Are you looking to get better at accounting fundamentals? Maybe you’re already taking a class, or perhaps you’re just looking to get better entirely on your own. Well, no matter what your goals or where you are in the process, you can learn a lot from some of the best accounting books out there. That’s why you’re here, after all, right? You want to make sure that you’re learning the right content with accounting made simple and our accounting books list.
We think that the books on this list are going to be the best ones. We believe that you’re going to figure out more about accounting made simple, whether you want good accounting books for beginners or accounting for small business owners or something else entirely.
In general, no matter what you need or what type of accounting you’re hoping to learn, one (or more) of these will help you along the way. All you need to do is decide which ones you’re going to start with and build your skills from basic accounting books for beginners.
If you want to just get back to studying, get our top choice for accounting book here.
Last update: 2024-04-29
Our Favorites for Best Accounting Books
Let’s start with what we think are the absolute best books to learn accounting.
These are books that we believe are going to give you the most information and will help you to develop a pretty well-rounded understanding of the topic. We actually have two books on our favorites list, and they should definitely help you along the way to becoming good at accounting for whatever reason you may have.
Accounting for the Numberphobic: A Survival Guide for Small Business Owners by Dawn Fotopulos
If you’re the type of business owner who hates looking at any of the numbers in your business, then Accounting for the Numberphobic is definitely for you. Fotopulos goes over all of the critical numbers and factors that you need to know when it comes to being a business owner. You’ll get a super simple guide that shows you all about different financial aspects, including income statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheets.
Everything in Accounting for the Numberphobic is written in plain English so you can easily follow along, even if you’re not all that good with numbers. You’ll learn a lot whether you’re just launching a startup or you’ve been working on your business for a long time, and it doesn’t matter what type of business you’re involved in either.
What Makes it Unique:
- Geared toward small business owners and entrepreneurs
- Offers basics on all financial documents necessary for business
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Skips the jargon related to finances and uses plain English
- Can be used for any type of business
- Fotopulos, Dawn (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 09/03/2014 (Publication Date) - AMACOM (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Bookkeeping Basics: What Every Nonprofit Bookkeeper Needs to Know by Debra L. Ruegg & Lisa M. Venkatrathnam
If you’re looking to get into bookkeeping or you’re starting a business and need to be able to do your own bookkeeping, then Bookkeeping Basics is the way to go. You’ll learn how to take care of your personal financials and manage your business. Bookkeeping Basics will lead you through the paper trail as well as giving you plenty of forms that you can use directly in your own business.
Designed for nonprofits, Bookkeeping Basics focuses on how to maneuver through every aspect of the finances that you’ll need to run your facility from start to finish. No accounting knowledge is needed in order to be successful. Laid out in the simplest way possible, Bookkeeping Basics is a book that you’ll be able to read quickly and start putting into practice immediately.
What Makes it Unique:
- Offers actual forms for you to use in your own business
- Intended for nonprofit use but can be used for others
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Requires no background in accounting
- Shows you how to get from beginning to end of financial needs
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Venkatrathnam, Lisa M. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Warren Buffett Accounting Book by Stig Brodersen & Preston Pysh
Warren Buffett Accounting Book is the second in a series, but it offers a great deal of information entirely on its own. You’ll learn how to read income statements, balance sheets, and cash flow statements alongside learning about calculating ratios and intrinsic value. You’ll learn many of the different concepts related to finance that you can apply whether you’re in the profession or not.
Anyone who is looking to invest can do very well going through Warren Buffett Accounting Book, which is an excellent introduction even for those who are new to the field. With Brodersen and Pysh, you’ll be able to start in on value investing in the way that Warren Buffett has been able to make his mark. You’ll be able to continue building your understanding of accounting as you read through this book, even if you’re not very comfortable with accounting.
What Makes it Unique:
- The step-by-step style guide of Warren Buffett’s value investing
- Offers basics of introductory accounting for newbies
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Gets you ready to start your investment process
- Can help those who need a brush-up on certain accounting principles
- Brodersen, Stig (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 256 Pages - 04/28/2014 (Publication Date) - Pylon Publishing (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Runner Ups for Best Accounting Books
When it comes to choosing the right books to learn about accounting, you want to make sure that you have as many resources as possible. We’re going to look at some of the second-best books that we have available, which come in at our runner up category.
We’re going to look at three different books that will help you get a good foundation, but not quite what you’d get from our favorite, famous accounting books.
