- name
- finance-balance-sheet
- description
- Build a balance sheet — assets, liabilities and owner equity at a point in time — with entity-aware equity treatment (sole prop, partnership, LLC, S-corp, C-corp) and the GAAP vs tax-basis distinction called out. Use when someone needs the position statement for a loan application, a buyer, an investor, or a year-end close. Do NOT use for how a period performed (use finance-pl) or for where the cash went (use finance-cashflow). Statements and analysis only — have a CPA review before it goes to a third party.
- license
- Apache-2.0
- metadata
- {"author":"wayland","version":"1.0.0","tags":"balance-sheet accounting finance smb","category":"finance","attribution":"authored (business-finance Wayland plugin)"}
> **Templates and analytical tools only - not personalized financial, tax, accounting, or legal advice.** Balance-sheet line classification, owner-equity sectioning, and basis (GAAP vs tax-basis vs cash-basis) materially change figures and how lenders / investors / IRS read them. Review with a CPA before sharing externally.
# Finance - Balance Sheet
Generate a Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position) as of a single date. Lenders, M&A buyers, and reasonable-salary defenses all require a B/S.
## Required inputs
- **As-of date** (end-of-period snapshot)
- **Jurisdiction** (US default; UK / EU / CA / AU / other use locally accepted formats - IFRS or local GAAP)
- **Reporting basis**: **GAAP**, **tax basis**, **cash basis**, or **modified cash** - REQUIRED. Same business produces different B/S under each basis.
- **Entity type**: sole proprietor, partnership, single-member LLC, multi-member LLC, S-corp, C-corp - equity section structure differs.
- **Asset and liability balances** (see structure below)
- **Owner contribution / draw / distribution history** for the period (impacts equity section)
- **Prior-period comparison** (optional but recommended for variance flags)
## Reporting-basis distinction (CRITICAL)
| Basis | Revenue / AR | Expense / AP | Inventory | Long-lived assets |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **GAAP (accrual)** | AR recognized when earned | AP when incurred | At lower of cost or market; ASC 330 | Capitalized + depreciated; ASC 360 |
| **Tax basis** | Per IRC; AR/AP recognized per cash vs accrual election | Per IRC | UNICAP §263A may apply | Per IRC §168 / §179 / §168(k); MACRS |
| **Cash basis** | Recognized when cash received | Recognized when cash paid | Often capitalized only at sale | Capitalized; depreciated |
| **Modified cash** | Mix - typically cash for services + accrual for inventory / AR | Mix | Accrual on inventory | Capitalized + depreciated |
Lenders and SBA loans generally want GAAP or close-to-GAAP. Tax preparers want tax-basis. Buyers / DD typically request both.
The B/S header MUST display `reporting_basis: <selected>`.
## Output structure (US GAAP / typical SMB layout)
```
BALANCE SHEET Jurisdiction: [SELECTED]
[Entity legal name] reporting_basis: [SELECTED]
As of: YYYY-MM-DD Generated: YYYY-MM-DD
(in dollars, unless otherwise noted)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
ASSETS
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $XX,XXX
Marketable securities $X,XXX
Accounts receivable, net of allowance $XX,XXX
Inventory $X,XXX
Prepaid expenses $X,XXX
Other current assets $X,XXX
--------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS $XX,XXX
NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Property, plant & equipment (PP&E), at cost $XX,XXX
Less: accumulated depreciation ($X,XXX)
--------
Net PP&E $XX,XXX
Intangible assets, net $X,XXX
Goodwill $X,XXX
Right-of-use lease assets (ASC 842) $X,XXX
Other non-current assets $X,XXX
--------
TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS $XX,XXX
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL ASSETS $XXX,XXX
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
LIABILITIES
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Accounts payable $XX,XXX
Accrued liabilities (wages, taxes, interest) $X,XXX
Short-term debt and current portion of LTD $X,XXX
Deferred revenue (current) $XX,XXX ← SaaS / annual prepay
Sales tax payable $X,XXX
Payroll taxes payable $X,XXX
Operating lease liability (current, ASC 842) $X,XXX
Other current liabilities $X,XXX
--------
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES $XX,XXX
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES
Long-term debt $XX,XXX
Deferred revenue (non-current) $X,XXX
Operating lease liability (non-current) $X,XXX
Deferred tax liabilities $X,XXX
Other non-current liabilities $X,XXX
--------
TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES $XX,XXX
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
TOTAL LIABILITIES $XXX,XXX
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
EQUITY (entity-specific - see below)
──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
Total equity (entity-specific structure) $XX,XXX
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY $XXX,XXX
══════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════════
CHECK: Assets = Liabilities + Equity ✅ / ⚠ DIFF $X,XXX
```
## Entity-specific equity structure
### Sole proprietor / single-member LLC (disregarded entity)
```
OWNER'S EQUITY
Owner's capital, beginning of period $XX,XXX
+ Net income (loss) for the period $XX,XXX
− Owner's draws ($XX,XXX)
--------
Owner's capital, end of period $XX,XXX
```
> Owner draws are NOT an expense and do NOT appear on the P&L. They reduce equity directly.
