Partnerships
Accounting plays a vital role in the success and sustainability of business partnerships. Business partnerships, whether formed as general partnerships, limited partnerships, or limited liability partnerships, require careful financial management and accurate record-keeping to ensure smooth operations. Accounting serves as the backbone of these partnerships, providing the necessary tools to track income, expenses, and profitability. It enables partners to make informed decisions, monitor cash flow, allocate resources efficiently, and analyze the financial health of the partnership. With accurate accounting, partners can assess the viability of potential investments, evaluate the partnership's performance, and fulfill their obligations to each other and external stakeholders. Furthermore, accounting fosters transparency and trust in business partnerships, as it helps partners share financial information, report profits and losses, and distribute profits equitably. Overall, accounting acts as a fundamental discipline that strengthens the foundations of business partnerships and contributes to their long-term success. When a partnership is formed or a partner is added and contributes assets other than cash, the partnership establishes the net realizable or fair market value for the assets. For example, if the Walking Partners company adds a partner who contributes accounts receivable and equipment from an existing business, the partnership evaluates the collectibility of the accounts receivable and records them at their net realizable value.
Income Allocations
The partnership agreement should include how the net income or loss will be allocated to the partners. If the agreement is silent, the net income or loss is allocated equally to all partners. As partners are the owners of the business, they do not receive a salary but each has the right to withdraw assets up to the level of his/her capital account balance. Some partnership agreements refer to salaries or salary allowances for partners and interest on investments. These are not expenses of the business, they are part of the formula for splitting net income.