Part 21

Credit the person When you receive anything of value;

When he pays you cash.

Debit cash When you receive it.

Credit cash When you part with it.

=5. Posting.= There is no difference between posting to a single entry ledger and one kept by the double entry method. However, the only accounts posted are personal accounts, and the ledger shows merely how much money the business owes to persons and how much money persons owe the business. A single entry ledger does not show the amount of our notes outstanding, or the amount of other persons' notes held by us. This information can be found only in the bill book. The ledger does not show the value of merchandise purchased or sold, expenses of the business, nor the amount of our investments in land, buildings, or other forms of property.

=6. Proprietor's Account.= A proprietor's investment or capital account is kept in single entry just as it is in double entry. This may or may not include withdrawals. They may be recorded in a personal or private account, in which case the proprietor's account will exhibit the net investment in the business.

=7. Proving the Work.= Since but one side of each journal entry is posted, the two sides of the ledger will not agree as in double entry. Hence a trial balance is, strictly speaking, impossible. The only absolutely sure method of checking the accuracy of a single account in the ledger is to carefully check all postings; this is also true of double entry. But it is possible to prove that the correct totals have been posted in single entry, as it is in double entry. Since the ledger is never in balance as in double entry, the proof is not found by comparing the two sides of the ledger, but by comparing the difference between the two sides of the ledger, with the difference between debits and credits in the columns of books of original entry from which postings have been made. If the difference between debits and credits in the ledger agrees with the difference between debits and credits in the books of original entry, the work may be assumed to be correct.

To prove the work, first find the balances of all ledger accounts and enter the amounts in the debit and credit columns on journal paper—as for a trial balance. Foot and find the difference between the two columns. Next foot the order book, day book, cash book, or any other books from which posting is done, and list the totals which should be posted to debit and credit of ledger accounts. Foot and find the difference.

SAMPLE TRANSACTIONS

=8.= For the first demonstration of single entry bookkeeping, we have selected a small retail business, using transactions which have been used to illustrate a double entry set. This set is kept in the most simple manner possible, the books used being journal, cash book, and ledger.

The business is opened by Wm. Webster on the 21st day of November, 190-. He is to conduct a retail grocery business and has rented a store from Wm. Bristol at a monthly rental of $30.00. His resources consist of cash, $600.00; a stock of groceries, $946.50; personal accounts due him as follows: Henry Norton $25.00, L. B. Jenkins $22.70. His liabilities consist of two accounts, as follows: Brewster & Co., $115.20; Warsaw Milling Co., $64.00. The opening entry recording the above, is made in the journal as in double entry, but only personal items are posted. Cash is transferred to the cash book.

CUTTING OFF DEPARTMENT IN THE PLANT OF THE UNION TWIST DRILL CO., ATHOL, MASS. ]

—Nov. 21— Sold to Henry Norton on account 10# sugar 5½¢ $.55 2 cans corn .25 1 can peas .15 3# rice .30 ----- 1.25

—21— Sold to John Smallwood on account 5# butter $1.00 4# lard .50 1 doz. eggs .25 ----- 1.75

—21— Cash sales 14.10

—22— Sold to Harry Webster on account 7 bars Lenox soap .25 1 pkg. gold dust .20 1 pkg. matches .15 ¼ bbl. flour 1.35 ----- 1.95

—22— Bought for cash 10 doz. eggs .21 2.10

—23— Bought from H. Kling & Co. on account 244# hams .12½ 22.50 201# lard .07½ 15.08 ----- 45.58

—23— Sold to F. W. Bradley on account 2 bu. potatoes 1.60

—23— Sold to C. D. Glover on account 1 bbl. apples 3.25 5 gal. vinegar 1.25 ----- 4.50

—23— Cash sales 13.20

—24— Sold to A. C. Maybury on account 1# bkg. powder $.50 1# corn starch .10 1# soda .10 1 pkg. jello .20 ----- .90

—24— Sold to John Smallwood on account 2# cheese .32 1 bottle vanilla .35 1# coffee .35 1# tea .60 ----- 1.62

—24— Bought from John Smallwood on account 100 bu. potato .60 60.00

—24— Paid John Smallwood Cash on account 25.00

—24— Cash sales 15.00

—25— Paid Brewster & Co. Cash on account 115.20

—25— Sold to L. B. Jenkins on account ½# pepper .20 12# ham .14 1.68 ----- 1.88