15 Best Accounting Books to Read in 2023

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You found our list of accounting books.

Accounting books are paperback, e-books, and audiobook guides that explain the rules and concepts of business accounting. These books help small companies and bookkeepers understand how their finances impact the health of their organizations. The purpose of accounting books is to make accounting guidelines clear to readers who may not have an accounting background. Examples include Accounting for Dummies by Kenneth W. Boyd, Accounting 101 by Peter Oliver, and Accounting for Small Business Owners by Tycho Press.

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List of accounting books

For bookkeepers interested in knowing more about the accounting side of their work and business owners taking control of their finances, here are accounting books that can help.

1. Accounting All-in-One For Dummies with Online Practice by Kenneth W. Boyd

Business owners who know nothing about accounting can start with nine books in a single title in Accounting All-in-One for Dummies with Online Practice. The miniature accounting library begins with basic terminology while noting the differences between accounting and bookkeeping. Instructions for setting up your ledger and choosing your accounting method help you make important decisions, while later chapters explore financial reports and how to evaluate your company’s equity properly.

2. The Joy of Accounting: A Game-Changing Approach That Makes Accounting Easy by Peter Frampton.

For anyone thinking of accounting as a joyless task, author Peter Frampton does his best to change that perception. The Joy of Accounting is an amusing and informative book used worldwide in high school and college courses to teach students accounting fundamentals. The author uses humor to lighten the content and includes examples illustrated with full-color graphics to explain accounting fundamentals. Beyond descriptions of different types of companies and the accounting benefits of each, readers will find plain-spoken explanations of how business and accounting work together. Each chapter walks the reader through the critical steps required for starting a business and setting up and maintaining a workable accounting system. The book’s final section follows several case studies that illustrate the covered topics and their application in real-world situations.

3. The Accounting Game: Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting – As Easy as Running a Lemonade Stand by Darrell Mullis and Judith Orloff

Using a lemonade stand as a business model, author Darrell Mullis and illustrator Judith Orloff break down accounting concepts in The Accounting Game: Learn the Basics of Financial Accounting – As Easy as Running a Lemonade Stand. This book uses accelerative learning to engross the reader in the subject matter. The result is an almost childlike title that helps readers learn much about accounting in a short amount of time. For business owners and bookkeepers with packed schedules, this how-to guide offers straightforward examples of account set-up and entry booking while clearly defining concepts in a lighthearted way.

4. Accounting for Non-Accountants: Financial Accounting Made Simple for Beginners by Wayne Label

People without accounting experience need not become accountants to understand related concepts. With Accounting for Non-Accountants by Wayne Label, business owners can learn rules and terminology that will be useful while tracking their finances, whether they handle their own bookkeeping tasks or hire a bookkeeper. Short chapters in the book break down GAAP, or generally accepted accounting principles, with explanations that can help create budgets and prepare financial projections. Some handy appendices at the end include helpful online resources for accountants and answers to frequently asked questions about accounting.

5. Cost Accounting Made Simple: Accounting Explained in 100 Pages or Less by Mike Piper

For accountants and bookkeepers searching for cost accounting books, Cost Accounting Made Simple breaks down cost accounting concepts in a small volume that covers crucial topics in a quick-read format. This guide teaches accountants processes of cost accounting and the place this method fits in the greater accounting scheme. With so few pages to fill, author Mike Piper provides pointed explanations of the most significant ideas rather than creating an exhaustive accounting manual. For example, readers will learn how to use fixed and variable costs to estimate their profits, as well as how to assign those costs. The author also explores business planning and budgeting.

6. Accounting And Taxes For New Small Business Owners: A Practical Step-By-Step Guide To Starting A Successful Business by Joe Holland

Entrepreneurs just getting their project off the ground can utilize Accounting And Taxes For New Small Business Owners by Joe Holland as a helpful reference for understanding accounting concepts and figuring out how to organize their financial tasks. This quick read contains a wealth of information about deciding on the proper business structure, making tax plans, and choosing the best accounting method for your company. The author emphasizes the need for sound accounting practices while helping new business owners maximize their tax deductions and lower their financial burdens. Readers will also find recommendations for choosing a business entity and a suitable accountant.

7. Accounting: Basic Accounting Explained Under 50 Pages: Principles You Need To Know by Cory Spring

As a small business owner, you may not have the time or desire to become an accounting expert. With Accounting: Basic Accounting Explained Under 50 Pages by Cory Spring, you can learn to manage your accounting without getting bogged down by unnecessary details. Rather than providing step-by-step instructions for accounting tasks, the author breaks the major accounting concepts into five major headings, each with its own section. Each section covers the most essential elements of each in simple language. Though a 50-page book about accounting may seem slim, by focusing on higher-level concepts, this title provides the right amount of high-level information to be a helpful resource.

