How to Use the Online Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator

The Basic Description

The software on this website calculates total assets and liabilities, and owner's equity.  It is intended for a small business, but it is useful when ever quick and simplified calculations are needed about any business.

If you need more complex software, where current assets and liabilities, and long-term assets and liabilities are calculated separately, you should scroll down and examine the links to other online balance sheets provided by BetterAndBetterBusiness.com.  There is no charge for any of these Balance Sheet Calculators.

The software is very easy to use, and most people can figure out how to use it intuitively.  However, the following instructions will probably be helpful.

How to Enter Data into the Online Balance Sheet Calculator

To enter data, left click on the relevant box (cell) and then type in the data.  You enter the dollar amounts of the financial assets and liabilities of your business in the green cells.  Do not put any text, or dollar signs ($) in the green cells. 

On the left of each green cell there is a white cell where you enter words describing the asset or liability you entered in the adjacent green box.  The description is called a name on the calculator headings.  Do not put any numbers to be calculated in the white cells.  You can enter numbers that are not to be calculated, such as the client from 125th St.  A simple example will clarify the above.  For a $1,000 bank loan for new equipment, the description, or name, would go in the white box on the left, and the $1000 would go in the green box on the right. 

Incidentally, with the above example the new equipment would be an asset of $1000, but the debt to the bank would be a liability.

If a Descriptive Phrase or a Dollar Amount is Too Large to Fit in the Cells

If a descriptive phrase is longer than the white boxes, you should first try to shorten it.  If this is not feasible, the phrase can still be entered in a white cell, but the entire phrase will not show up, unless you scroll from left to right, or right to left, within the cell.  In this way you can actually fit over 15 words in a cell.

       If a dollar amount is too long for a green cell it can still be entered, and it will be calculated, but the entire number will not be visible, unless you scroll within the cell from left to right or right to left.  Incidentally, the above is not likely to be a problem, because you can fit up to $10,000,000,000,0.00 in a green cell, without having to scroll left to right or right to left, within the cell.

Calculated Results Are Obtained Immediately

As soon as you enter data, and left click with the mouse, you will obtain calculated results.  Alternatively, you can press the tab key on your keyboard to move from one cell to another, and obtain calculated results.  You can also obtain calculated results by pressing one of the calculation buttons, on the top or bottom of this online calculator.  (Do not press the enter key when using this calculator.)  Note: all the calculated results on the Balance Sheet Calculator are displayed in red numbers, such as $25340.36.

Negative Results

The Balance Sheet Calculator can calculate a negative result for owner's equity, when the liabilities are excessively high.  This is displayed as a dollar sign, followed by a negative sign, such as $-1000.00. 

The four buttons on the balance sheet calculator

On the top and bottom of the Balance Sheet Calculator there are four buttons:  CALCULATION,  CLEAR (Delete All),  Submit, and PRINT. 

The CALCULATION button calculates the results you entered, but you can also obtain the results by moving from one cell to another, and left clicking with the mouse.  This can also be done with the tab key.

CLEAR (Delete All) bottom will delete everything that was entered on the Balance Sheet.  Opening and Closing the Online Calculator will also delete everything you entered. 

Submit bottom will send the data you entered and your calculated results to BetterAndBetterBusiness.com.  Submitting your data is of course not required, but it will be VERY HELPFUL if you decide to obtain services from BetterAndBetterBusiness.com.

PRINT is to print the bounce sheet calculator and the data you entered.  If you are planning to print the data you entered and your calculated results, and do not want any extraneous text printed, you should use the printer friendly version of the Online Calculator, by left clicking on the link at the end of this paragraph.  The printer friendly version functions in the same way as the balance sheet Calculator on this webpage, and it has all of the buttons mentioned above, including the Submit To button.

For a printer friendly version of the Online Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator that will not print extraneous text, left click on these words.

Free Downloads for the Excel and Openoffice.org Versions of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, (for Microsoft Windows)

How to Download

If you know how to download files from the Internet, you can skip the text under this heading.  If you are not familiar with downloading, it is very simple.  It involves a few clicks with the mouse, and perhaps a little trial and error learning, which should be facilitated by the following instructions. 

When you click on a link, for the Excel or OpenOffice.org it may take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes before the download is complete.  (Most downloads (from other websites) may take much longer than this, because they are usually much larger than the Excel or OpenOffice.org files.)  The speed of your Internet connection and computer will greatly influence download time. 

       When you are downloading the Balance Sheet Calculator in the Excel or OpenOffice.org format, a dialog box will appear.  The exact nature of the dialog box depends on the browser you are using, but it usually has two or three buttons, such as Save, Open, and Cancel.  With the Save button on the download dialog box, you can save what you downloaded just like you would save any other document.  This involves providing a location on your computer and perhaps also a file name, to save the document.  The browser might use the default file name, and save your download in a default location on your computer, if you do not provide a location and file name.

