Colin Barrow is the author of Starting a Business For Dummies, Business Plans For Dummies, and Business Plans Kit For Dummies. John A. Tracy is a former staff accountant at Ernst & Young and is the author of all editions of Accounting For Dummies and Accounting Workbook For Dummies.

Introduction 1

Part 1: Accounting Basics 7

Chapter 1: Introducing Accounting to Non-Accountants 9

Chapter 2: Bookkeeping 101: From Shoe Boxes to the Cloud 31

Chapter 3: Taxes, Taxes and More Taxes 53

Chapter 4: Accounting and Your Personal Finances 69

Part 2: Getting a Grip on Financial Statements 87

Chapter 5: Profit Mechanics 89

Chapter 6: The Balance Sheet from the Profit and Loss Account Viewpoint 111

Chapter 7: Cash Flows and the Cash Flow Statement 133

Chapter 8: Funding the Business 153

Part 3: Accounting in Managing a Business 177

Chapter 9: Managing Profit Performance 179

Chapter 10: Business Budgeting 199

Chapter 11: Choosing the Right Ownership Structure 221

Chapter 12: Cost Conundrums 239

Chapter 13: Choosing Accounting Methods 257

Part 4: Financial Reports in the Outside World 281

Chapter 14: How Investors Read a Financial Report. 283

Chapter 15: Professional Auditors and Advisors 315

Part 5: The Part of Tens 331

Chapter 16: Ten Ways Savvy Business Managers Use Accounting 333

Chapter 17: Ten (plus One) Questions Investors Should Ask When Reading a Financial Report 349

Chapter 18: Ten Ways to Get a Better Handle on the Financial Future 363

Appendix: Glossary: Slashing through the Accounting Jargon Jungle 375

Index 389