### Partnership / multi-member LLC (taxed as partnership)
```
PARTNERS' CAPITAL
Partner A capital, beginning $XX,XXX
+ Allocated profit (loss) $X,XXX
− Withdrawals ($X,XXX)
--------
Partner A capital, end $XX,XXX
Partner B capital, end $XX,XXX
--------
TOTAL PARTNERS' CAPITAL $XX,XXX
```
> Tracked by partner; supports K-1 capital account reporting (tax basis vs §704(b) basis).
### S-corp
```
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $X,XXX
Additional paid-in capital $X,XXX
Retained earnings (AAA - accumulated adjustments) $XX,XXX
Distributions to shareholders ($XX,XXX)
--------
TOTAL SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY $XX,XXX
```
> S-corp distributions reduce **Accumulated Adjustments Account (AAA)**, not "draws." Excess over AAA = return of capital, then capital gain. See Form 1120-S Schedule M-2.
> Shareholder basis is tracked separately on Form 7203 and is critical for distributing without recognizing gain.
### C-corp
```
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, par value $X.XX, X,XXX shares
issued and outstanding $X,XXX
Preferred stock (if any) $X,XXX
Additional paid-in capital $XX,XXX
Retained earnings $XX,XXX
Treasury stock ($X,XXX)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) $X,XXX
--------
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $XX,XXX
```
> Dividends declared reduce retained earnings; treasury stock at cost.
### Single-member LLC (disregarded for tax) but may report on B/S
Use sole-proprietor structure unless LLC has elected S-corp / C-corp tax treatment, in which case use that entity's structure.
## Common SMB B/S issues to watch
- **Negative equity** - typical for early-stage businesses with accumulated losses or owner draws exceeding contributions. Lender red flag.
- **Owner draws on the P&L** - sole prop / partnership / SMLLC owner draws should NOT be on the P&L. If they are, reclassify to equity.
- **Personal credit-card debt for business purchases** - should be on the business B/S only if the business legally owes the debt; otherwise it's an owner contribution + business AP.
- **PPP / SBA / EIDL loan balances** - long-term debt, often with deferred interest; verify terms.
- **Lease obligations under ASC 842** - operating leases create both right-of-use asset AND lease liability on the B/S, even for SMBs (small-business exemption is limited).
- **Inventory valuation** - FIFO vs LIFO vs weighted average; LCNRV impairment under ASC 330. Affects both B/S and COGS.
- **Goodwill / intangibles from acquisition** - required testing under ASC 350; private companies may elect amortization simplification.
- **Deferred revenue (ASC 606)** - annual prepay creates a liability; B/S without this overstates equity for SaaS.
- **Related-party balances** - owner loans to/from the business should be separately presented.
## Liquidity and leverage ratios
After producing the B/S, compute and present:
```
LIQUIDITY
Working capital = Current assets − Current liabilities
Current ratio = Current assets / Current liabilities (target > 1.5)
Quick ratio = (Cash + AR + securities) / Current liab (target > 1.0)
LEVERAGE
Debt-to-equity = Total liabilities / Total equity
Debt-to-assets = Total liabilities / Total assets
Interest coverage = EBIT / Interest expense (lender covenant)
EFFICIENCY (from B/S + P&L)
Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) = (AR / Revenue) × Days
Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO) = (Inventory / COGS) × Days
Days Payable Outstanding (DPO) = (AP / COGS) × Days
Cash Conversion Cycle = DSO + DIO − DPO
```
## GAAP vs tax-basis flag
When the user requests a tax-basis B/S (e.g., to match Form 1065 / 1120-S Schedule L), explicitly note:
- Depreciation method may differ (MACRS vs straight-line)
- Inventory may follow §263A UNICAP rules
- Bad-debt reserves typically not reported (tax-basis writes off only when worthless)
- Deferred tax liabilities generally not shown
- Owner-employee benefits (S-corp >2% shareholder health insurance) reported differently
## Workflow
1. Confirm as-of date, jurisdiction, reporting basis, entity type.
2. Collect asset, liability, and equity balances (with prior-period if comparing).
3. Build asset / liability / equity sections per entity-specific structure.
4. Verify Assets = Liabilities + Equity (flag any imbalance for investigation).
5. Compute liquidity and leverage ratios.
6. Flag SMB-typical issues (deferred rev, leases, owner draws, etc.).
7. Output B/S + ratios + observations with disclaimer footer.
8. Offer to save to `balance-sheet-<as-of>.md` in the workspace.
---
> _**Templates and analytical tools only - not personalized financial, tax, accounting, or legal advice.** Generated [DATE]. Jurisdiction: [SELECTED]. reporting_basis: [SELECTED]. Entity-specific equity structure must match the entity type; GAAP / tax-basis / cash-basis / modified-cash bases produce materially different statements. ASC 606 deferred revenue, ASC 842 leases, and ASC 350 goodwill testing apply on accrual / GAAP B/S. Review with a qualified CPA before sharing externally with lenders, investors, M&A counterparties, or the IRS. Wayland and the plugin authors disclaim all liability for use of these templates._
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