The Open button on the download dialog box can be used as an alternative to the above.  With this option, the download is placed on a default location on your computer.  If the file is downloaded opened, you can use the save function as described above.  If the download is an unopened file, you can use the Windows cut and paste function to transfer it to a convenient location on your computer. 

Free Downloads of the Excel and Openoffice.org Versions of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, for Microsoft Windows

The Online Calculator is not capable of saving any data you enter, because it is a JavaScript device.  The Excel and OpenOffice.org versions of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator require Microsoft Windows, but they can save the data you entered, and the calculated results, as permanent records.  You can download Excel and OpenOffice.org versions on this website (no charge) by clicking on one or more of the following:

For an Excel version of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator that will open in your browser, left click on these words. This file can be saved anywhere on your computer, with the save function.

You can also download the Excel version of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, in a template file format, by left clicking on these words.  The template format protects the original file, and it produces a limitless number of Balance Sheet calculators that can be saved as permanent records.  However, this format does not open in your browser.  Use the Windows cut and paste function to transfer the file to a convenient location on your computer.

Note: the above requires Microsoft Excel.  If you do not have Microsoft Excel on your computer, you should download the OpenOffice.org version.  You will also need to download the free OpenOffice.org software package from www.OpenOffice.org, by left clicking on the blue link.  The OpenOffice.org software is high quality, and it provides most of the functionality of Microsoft Office, including Excel.

You can download the OpenOffice.org version of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, in a template format, by left clicking on these words.

Use the Windows cut and paste function to transfer the file to a convenient location on your computer.

Other Types of Online Balance Sheet Calculators from BetterAndBetterBusiness.com

The balance sheet Calculator on this website is a simplified device, which is useful for a small business.  If you want a balance sheet Calculator that is more complex, left click on one or more of the following.

If you want a general purpose balance sheet that can be used for a business of any size, left click on these words.

If you want a balance sheet specifically designed for a large corporation that does not have a primary owner, and is owned by many shareholders, left click on these words.

If you want a balance sheet for a small or medium-size business, that does not have shareholders left click on these words.

If you are planning to start a new business, you can obtain a calculator designed for this purpose by left clicking on these words.

BetterAndBetterBusiness.com

Business Consulting Services for The Owner of a Small Business

These services are focused on the needs of Individual entrepreneurs, Mom-and-pop stores, partnerships, and other small businesses.

If you want information on services for medium-size or large businesses left click on these words, but if you want services for small business scroll down.

The Basic Methodology For The Small Business

When, I provide assistance to small business owners, I am prepared to listen to personal difficulties, hopes and concerns, as well as business problems and goals.  This is because personal problems, goals and preferences, usually affect the operation of a small business.  As I listen, I stimulate creative thinking, provide suggestions, evaluations and referrals, and help you optimize your business plans.  The referrals I provide for small businesses often involve free assistance. 

I use a number of methods to obtain objectives, but my focus is on helping you devise your own strategies and solutions.  I can also work with a group of people, such as your partners or employees. 

Some of the objectives that can be achieved with the versatile methodology I used include:

More Customers:  With the help of my consultants, I can help you get more customers, by creating low price, cost-effective advertising campaigns.  This can include setting up websites with advertising, and e-commerce over the Internet.  Working together, we can help you expand your current markets, and develop new markets for your products or services.  My consultants can write advertisements for you, or you can write your own.  We can place advertisements in leaflets and on the Internet.

Increase profitability: With our discussions I can help you identify which expenditures and efforts are profitable.  This can involve determining the relative degree of profitability, or rate of return on various expenditures.  I can help you identify and eliminate wasteful efforts, low-profit elements, and financial losses.

Public-Relations:  With our discussions, I can suggest ways of establishing good public relations and a good reputation, which usually results in a large number of regular customers that like your product or service.  This can result in positive word-of-mouth publicity, which can bring in more customers.

Time Management: I can help you and your staff with improving time management.  This can include strategies to save time, ways of reducing travel time, and reorganizing workspace to make it more efficient.  This can save money, and make your business less stressful.

      For time management, I also provide for free download Excel and OpenOffice.org project sheets, specialized calendars, and diaries, that are designed for planning over a period of days, weeks, or months.  This can help you estimate how much time is necessary for a project, and it can help you with scheduling of various tasks.

To obtain the free downloads of the project sheets, specialized calendars, and diaries left click on these words.

Diagnosing and Solving Problems: With our discussions, I can help you find the cause of various problems that affect your business, and help you obtain solutions, or the best possible resolution. 

Problem Prevention: With our discussions, we can evaluate your business or business plans, and identify problems that may develop in the future.  When this is done strategies to avoid problems usually become apparent.

Credit:  This is one of my specialties.  Together we can evaluate your credit rating, credit needs, cash flow, and financing, and devise methods of making improvements in all of the above.  I can help you find suitable lenders, and sometimes we can find alternatives to eliminate or reduce the need to borrow money.

