Skip to ContentGo to accessibility pageKeyboard shortcuts menu
OpenStax Logo
Introduction to Business

Preparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills

Introduction to BusinessPreparing for Tomorrow's Workplace Skills

  1. Your firm has been hired to help several small businesses with their year-end financial statements.

    1. Based on the following account balances, prepare the Marbella Design Enterprises balance sheet as of December 31, 2018:
      Cash $30,250
      Accounts payable 28,500
      Fixtures and furnishings 85,000
      Notes payable 15,000
      Retained earnings 64,450
      Accounts receivable 24,050
      Inventory 15,600
      Equipment 42,750
      Accumulated depreciation on fixtures and furnishings 12,500
      Common shares (50,000 shares at $1) 50,000
      Long-term debt 25,000
      Accumulated depreciation on equipment 7,800
      Marketable securities 13,000
      Income taxes payable 7,500
    2. The following are the account balances for the revenues and expenses of the Windsor Gift Shop for the year ending December 31, 2018. Prepare the income statement for the shop. (Resources, Information)
      Rent $ 15,000
      Salaries 23,500
      Cost of goods sold 98,000
      Utilities 8,000
      Supplies 3,500
      Sales 195,000
      Advertising 3,600
      Interest 3,000
      Taxes 12,120
  2. During the year ended December 31, 2018, Lawrence Industries sold $2 million worth of merchandise on credit. A total of $1.4 million was collected during the year. The cost of this merchandise was $1.3 million. Of this amount, $1 million has been paid, and $300,000 is not yet due. Operating expenses and income taxes totaling $500,000 were paid in cash during the year. Assume that all accounts had a zero balance at the beginning of the year (January 1, 2018). Write a brief report for the company controller that includes calculation of the firm’s (a) net profit and (b) cash flow during the year. Explain why there is a difference between net profit and cash flow. (Information, Systems)

  3. A friend has been offered a sales position at Draper Media, Inc., a small publisher of computer-related publications, but wants to know more about the company. Because of your expertise in financial analysis, you offer to help analyze Draper’s financial health. Draper has provided the following selected financial information:

    Account balances on December 31, 2018:
    Inventory $ 72,000
    Net sales 450,000
    Current assets 150,000
    Cost of goods sold 290,000
    Total liabilities 180,000
    Net profit 35,400
    Total assets 385,000
    Current liabilities 75,000
    Other information
    Number of common shares outstanding 25,000
    Inventory at January 1, 2018 48,000

    Calculate the following ratios for 2018: acid-test (quick) ratio, inventory turnover ratio, net profit margin, return on equity, debt-to-equity ratio, and earnings per share. Summarize your assessment of the company’s financial performance, based on these ratios, in a report for your friend. What other information would you like to have to complete your evaluation? (Information, Systems)

  4. Use the internet and business publications to research how companies and accounting firms are implementing the provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. What are the major concerns they face? What rules have other organizations issued that relate to Act compliance? Summarize your findings. (Information)

  5. Team Activity Two years ago, Rebecca Mardon started a computer consulting business, Mardon Consulting Associates. Until now, she has been the only employee, but business has grown enough to support hiring an administrative assistant and another consultant this year. Before she adds staff, however, she wants to hire an accountant and computerize her financial recordkeeping. Divide the class into small groups, assigning one person to be Rebecca and the others to represent members of a medium-sized accounting firm. Rebecca should think about the type of financial information systems her firm requires and develop a list of questions for the firm. The accountants will prepare a presentation making recommendations to her as well as explaining why their firm should win the account. (Resources, Interpersonal)

  6. One of the best ways to learn about financial statements is to prepare them. Put together your personal balance sheet and income statement, using Table 14.1 and Table 14.2 as samples. You will have to adjust the account categories to fit your needs. Here are some suggestions:

    • Current assets—cash on hand, balances in savings and checking accounts
    • Investments—stocks and bonds, retirement funds
    • Fixed assets—real estate, personal property (cars, furniture, jewelry, etc.)
    • Current liabilities—charge-card balances, loan payments due in one year
    • Long-term liabilities—auto loan balance, mortgage on real estate, other loan balances that will not come due until after one year
    • Income—employment income, investment income (interest, dividends)
    • Expenses—housing, utilities, food, transportation, medical, clothing, insurance, loan payments, taxes, personal care, recreation and entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses

    After you complete your personal financial statements, use them to see how well you are managing your finances. Consider the following questions:

    1. Should you be concerned about your debt ratio?
    2. Would a potential creditor conclude that it is safe or risky to lend you money?
    3. If you were a company, would people want to invest in you? Why or why not? What could you do to improve your financial condition? (Information)
Order a print copy

As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

Citation/Attribution

This book may not be used in the training of large language models or otherwise be ingested into large language models or generative AI offerings without OpenStax's permission.

Want to cite, share, or modify this book? This book uses the Creative Commons Attribution License and you must attribute OpenStax.

Attribution information
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a print format, then you must include on every physical page the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-introduction
  • If you are redistributing all or part of this book in a digital format, then you must include on every digital page view the following attribution:
    Access for free at https://openstax.org/books/introduction-business/pages/1-introduction
Citation information

© Apr 5, 2023 OpenStax. Textbook content produced by OpenStax is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License . The OpenStax name, OpenStax logo, OpenStax book covers, OpenStax CNX name, and OpenStax CNX logo are not subject to the Creative Commons license and may not be reproduced without the prior and express written consent of Rice University.