Problem Solving Survival Guide to accompany Financial Accounting, 8th Edition

OVERVIEW

A service entity performs services for its customers to earn service revenue. A merchandising entity sells products to its customers to earn sales revenue. Both types of entities incur expenses in generating revenue. Thus, expenses incurred must be matched with revenues earned. This chapter will acquaint you with the income statement for a merchandising entity. The major differences between the income statement for a service type firm and the income statement for a merchandising firm lie with the data reported for net sales revenue and cost of goods sold expense for the merchandiser. Both the single-step and the multiple-step formats for the income statement are discussed in this chapter.

A merchandiser must account for the purchase and sale of its inventory items. Both the periodic and perpetual inventory systems are also explained in this chapter.