If you want more information on credit, and related services, left click on these words.

Starting a New Business or Revitalizing an Old One: I can help you, with our discussions to devise plans to start a new business or to revamp a business you are ready have.  I can help you with business planning, and writing a business plan. 

Conflict Resolution: I can help you resolve conflict between partners, employees, and customers.  I can also help you avoid conflict.

A joyful business:  I can help you make your business more pleasant and enjoyable for you, your customers and employees.  I can show you ways of avoiding and reducing emotional stress.  I can show you ways of making your business a happy and healthy place.  I believe a business should be rewarding, and pleasurable.

Hiring Employees: With our discussions, I can help you evaluate your hiring practices.  I can make you more aware of your good hiring decisions, and hiring errors that were made in the past.  Developing this awareness can greatly improve hiring decisions.

Real-Estate: I can help you with real estate problems.  This includes obtaining ideal office space, manufacturing localities, and retail space.  I can even help you sell part or all of your business.  I can also help in selling unneeded real estate. 

If you need more information on real estate services, selling and buying property, left click on these words.

Bookkeeping and Business Mathematics: I offer a free download of a number of Excel templates that make business calculations relatively easy.  I also have these templates in the OpenOffice.org format, for those who do not have Excel.  OpenOffice.org is free, and it performs the same functions as Microsoft Office.  If you need specially designed calculation templates, one of my consultants can create them for a reasonable fee.

For free Excel and OpenOffice.org templates, for business calculations, left click on these words.

For the free OpenOffice.org software, left click on this web address: http://www.openoffice.org/.  (Incidentally, this can save you hundreds if you own a small business, and thousands if you own a medium-size or large business.)

Individual Tutoring and Group Instruction: Sometimes I find the most effective approach is to provide instructional assistance.  I do this by providing explanations and guidance, or by providing appropriate referrals and/or reading material.

Creative Questioning Technique: This technique uses a series of questions, coupled with other information, designed to make you aware of problems, solutions, and alternatives, and to stimulate creative thinking.  This can be a very effective method of solving problems and obtaining goals.  Actually, business owners and managers can sometimes use this technique, without any assistance.

For a long list of creative questions, and detailed instructions on the creative questioning technique left click on these words.

Additional Information: I use many other techniques, depending on needs, or the size of the business.  If you want information for medium-size or large businesses, click on the following link.

If you want information on counseling services, and a multidisciplinary approach, for LARGE and MEDIUM-SIZED BUSINESSES, left click on these words.

MY Philosophy

Everything has a season; winter, spring, summer and fall.  Life has its ups and downs, there are good and bad times in every aspect of our existence including business.  Businesses that survive, profit and grow, and thrive to the utmost, are able to adjust to all the variations that this world offers. The idea to keep in mind is businesses can create flexibility and strength in their planning and design to survive, and even prosper during hard times.

Intelligent planning will also prepare a business to grow and prosper during good times.  This involves searching for every opportunity to make a good and fair profit, and perhaps expand the business as well.  However, all expansion, and all business plans, should be designed for the inevitable hard times, the winter, the downturns in the economy. 

I, and my consultants can help you develop good business planning to maximize your chances of success and prosperity during the good times and bad times, winter spring summer and fall, the upturns and downturns, of the economy.  Good business planning is one of our primary goals.  Another primary goal is the satisfaction, happiness and well-being of our customers.

We wish you success, health and happiness, and hope you all have a realistic faith in yourself, in your fellow man, and in your plans and efforts.

About the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator and this Website

The Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator and this website were designed to be extremely user-friendly, which is one of the objectives of BetterAndBetter.com.  Tyrone Mingo, the owner and operator of BetterAndBetter.com, and his consultants try to provide the best possible user-friendly services.  This philosophy is reflected in the design of the Balance Sheet Calculator, and the website.

To achieve the ultimate in user friendliness, extra large print was used, on this website, with red headings.  The sentences were written in simple language.  A simple background was used, without any superfluous artwork to avoid distractions.  The links are clearly marked, such as left click on these words for...  The contact information is presented above and below, which eliminates the need for unnecessary searching.  Many conventional features used in websites were avoided, to achieve the ultimate in user friendliness.  For example, instead of dividing the text into small sections on multiple web pages, one large page was used.  This eliminated the need for pull down menus, and superfluous links. 

The writing, and the design and construction of the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, and the website, were performed by David Alderoty, for Tyrone Mingo.  (Mr. Alderoty is not involved with the operation or services provided by BetterAndBetterBusiness.com.)  

We hope you enjoyed the Simplified Balance Sheet Calculator, and this website, and quickly obtained the information you wanted.  Thank you for listening to, and reading our material.  Tyrone Mingo and his consultants, hope that we can provide the ultimate in user-friendly service for you and your business. 

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