The Complete Idiot's Guide to Accounting (Paperback)

~ MBA, Lita Epstein (Author), CPA, Shellie L. Moore (Author) "Have you heard this classic accounting joke?..." (more)
Key Phrases: nonpayroll taxes, store charge sales, employee ledgers, Debit Credit, Biz Tips, Number Names (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Count on great sales for this one! The ideal beginner's guide for bookkeepers, accounting clerks, and small business owners, as well as anyone interested in an accounting career, this covers everything from developing a chart of accounts to issuing financial statements. Topics include:

€ Developing a general ledger and maintaining journals
€ Reporting assets and expenses, handling receivables, payroll, cost of goods and services, producing financial statements
€ Month- and year-end accounting tasks and procedures

About the Author

Lita Epstein, MBA, wrote The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Tax Breaks and Deductions, The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to Social Security, and The Complete Idiot's Guide(r) to the Federal Reserve.

Shellie L. Moore, CPA, specializes in tax preparation and planning, and consults for small businesses.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Alpha; Revised edition (November 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592571263
• ISBN-13: 978-1592571260
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #527,172 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 46 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great If You're Starting a New Business, January 14, 2004

By	Jerry David (Los Angeles, CA) - See all my reviews

This book does an excellent job of taking you through the steps of setting up your accounting system. Starting with business structure, then on to developing your chart of accounts, and then teaching you how to work with dual entry accounting for all aspects of your business - sales, expenses, employees and benefits, and taxes. It also teaches you how to close the books monthly, develop financial statements and finanlize your year-end close. Great stuff! Easy to read and understand.

62 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Small Business Accounting Made Easy, January 14, 2004

By	Lita Epstein (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

The review by mrbigbeast seriously misrepresents what is presented in this book. In Chapter 4, following chapters that explain how to set up the initial chart of accounts, a section entitled, "Working with Debits and Credits" explains the dual-entry accounting system. There are two full chapters on setting up accounts - one relating to the accounts for balance sheet items and one relating to the accounts for income statement items. The first chapter talks about structuring the business and how this impacts your accounting system.

Most parts of the book reinforce the explanation of debits and credits and how to work with the dual-entry accounting system including examples of how to make dual-entry accounting entries for topics such as tracking sales, determining costs and expenses, adjusting sales and expenses, cashing out, hiring and paying employees, taxes, and employee benefits. There is also an extensive section on how to close the books and another on preparing financial reports. The final section of the book talks about year-end close and the final chapter talks about computerized accounting.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Definitely buy it, but get some other sources too, February 9, 2006

By	Godfather (Mississippi USA) - See all my reviews

This book was one of the ones recommended to me by a friend who's a CPA. It does a good job of explaining the principles of accounting, but if you use it by itself you'll still have a few questions. I would recommend supplementing it with Alpha Teach Yourself Accounting in 24 Hours, as well as online research.