The main objective is to maintain uniformity and consistency in accounting
records. These concepts constitute the very basis of accounting. All the
concepts have been developed over the years from experience and thus they
are universally accepted rules. Following are the various accounting
concepts that have been discussed in the following sections :
l Business entity concept
l Money measurement concept
l Going concern concept
l Accounting period concept
l Accounting cost concept
l Duality aspect concept
l Realisation concept
l Accrual concept
l Matching concept
Business entity concept
This concept assumes that, for accounting purposes, the business enterprise
and its owners are two separate independent entities. Thus, the business and
personal transactions of its owner are separate. For example, when the
owner invests money in the business, it is recorded as liability of the
business to the owner. Similarly, when the owner takes away from the
business cash/goods for his/her personal use, it is not treated as business
expense. Thus, the accounting records are made in the books of accounts
from the point of view of the business unit and not the person owning the
business. This concept is the very basis of accounting.
Let us take an example. Suppose Mr. Sahoo started business investing
Rs100000. He purchased goods for Rs40000, Furniture for Rs20000 and
plant and machinery of Rs30000. Rs10000 remains in hand. These are the
assets of the business and not of the owner. According to the business entity
concept Rs100000 will be treated by business as capital i.e. a liability of
business towards the owner of the business.
Now suppose, he takes away Rs5000 cash or goods worth Rs5000 for his
domestic purposes. This withdrawal of cash/goods by the owner from thebusiness is his private expense and not an expense of the business. It is termed as Drawings. Thus, the business entity concept states that business and the owner are two separate/distinct persons. Accordingly, any expenses incurred by owner for himself or his family from business will be considered as expenses and it will be shown as drawings. Significance The following points highlight the significance of business entity concept : l This concept helps in ascertaining the profit of the business as only the business expenses and revenues are recorded and all the private and personal expenses are ignored. l This concept restraints accountants from recording of owner’s private/ personal transactions. l It also facilitates the recording and reporting of business transactions from the business point of view l It is the very basis of accounting concepts, conventions and principle