Petty Cash

Definition: Small on-hand fund for minor expenses

Scope:Very NarrowDifficulty:Very Easy

Small on-hand fund for minor expenses

Common Journal Entries
AccountDebitCredit
1. Establish petty cash fund
Create $200 petty cash fund.
Petty CashAsset+$200
CashAsset$200
Cash shifts from checking to petty cash custodian.
2. Replenish the fund
Receipts: office supplies $85, postage $45, misc $30.
Office Supplies ExpenseExpense+$85
Postage ExpenseExpense+$45
Miscellaneous ExpenseExpense+$30
CashAsset$160
Expenses recognized; fund restored to $200. Petty Cash account unchanged.
3. Increase the fund
Increase fund from $200 to $300.
Petty CashAsset+$100
CashAsset$100
Permanent increase to the fund balance.

T-AccountsA visual representation of a ledger account shaped like the letter T. Left side shows debits, right side shows credits.

Petty CashPetty CashAssetA resource owned by the business. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$200.00
$100.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$300.00
CashAsset account. Debits increase the balance. Credits decrease the balance.AssetA resource owned by the business. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$200.00
$160.00
$100.00
$460.00
Office Supplies ExpenseOffice Supplies ExpenseExpenseA cost incurred in the process of earning revenue. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$85.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$85.00
Postage ExpensePostage ExpenseExpenseA cost incurred in the process of earning revenue. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$45.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$45.00
Miscellaneous ExpenseMiscellaneous ExpenseExpenseA cost incurred in the process of earning revenue. Normal balance: debit. Debits increase, credits decrease.
DebitLeft side of a journal entry. Increases assets and expenses. Decreases liabilities, equity, and revenue.
$30.00
Normal bal.
CreditRight side of a journal entry. Increases liabilities, equity, and revenue. Decreases assets and expenses.
$30.00
DurationShort-Term

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