Interest, the cost of money

Capital in a free market is allocated via the price system. The interest rate is the price to borrow money as debt. When capital is raised as equity, investors expect to receive dividends and capital gains. The sum of these two sources of capital is the cost of equity.

The four key factors that control the supply/demand for capital are:

Production Opportunity

The returns possible from the investment in productive assets, are production opportunities

Time Preferences for Consumption

Consumer preference for saving verses consuming

Risk

The chance the invest will not return as expected

Inflation

The amount by which prices increase / time

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February 17/2014

An entities debts and obligation that are not due within one year or business cycle, whichever is longer. To learn more visit Long-Term Liabilities - Accounting Actualities

February 10,2014

Companies must use the percentage-of-completion methods when estimates of progress toward completion, revenue, and costs are reasonably and dependably; as well as the following conditions exist. Learn more at Revenue Recognition - Accounting Actualities

February 3, 2014

Transactions are initially recorded in a journal (also called the book of original entry). Journals are kept in chronological order and list transactions in terms of debits and credits to accounts. Besides a general journal businesses may have specialized journals: sales journal, purchases journal, cash receipts journal, cash payments journal… For more visit Accounting Cycle - Accounting Actualities

January 17, 2014

The Ledger is a book of accounts in which data from transactions recorded in journals are posted and thereby classified and summarized. A general ledger is a collection of all accounts. A subsidiary ledger contains the details related to a single general ledger account.

The accounting system is built from a collection of components referred to elements. Read about them on the elements page at Accounting Actualities.

January 10, 2014

The assumptions in the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting are:

Economic entity assumption- The economic activity of the entity is treated distinct and separate from its owners.

Going concern assumption- The absence of information that the entity is not able to continue indefinitely. That the entity has enough income and assets to cover foreseeable obligations.

Monetary unit assumption- The currency used to measure economic activity is going to remain relatively stable, permitting the disregard of inflation or deflation in the environment the entity operates in.

Periodicity assumption- The life of the entity can be divided into time periods for the providing financial reports, this period is usually a year, a quarter, or a month.

See more at about the Conceptual Framework at Accounting Actualities.

January 3, 2014

Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) are the ruling accounting principles, standards and procedures that regulate financial accounting. For an understanding of the Codification and the history of GAAP, visit Account Actualities. You will find it time well spent.