Accounting Terms – Financial Education is Your Best Investment by Thomas Herold
When it comes to learning about accounting, you’re going to need to know a lot of the terms to get ahead. Accounting Terms is the book you’re going to learn all of that in. Herold discusses everything you’re going to need to know about starting your job, taking the CPA exam, and even going through financial statements and more. It approaches all of these things from the point of view of a small business owner.
There are over 150 different terms in Accounting Terms, which will ensure a good foundation for any of the various tasks you need to accomplish. There are even other books that you can take a closer look at to learn even more about financial aspects of your business, from investments and economics to financial laws and regulations.
What Makes it Unique:
- 150 different terms included
- Additional books available to learn more financial contact
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Prepares you for new jobs all the way to your CPA
- Builds your accounting knowledge for small business owners
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Herold, Thomas (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Accounting Handbook by Jae K. Shim, Joel G. Siegel, Nick Dauber & Anique Qureshi
Accounting doesn’t have to be as complicated as we tend to make it, and Accounting Handbook is a great place to start. You’ll learn a basic overview of everything that it takes to be involved in the field, including financial statements and financial reporting requirements. Each chapter covers something different, and there’s even a dictionary at the end of Accounting Handbook that will help you learn the terminology.
Great for students in accounting courses or those working in the accounting field directly, Accounting Handbook is an excellent way for you to get the reference materials that you need in order to be successful. Content is based around the GAAP, legal precedents, regulations, and more that are used within the USA.
What Makes it Unique:
- Large dictionary reference section for accounting professionals
- Discusses financial statements and reporting requirements
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Focus on legal precedents, GAAP and regulations
- Great for new accounting students and experienced accountants alike
Last update: 2024-04-29
The Simplified Guide to Not-For-Profit Accounting, Formation & Reporting by Laurence Scot
Anyone interested in learning more about running the financials for a nonprofit needs to take a closer look at The Simplified Guide. With Scot, you’re going to learn about all of the different documents that a not-for-profit needs to follow the law. The legal documents discussed will help you to run your not-for-profit organization and to learn about the practical aspects as well.
In The Simplified Guide is information for those who already have an accounting degree and those who are merely looking to start out with a not-for-profit without the financial experience. No experience is assumed with accounting or with not-for-profit organizations when it comes to The Simplified Guide, so you’ll be off and running in no time.
What Makes it Unique:
- Step-by-step guides included
- Offers information specifically for not-for-profit organizations
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Explores budget development, payroll processing and all forms of accounting
- Discusses ways to prepare different financial documents for not-for-profit purposes
- Scot, Laurence (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 288 Pages - 06/01/2010 (Publication Date) - Wiley (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Value Picks for Best Accounting Books
The final section we need to talk about is the value books. These are books that aren’t quite as good as the other ones we’ve mentioned, and they’re not going to give you as detailed information, but they focus well on some of the different parts of accounting.
Not to mention they’re going to allow you to save a little bit when it comes to the budget. It’s not Accounting All-in-One for Dummies, but these will be accounting made simple.
Accounting 101: The Ultimate Guide to Financials That Every Business Owner Should Master by Peter Oliver
Accounting 101 is a short and sweet guide that will give you an overview of the most critical accounting for small business owners. You’ll learn about journal entries, income statements, GAAP accounting, balance sheets, cash flow statements, statement of retained earnings, and the most essential terms to use along the way.
With Oliver, you’re going to develop all of the fundamental skills that will help you get started, and from there, you’ll be able to continue improving and growing. If you’re just getting started in the accounting field, then you’re going to have a great head start with a book like Accounting 101. Then, if you need even more information, you can check out some of the other books in this series.
What Makes it Unique:
- Short and easy to read for beginners
- Overview of the basics of accounting
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Quick read that still imparts a lot of information
- Great for those who aren’t even looking to get into professional accounting
- Oliver, Peter (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 63 Pages - 07/16/2017 (Publication Date) - Independently published (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh from the Lemonade Stand by Darrell Mullis & Judith Orloff
The Accounting Game takes a closer look at the very basics when it comes to accounting. You’re going to learn the most complex of information about accounting, but in the simplest way, so that anyone who is interested will be able to learn it. The idea is based around a lemonade stand and how accounting can be used in order to run the stand efficiently and effectively.
Quizzes, worksheets, and step-by-step processes are described and poured out through the course of The Accounting Game. It offers ways that you can start to draw your own emotions and your own thoughts and feelings into the idea of accounting, which is something that is often overlooked when it comes to other accounting books and teaching tools.
