A balance sheet for a sole proprietorship is similar to a balance sheet for any other kind of business in that it shows how much the business entity owns and owes. Sole proprietorships are closely ...

Learn how companies legally keep assets and liabilities off their balance sheets to maintain favorable debt ratios, and the implications for investors.

There aren't different balance sheets for different business types. The Financial Accounting Standards Board -- the private-sector entity that sets generally accepted accounting principles -- gives ...

When you want to know a company’s financial health, it helps to look at its balance sheet. But if you’ve never seen a balance sheet before or don’t know how to read one, all you’ll see is a collection ...

Joseph Nguyen is a contributing author at Investopedia and a research analyst with experience at a securities brokerage firm. Charlene Rhinehart is a CPA , CFE, chair of an Illinois CPA Society ...

If you’ve ever looked at a balance sheet and immediately wanted to slam your laptop shut, you’re not alone. Most business owners don’t come from accounting backgrounds, and the sheer volume of numbers ...

If you're interested in investing, you've probably read quite a few articles that say "do your homework" before buying a stock. Reading and understanding a balance sheet is part of that homework.

El Paso Corp. executives Wednesday disclosed the company formed a new off-balance sheet entity last week called Gemstone. Off-balance sheet transactions have come under the spotlight ever since Enron ...

A strong balance sheet can make all the difference between your investment surviving a market downturn and blowing up in your face. Nearly every financial crisis can be traced back to a foundation of ...

Balance sheets consist of assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity, revealing financial health. Shareholders' equity equals assets minus liabilities and reflects theoretical investor value if a ...