Chart of Account
Chart of Account
The Chart of Accounts is normally arranged or grouped by the Major Types of Accounts. The Balance Sheet
Accounts (Assets, Liabilities, & Equity) are presented first, followed by the Income Statement Accounts
(Revenues & Expenses).
Here we're going to discuss the Income Statement Portion of the Chart Of Accounts (Revenues and
Expenses) and how it's organized,
The Income Statement portion of the chart of accounts normally begins by listing Revenue Accounts followed
by the Expense Accounts. The revenues are grouped or classified based on whether they are related to the
normal operations of the business (primary business activities) called Operating Revenue or result from
incidental (secondary business activities) called Non-operating Revenue.
Likewise, the expenses are grouped or classified based on whether they are related to the normal operations
of the business (primary business activities) called Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses or result from
incidental (secondary business activities) called Non-operating Expenses.
While most revenue and expense accounts that need to be set up are common to all businesses, some
depend on the type of business. Cost Of Sales is needed for those businesses that produce and sell goods or
"inventoriable" services as well as those that just buy and resell the goods.
Revenue
Formal Definition:The gross increase in owner's equity resulting from the operations and other
activities of the business.
Informal Definition:Amounts a business earns by selling services and products and investing. Amounts
billed to customers for services and/or products.
o Operating Revenue
Revenues resulting from the normal operations of a business such as the revenues resulting
from the sale of products and services to your customers.
Sales
Products
Services
Sales Discounts (Contra-Revenue Account)
Sales Returns and Allowances (Contra-Revenue Account)
o Non-Operating Revenue and Gains
Non-operating revenue accounts include all types of income that you receive that are not part
of your main line of business. In other words, revenues or gains resulting from something
other than from normal business operations.
Interest Income
Dividends
Commissions
Rental Income
Gain On Sale Of Assets
Gains -Other Unusual
Expenses
Formal Definition:Decrease in owner's equity resulting from the cost of goods, fixed assets, and
services and supplies consumed in the operations of a business.
Informal Definition:The costs of doing business. The stuff we used and had to pay for or charge to run
our business.
While not absolutely necessary, the Operating Expenses are often grouped into two main
functional areas of operation:
Selling Expenses
Selling Expenses are expenses incurred and related to making sales. Examples are sales
salaries & wages, fringe benefits, advertising, travel, entertainment, catalogues, rent,
utilities, telephone, commissions, warehousing, shipping, depreciation, office supplies,
postage, etc.
General and Administrative Expenses (G&A)
G & A Expenses are related to the general operations or overall administration of the
business. Examples are administrative salaries & wages (officers, office, accounting,
management, and human resources), fringe benefits, supplies, rent, utilities, telephone,
travel, entertainment, depreciation, office supplies, postage, legal & accounting fees,
etc.
The following listing of types of expenses, where needed, can be used and included in both
groups. There are no rigid rules as to the order that the operating expenses are listed within a
category.
• Processed Food
• Tobacco Products
• Alcohol
• Footwear
• Toiletries
Railway
• Railway