What Makes it Unique:
- Includes quizzes and worksheets to help information stick
- Offers a step-by-step process to get you through
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Slims things down into the idea of running a lemonade stand for ease of understanding
- Outlines even more advanced and sophisticated concepts about accounting
- Darrell Mullis (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 179 Pages - 04/30/1998 (Publication Date) - Sourcebooks Inc (Publisher)
Last update: 2024-04-29
Accounting Made Simple: Accounting Explained in 100 Pages or Less by Mike Piper
Written by a CPA, Accounting Made Simple is a concise guide to the most essential facts and concepts related to accounting. You will learn about preparing financial statements, calculating financial ratios, and GAAP. Not only that, but you’re going to learn about preparing journal entries, cash and accrual methods, and a whole lot more. The idea behind Accounting Made Simple is to break the subject down, so it’s easier for non-professionals and those just getting started.
You won’t find any jargon in Accounting Made Simple. You will find a great deal of information about the different accounting strategies you’re going to need to know in order to be successful doing your own accounting for a small business or for your personal needs. Overall, Accounting Made Simple gives you an introduction to the field and lets you build on your understanding.
What Makes it Unique:
- Keeps the information short and easy to read
- Offers information on different types of financial statements
Why Choose this Accounting Book:
- Delves in the GAAP and how it works
- Great for those just getting started in accounting for personal or professional needs
Last update: 2024-04-30
How to Choose the Best Accounting Book for You
So, maybe you’ve taken a look at the excellent accounting books for beginners that we’ve described, but you just don’t think they’re enough. Perhaps you’re still looking for additional ways to grow and develop your understanding of this subject. Maybe you think that the other books just aren’t what you want. No matter what your reasoning, we’re going to take a look here at what you should consider before choosing the best books for accounting students for yourself.
1. Up-to-date content – Accounting changes from year to year (and sometimes more frequently). You want a book that’s going to have the most up-to-date information and will keep you informed about the laws and regulations. You don’t want to read an accounting book that’s several years old because it won’t have the latest information. You could be using outdated content that puts you behind the curve and makes it harder for you. Up-to-date books are the best accounting books to read.
2. Focused on areas you need – There are a number of different areas of accounting, and you may not need to know all of them. In fact, you may only really need one or two areas to get the information you need. Well, it’s essential to look for books that are focused and dedicated. You want to make sure that your book doesn’t delve too much in things you don’t need because it’s going to be a waste of your time to go through.
3. Forms and formulas included – The more information you can get in one place, the better off you’re going to be. Forms and formulas are an excellent addition to any accounting books because they give you a head start. You’ll be able to see what the forms and the documents actually look like, and then you can copy them or adjust them to fit your own needs, which makes them even more effective.
4. Examples and case studies – If you can see examples of the content that you actually need to do and example problems, it’s going to make it easier for you to learn. Books that actually provide you with these types of examples will help you to actually understand the different steps of the process and can allow you to see how they each apply in real-world situations. You’ll know how to use them correctly and to the best results.
5. Written by accounting professionals – You want a book that’s written by a professional in the field of accounting. These are people who understand the nuances of the field and who are more likely to understand the type of information that you will need to complete specific tasks. Accounting professionals are also going to have a strong foundation in the different areas of this field, and you can choose someone who has actually worked in the specific areas that you are looking to learn.
6. Geared toward your needs – If you’re going to be working with government documents, it’s different from doing accounting for a not-for-profit or even for a regular company. Accounting is also different for personal versus professional purposes. You’ll want a book that’s going to help you with the type of accounting that you’re going to be doing, and that will help you to set up a system for your actual financial requirements.
7. Reference materials – Besides the forms and formulas, you may also want a book that has a lot of the typical accounting terms in it. These books will help you to understand some of the more advanced books that you might read in the future. The more of the terminology that you understand, the better off you’re going to be when it comes to actually advancing your understanding of accounting in general.
Wrapping Up the Best Accounting Books
In closing, here is a table of the best accounting books we went over today:
Last update: 2024-04-29
When it comes to finding the best accounting books, it’s crucial that you know about the critical content that you’ll find there. You want to make sure that you have updated information and that you’re learning the techniques you’ll need to be successful. After all, accounting is extremely technical and requires you to know the specific math. These accounting reference books are going to give you all of that and more.
If you found this post helpful, check out our other reviews on financial and professional books here.
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