8. Accounting QuickStart Guide: The Simplified Beginner’s Guide to Financial & Managerial Accounting For Students, Business Owners and Finance Professionals by Josh Bauerle, CPA

When getting a business up and running, a book like Accounting QuickStart Guide by Josh Bauerle, CPA, is a handy and authoritative accounting reference. This book is a beginner’s guide to the mechanics of accounting that can help accounting students, professionals in the finance world, and business owners in need of accounting knowledge. By covering topics such as double-entry accounting and methods for fraud-proofing your company, this manual provides a range of material to help readers understand how accounting applies in real-world situations.

9. Accounting for Small Business Owners by Tycho Press

The most helpful accounting books for small businesses offer concise explanations paired with concrete examples. Accounting for Small Business Owners by Tycho Press is a great example of a book that makes accounting concepts easy to understand. Overviews of major topics, such as setting up and running a business and closing out an accounting cycle, appear in six chapters. Readers can learn the basics of creating a balance sheet, making journal entries, and setting up payroll without slogging through complex technical jargon.

10. Accounting (Barron’s Business Review) by Peter J. Eisen

Accounting (Barron’s Business Review) is notable as a supplement to financial accounting books used in introductory college courses. However, this guide stands aalone as a practical manual of terms and concepts for business owners and bookkeepers. Barron’s reputation in the financial world lends added prestige to a book that contains in-depth information. Each chapter covers vocabulary and explains the terms defined as they relate to real-life business applications, helping bring concepts into clear focus.

At 464 pages, this guide is one of the more comprehensive accounting books to have on your shelf. Topics range from overviews of the accounting process and the purpose of collecting accounting information to more advanced concepts relating to partnerships and corporations. In addition, simple quizzes included in the book can serve as a benchmark for how much the reader understands and a periodic refresher to reinforce the concepts presented.

11. Financial Statements: A Step-by-Step Guide to Understanding and Creating Financial Reports by Thomas Ittelson

Knowing how to read and analyze financial statements can be challenging for small business owners and bookkeepers. However, the easy-to-understand information in Financial Statements, Third Edition by Thomas Ittelson helps remove the mystery behind these critical reports. With the author’s guidance, readers can learn how to interpret cash flow statements to improve their revenue and explore how significant income statements are to their business. Rather than dumbing down or diluting the information, author Ittelson explains in relatable terms how cash flow, income statements, and balance sheets work together. Understanding the power of these three reports can help you gauge the health of your business and make vital improvements.

12. Accounting 101 by Peter Oliver

It can be challenging to understand how businesses operate if you do not have a basic understanding of accounting. Accounting 101 by Peter Oliver is a reader-friendly title that provides background on the most important subjects. In addition to definitions for common terminology, the author provides comprehensive explanations of general accounting principles and the importance of journal entries and financial reports to the accounting process.

The writing is straightforward, and the topics are easy to understand, with more advanced accounting subjects in later chapters. For example, the author explains how to create business plans, the basic principles for being a leader, and what it takes to incorporate a business. These concepts are all topics covered in MBA courses, allowing readers to move beyond the basics and understand more complex aspects of business accounting.

13. Small Business Accounting Made Simple For Non-Accountants, Dummies, Beginners & Beyond by Chase Roosevelt

By operating with sound accounting methods, a company can better understand their financial needs. In Small Business Accounting Made Simple For Non-Accountants, Dummies, Beginners & Beyond, author Chase Roosevelt discusses the unnecessary financial risks small businesses may take inadvertently and offers solutions to help an organization grow safely and securely. The content works well for small business owners needing a guide to quick-start accounting processes. Readers can learn the benefits of choosing the right legal structure for their company and how to strategize by understanding financial reporting and budgeting methods. This book includes a bonus glossary featuring 108 accounting terms chosen especially for entrepreneurs.

14. Accounting: Step by Step Guide to Accounting Principles & Basic Accounting for Small Business by Mark Smith

As part of a four-book series covering financial topics for small businesses, Accounting: Step by Step Guide to Accounting Principles & Basic Accounting for Small Business by Mark Smith introduces business owners to the world of accounting in an easy-to-follow stepwise fashion. Early chapters introduce the difference between bookkeeping and accounting and define terminology to help readers understand the concepts. The remaining chapters cover different types of accountants and explain various accounting processes. Readers can even find a guide to the most familiar software packages to help choose an accounting system.

15. Accounting for Beginners 2023: The Ultimate Guide to Grow Your Business with Simple Accounting Practices and Smart Bookkeeping Strategies to Reach the Next Level by Roger Myers

With Accounting for Beginners 2023, author Roger Myers presents an updated manual that covers accounting basics and brings readers up to date with the latest developments in the world of small-business bookkeeping. Helpful introductory chapters explain the significance of accounting and the importance of reliable bookkeeping. Later chapters explore the methods of forensic accounting, a process for tracking fraud and embezzlement, and planning and budgeting considerations for small businesses.

Conclusion

You do not need to have an accounting degree to understand accounting fundamentals. Much like in college textbooks, accounting books break down the rules and practices to help you understand how the processes work. For professionals working with company finances, keeping a few accounting books on hand is a great way to have a resource available to address unexpected issues and add to their knowledge base.

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