Normal Balance of Accounts: Definition and Examples

Consider a scenario where a business purchases $5,000 of equipment by taking a loan and then earns $2,000 in revenue. Debit simply means on the left side of the equation, whereas credit means on the right hand side of the equation as summarized in the table below. We want to specifically keep track of Dividends in a separate account so we assign it a Normal Debit Balance. Liabilities (what a company owes to third parties like vendors or banks) are on the right side of the Accounting Equation. If an account has a Normal Debit Balance, we’d expect that balance to appear in the Debit (left) side of a column.

By understanding the normal balances of different accounts, accountants can maintain the integrity and usefulness of financial information. A debit records financial information on the left side of each account. A credit records financial information on the right side of an account.

Abnormal account balances are triggered by transactions that are out of the ordinary; for example, the cash balance should have a normal debit balance, but could have a credit balance if the account is overdrawn. The normal account balance for many accounts are noted in the following exhibit. In accounting, every account has normal balance accounting definition a normal balance, which is the side of the account where increases are recorded. The normal balance can be either a debit or a credit, depending on the type of account.

Permanent and Temporary Accounts

Double Entry Bookkeeping is here to provide you with free online information to help you learn and understand bookkeeping and introductory accounting. Every transaction that happens in a business has an impact on the owner’s Equity, their value in the business. Equity (what a company owes to its owner(s)) is on the right side of the Accounting Equation. Assets (what a company owns) are on the left side of the Accounting Equation.

Monetary Measurement Concept

The rest of the accounts to the right of the Beginning Equity amount, are either going to increase or decrease owner’s equity. Each account type (Assets, Liabilities, Equity, Revenue, Expenses) is assigned a Normal Balance based on where it falls in the Accounting Equation. We also assign a Normal Balance to the account for Owner’s Withdrawals or Dividends so we can track how much an owner has withdrawn from the business or how much has been paid to Stockholders for Dividends. Because the balances in the temporary accounts are transferred out of their respective accounts at the end of the accounting year, each temporary account will have a zero balance when the next accounting year begins.

Separate Entity Concept

As you know from Introduction to Financial Statements, each of these categories, in turn, includes many individual accounts, all of which a company maintains in its general ledger. A general ledger is a comprehensive listing of all of a company’s accounts with their individual balances. One of the fundamental principles in accounting is the concept of a ‘Normal Balance‘. Whether you’re an entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, understanding the normal balance of accounts is crucial to keeping your business’s financial health in check. Having a clear understanding of the normal balance of different accounts is essential for maintaining accuracy and consistency in accounting practices.

1. We also assign a Normal Balance to the account for Owner’s Withdrawals or Dividends so we can track how much an owner has withdrawn from the business or how much has been paid to Stockholders for Dividends.
2. When we’re talking about Normal Balances for Expense accounts, we assign a Normal Balance based on the effect on Equity.
3. This gives stakeholders a more reliable view of the company’s financial position and does not overstate income.
4. A debit records financial information on the left side of each account.
5. By having many revenue accounts and a huge number of expense accounts, a company will be able to report detailed information on revenues and expenses throughout the year.

Double Entry Bookkeeping

Supplies that are on hand (unused) at the balance sheet date are reported in the current asset account Supplies or Supplies on Hand. Insurance Expense, Wages Expense, Advertising Expense, Interest Expense are expenses matched with the period of time in the heading of the income statement. Under the accrual basis of accounting, the matching is NOT based on the date that the expenses are paid. Under the accrual basis of accounting, the Service Revenues account reports the fees earned by a company during the time period indicated in the heading of the income statement. Service Revenues is an operating revenue account and will appear at the beginning of the company’s income statement. As noted earlier, expenses are almost always debited, so we debit Wages Expense, increasing its account balance.