
An introduction to the Basics of Business Accounting
An overview of the entire series
Explain the nature of economic entities and why understanding them is critical t the foundation of accounting.
An introduction to balance sheets including explanations of assets, liabilities, and owners' equity, and a special section on unearned revenue.
Start building a Balance Sheet.
An explanation of the Fundamental Accounting Equation
Meet the Luca Pacioli, and learn why he's honored with the moniker "The Father of Accounting".
A further explanation of debits, credits and the double entry bookkeeping system.
An explanation and examples of current and non-current assets.
What are depreciation and amortization, how are they alike, and how are they different.
Wrapping up the assets side of the balance sheet.
An explanation and examples of current and non-current liabilities.
An explanation of the owners' equity portion f the balance sheet, and a look at an actual balance sheet from a publicly held company.
What the heck is an Income Statement? The answer to that burning question, and much, much more.
Net Sales, COGS, SG&A, Depreciation expense and more.
Other Income, Gain/Loss, EBIT, net interest and more.
Common-sized statements, net earnings and interpreting Income Statements.
CASH. Where is came from and where it went.
The connection between the Income Statement and the Balance Sheet.
Building an Income Statement: Operating, Investing and Financing.
Cash from operating activities.
Cash from investing activities.
Cash from financing activities.
The Statement of Owners' Equity: How changes to the owners' equity portion of the balance sheet are tracked.
Resources to aid your further education in accounting principles and practice
Basics of Business Accounting introduces the essential accounting and financial concepts that drive business decision-making in virtually every industry.
Designed for non-finance professionals, this course explains accounting in practical, straightforward language without assuming prior accounting experience. Whether you work in manufacturing, engineering, operations, quality, supply chain, project management, or general business, understanding accounting fundamentals can dramatically improve your ability to make informed business decisions.
Throughout this course, you will learn how to understand, interpret, and apply the Four Main Financial Statements:
Balance Sheet
Income Statement
Cash Flow Statement
Statement of Owners’ Equity
You will also learn foundational accounting concepts including:
The Fundamental Accounting Equation
Accrual Accounting
Revenue Recognition
Depreciation and Amortization
Assets and Liabilities
Cash Flow
Double-Entry Accounting Fundamentals
Current vs. Non-Current Assets and Liabilities
SG&A and other common financial terminology
This course was built specifically for professionals who need accounting literacy, not necessarily a career in accounting. The goal is to help you become more confident reading financial information, communicating with finance teams, and understanding the business impact of operational and management decisions.
Whether you are reviewing budgets, managing projects, evaluating performance metrics, supporting operational improvements, or preparing for leadership responsibilities, a working understanding of accounting is an essential professional skill.
The course is taught through clear voice-over presentations, practical explanations, visual examples, and quizzes designed to reinforce learning without unnecessary complexity.
Read what students have said about Basics of Business Accounting:
"Ray has done a great job by teaching a robust approach to accounting that has ranged from its history to practical development and application." - Dion B.
"Using simple real life example to teach accounting to a non-accounting audience" - Anish J.
"This class was very good. Love the balance sheet and income statement. Thank you so much for your time." - Leavon R.
"It's a good review of accounting basics. A good refresher from my accounting class from years ago." - Kris S.
"For someone who has very little experience, the material is presented in a way that is very easy to understand." - Laura H.
"I really enjoyed this class. Ray makes understanding concepts which I typically struggle with seem easy. I would highly recommend taking this class if you want to learn the basics of accounting." - Deanna G.
When you enrolled in Basics of Business Accounting, you get LIFETIME ACCESS to the course contents, including any lectures or content I might add in the future, and Q&A access to the instructor through the Udemy platform.
If you are ready to start building practical accounting and financial literacy skills that support better business decision-making, then enroll today and get started.