A balance sheet is an accounting tool used to summarize the financial status of a business or other entity. It generally lists assets on one side and liabilities on the other, and both sides are always in balance. Assets and liabilities are divided into short- and long-term obligations including cash accounts such as checking, money market, or government securities. At any given time, assets must equal liabilities plus owners equity. An asset is anything the business owns that has monetary value. Liabilities are the claims of creditors against the assets of the business. A balance sheet is usually prepared each month, quarter of a year, annually, or upon sale of the business, in order to show the overall condition of the company.
Accounts Receivable means a debt owed by a debtor or customer to an enterprise for goods or services received. It usually represents money owed by customers in exchange for goods or services delivered to or used by them, but not yet paid for. Therefore, accounts receivable is an accounting transactions that deals with the billing of a customer for goods and services they have ordered. Income due from investments is not an account receivable. Account receivable is also known as a note receivable.
