If you’re setting up a business, you know that you need to keep tabs on your accounts. But you might also have heard the terms bookkeeping and accounting and wondered, whats the difference?
Well, in this post we’re going to explain how to understand bookkeeping vs accounting.
What is Bookkeeping?
The practice of recording financial transactions for a business is known as bookkeeping. These transactions include purchases, sales, receipts, and payments made by an individual or company. Bookkeepers are responsible for ensuring that these financial transactions are accurately recorded in the company’s books so that they can be accurately presented for anything from tax returns to cash flow analysis.
There are two types of bookkeeping: single-entry bookkeeping and double-entry bookkeeping. Single-entry bookkeeping is a simpler system where transactions are only recorded in one place. Double-entry bookkeeping is a more complex system where each transaction is recorded in two places.
Most businesses use double-entry bookkeeping because it provides a more accurate record of financial transactions. With double-entry bookkeeping, each transaction is recorded in two places. This helps to prevent errors and provides a more accurate record of the company’s finances.
Bookkeeping is an important part of running a business. It helps to track the financial transactions of the business and ensures that these transactions are accurately recorded. Bookkeepers are responsible for maintaining the accuracy of the records and for ensuring that the financial transactions of the business are properly recorded.
What is Accounting?
Accounting is the process of recording, classifying, and summarizing financial transactions to provide information that is useful in making business decisions. The accounting cycle includes steps such as identifying and analyzing transactions, recording transactions in journals, posting journal entries to ledgers, and preparing financial statements. It is also used to monitor things such as business expenses and other important financial details.
The term “accounting” can also refer to the professions or fields of study related to accounting. Accountants are professionals who prepare and maintain financial records, and they may work in a variety of industries. Accounting is a critical function in any business or organization, as it provides information that can be used to make sound financial decisions.
There are two main types of accounting: financial accounting and managerial accounting. Financial accounting focuses on the preparation of financial statements, while managerial accounting provides information that is useful in making decisions about how to manage resources.
Most businesses and organizations use both financial and managerial accounting to make informed decisions about their operations. Financial accounting provides an overview of a business’s financial health, while managerial accounting can be used to make decisions about things like pricing, inventory, and production.
Difference Between Accounting and Bookkeeping
The main difference between accounting and bookkeeping is that accounting is a broader term that refers to the process of recording, classifying, and summarizing financial transactions, while bookkeeping is a narrower term that refers to the process of recording financial transactions.
While both accounting and bookkeeping are important for businesses, they serve different purposes. Bookkeeping is primarily concerned with recording financial transactions, while accounting is primarily concerned with providing information that is useful in making business decisions.
