or Issue Price = Face Value – Discount

FIFO Inventory = LIFO Inventory + LIFO Reserve

Revenue Recognition (Percentage of Completion)

Percentage of Completion = Costs Incurred to Date / Total Estimated Costs

Revenue Recognized = Total Contract Price x Percentage of Completion

Accounts Receivable Analysis

Accounts Receivable Turnover = Net Credit Sales / Average Accounts Receivable

Average Collection Period = 365 / Accounts Receivable Turnover

Inventory and Equity Calculations

Purchases = COGS + Ending Inventory – Beginning Inventory

Beginning Stockholders’ Equity = Ending Stockholders’ Equity – Change in Assets + Change in Liabilities

Business Combinations & Investments

Goodwill = Purchase Price – Fair Value of Net Assets Acquired

Unrealized Gain or Loss = Fair Value – Cost or Amortized Cost

Investment Value at Year-End (Equity Method) = Initial Investment + (Investor’s Share of Net Income – Dividends Received)