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Accounting 101: The Visual Guide

Master accounting from zero to hero—with visual explanations, real-world examples, and our interactive Learning Lab. Stop memorizing rules. Start understanding the system.

✓100+ Topics
✓Visual Explanations
✓Interactive Practice

Choose Your Learning Path

Four pillars covering everything from basics to advanced analysis

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Financial Accounting Fundamentals

The building blocks: accounting equation, debits & credits, journal entries, and the complete accounting cycle.

The Accounting EquationDebits & CreditsJournal Entries+2 more
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Assets & Liabilities

Deep dive into what we own vs what we owe: inventory, receivables, depreciation, payroll, and equity.

Inventory & FIFO/LIFOAccounts ReceivableDepreciation Methods+2 more
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Financial Analysis & Ratios

Learn to read the business scoreboard: liquidity, profitability, and efficiency ratios explained.

Liquidity RatiosProfitability RatiosDuPont Analysis+2 more
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Managerial Accounting

The internal playbook for decision-making: cost behavior, budgeting, CVP analysis, and capital budgeting.

Cost Behavior (Fixed vs Variable)Break-Even AnalysisBudgeting+2 more

Popular Topics

Jump straight to the most-searched concepts

Debits & Credits ExplainedMost PopularThe Accounting EquationFoundationFIFO vs LIFO vs Weighted AverageHigh TrafficFinancial Statements OverviewEssentialBreak-Even AnalysisPracticalHow to Calculate DepreciationHow-To
🧪Interactive Learning

Practice What You Learn

Reading is great. Practice is better. Jump into the Learning Lab for interactive simulations that make accounting concepts click.

Try the Learning Lab→
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Quick Resources

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Formula Cheatsheet

All essential formulas in one place

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Accounting Glossary

A-Z definitions of accounting terms

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Practice Lab

Interactive exercises and simulations

Frequently Asked Questions

Accounting is the systematic process of recording, analyzing, and reporting financial transactions. It's often called 'the language of business' because it helps stakeholders understand a company's financial health.
The accounting cycle is a 10-step process that companies follow each accounting period: (1) Analyze transactions, (2) Journalize, (3) Post to ledger, (4) Unadjusted trial balance, (5) Adjusting entries, (6) Adjusted trial balance, (7) Financial statements, (8) Closing entries, (9) Post-closing trial balance, and (10) Reversing entries (optional).
Most students can grasp the fundamental concepts (debits/credits, the accounting equation, basic journal entries) within 2-4 weeks of focused study. Mastering the full accounting cycle typically takes a semester-long course, but our interactive tools can accelerate this significantly.
Financial accounting focuses on external reporting (financial statements for investors, creditors, regulators) and follows strict rules like GAAP. Managerial accounting focuses on internal decision-making (budgets, cost analysis, performance metrics) and is more flexible.

Accounting 101 - Complete Learning Guide

Learn accounting fundamentals including the accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity), debits and credits, journal entries, the complete 10-step accounting cycle, financial statement preparation, and financial analysis.

Financial Accounting Fundamentals

The building blocks: accounting equation, debits & credits, journal entries, and the complete accounting cycle.

  • The Accounting Equation
  • Debits & Credits
  • Journal Entries
  • The Accounting Cycle
  • Financial Statements

Assets & Liabilities

Deep dive into what we own vs what we owe: inventory, receivables, depreciation, payroll, and equity.

  • Inventory & FIFO/LIFO
  • Accounts Receivable
  • Depreciation Methods
  • Current vs Long-Term
  • Stockholders' Equity

Financial Analysis & Ratios

Learn to read the business scoreboard: liquidity, profitability, and efficiency ratios explained.

  • Liquidity Ratios
  • Profitability Ratios
  • DuPont Analysis
  • Horizontal & Vertical Analysis
  • Cash Flow Analysis

Managerial Accounting

The internal playbook for decision-making: cost behavior, budgeting, CVP analysis, and capital budgeting.

  • Cost Behavior (Fixed vs Variable)
  • Break-Even Analysis
  • Budgeting
  • Variance Analysis
  • Capital Budgeting