Partnership Accounts

Partnership is defined as the relationship whichthe partners, certain rules laid down by the
exists between persons carrying on a business inpartnership act are presumed to apply instead.
common with a view of profit.• Residual profits are shared equally between
In other words, a partnership is an arrangementthe partners
between two or more individuals in which they• There are no partners' salaries
undertake to share the risks and rewards of a• Partners receive no interest on the capital
joint business operations.they invest in the business
It is usual for a partnership to be established• Partners are entitled to interest of 5% per
formally by means of a partnership agreement.annually on any loans they advance to the
However, if individuals act as though they are inbusiness in excess of their agreed capital
partnership even if no written agreement exists,Difference between Partnership Accounts and
they it will be presumed in law that a partnershipSloe Trader Accounts
does exist and that its terms of agreement arePartnership accounts are identical in many
the same as those laid down in the partnershiprespects to the accounts of sole traders.
act 1890.• The assets of a partnership are like the
The partnership agreementassets of any other business, and are accounted
The partnership agreement is a writtenfor in the same way. The assets side of a
agreement in which the terms of the partnershippartnership balance sheet is no different from
are set out, and in particular the financialwhat has been shown in earlier posts.
arrangements as between partners the items it• The net profit of a partnership is calculated in
should cover include the following.the same way as the net profit of a sole trader.
• CapitalThe only minor difference is that if a partner
• Profit sharing rationmakes a loan to the business as distinct from
• Interest on capitalcapital contribution then interest on the loan will be
• Partners salariesan expense in the profit and loss account, in the
• Drawingssame way as interest on any other loan from a
• Guaranteed minimum profit sharesperson or organization who is not a partner.
In the absence of a formal agreement between