{"id":8878,"date":"2022-08-26T12:24:06","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T11:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/?p=8878"},"modified":"2025-05-07T15:07:54","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T14:07:54","slug":"retained-earnings-how-to-account-for-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/retained-earnings-how-to-account-for-them\/","title":{"rendered":"Retained earnings: What they are and how to account for them"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--generic\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRetained earnings: What they are and how to account for them\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2022-08-26T12:24:06+01:00\">26 August, 2022<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"Retained earnings: What they are and how to account for them\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/retained-earnings-how-to-account-for-them\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/header>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/author\/keirthomasbryant\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/Keir-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Keir Thomas-Bryant\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/Keir-350x350.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2025\/04\/Keir.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 40px) 100vw, 40px\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Keir Thomas-Bryant<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Working on your accounts but not sure what retained earnings are and what they mean for your business?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Don\u2019t despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In this article, we highlight what the term means, why retained earnings important and how to calculate them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here\u2019s what we cover:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li><a href=\"#what-anchor-link\">What are retained earnings?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#why-anchor-link\">Why retained earnings are important for a small business<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#how-anchor-link\">How do retained earnings affect a small business\u2019 financial statements?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#account-anchor-link\">How to account for retained earnings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#are-anchor-link\">Are retained earnings the same as reserves?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#calculate-anchor-link\">How to calculate retained earnings<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#final\">Final thoughts on retained earnings<\/a><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-22eaecb8-922f-4375-9c86-3ce8792a98f0\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-22eaecb8-922f-4375-9c86-3ce8792a98f0\"\n\t>Download your free guide, 7 ways to take control of your business, and take steps now to master your business admin <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"what-anchor-link\">What are retained earnings?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Retained earnings are the profit that a business generates \u2013 but only after costs have been accounted for, such as salaries or production, and once any dividends have been paid out to owners or shareholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">They\u2019re sometimes called retained trading profits or earnings surplus. These phrases help further explain what they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">On your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/balance-sheet-use-financial-statement\/\">balance sheet<\/a>, they\u2019re considered a form of equity \u2013 a measure of what your business is worth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">What you do with retained earnings can mean the difference between business success and failure \u2013 especially if your business is aiming to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-anchor-link\">Why retained earnings are important for a small business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Where retained earnings prove vital is that business owners can choose to plough it back into the business, or to pay-off balance sheet debts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Essentially, retained earnings can finance your business so you can do new things with no need to go through an application process for a loan, and with the cash instantly available and with no questions asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Seen in this light, it\u2019s been said that retained earnings are de facto the most widely used form of business financing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If your business is small or young, it might seem that using retained earnings in this way makes complete sense \u2013 and you\u2019d be right.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">In fact, some very small businesses \u2013 such as sole traders \u2013 might not even account for retained earnings and instead may simply consider it part of working capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But it\u2019s worth recording retained earnings in your accounting, for various reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">For example, you might want to create a retained earnings account to save up for some new equipment or a vehicle \u2013 something known as capital expenditure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And there are other reasons to take retained earnings seriously, as explained below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"how-anchor-link\">How do retained earnings affect a small business\u2019 financial statements?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Most businesses include retained earnings as an entry on their balance sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The figure appears alongside other forms of equity, such as the owner\u2019s capital. However, it differs from this conceptually because it\u2019s considered earned rather than invested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Retained earnings are cumulative on the balance sheet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The figure from the end of one accounting period is transferred to the start of the next, with the current period\u2019s net income or loss added or subtracted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Because of this, the retained earnings figure doesn\u2019t necessarily communicate much about the business\u2019 success in the here and now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But it\u2019s considered a very good general indicator of business health and is definitely something investors look at.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Retained earnings don\u2019t appear on the income statement (or profit and loss statement).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The income statement will list a net income figure, which might seem to be the same as retained earnings \u2013 but it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The net income contributes to retained earnings but, as mentioned, retained earnings are cumulative across accounting periods, subject to dividends being taken out, and accounted for as an asset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your forecast statement might include retained earnings if this is something you\u2019d like to project to measure the growth of the company alongside sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This might be a requirement if you want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/create-a-business-plan-wow-investors\/\">attract investment<\/a>, for example, because it\u2019s a useful indicator of profitability across financial periods and showing business equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<a\n\t\tclass=\"button button--primary gate-22eaecb8-922f-4375-9c86-3ce8792a98f0\"\n\t\trole=\"button\"\n\t\tdata-button-location=\"content_area\"\n\t\thref=\"#gate-22eaecb8-922f-4375-9c86-3ce8792a98f0\"\n\t>Download your free guide, 7 ways to take control of your business, and take steps now to master your business admin <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"account-anchor-link\">How to account for retained earnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Don\u2019t make the mistake of believing retained earnings are the same as the business\u2019 bank balance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Your bank balance will rise and fall with the business\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/cash-flow-statement-financial-use\/\">cash flow<\/a> situation (e.g. received payments and spending), but the retained earnings are only affected by the current period\u2019s net income\/loss figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Nor are the retained earnings the same as the cash asset figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Never forget that retained earnings is equity \u2013 so should not appear anywhere in the assets and liabilities parts of your balance sheet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"are-anchor-link\">Are retained earnings the same as reserves?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">The reserve account is drawn from retained earnings, but the key difference is reserves have a defined purpose \u2013 for example, to pay down an anticipated future debt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Reserves appear in the liabilities section of the balance sheet, while retained earnings appear in the equity section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">It\u2019s also possible to create a retained earnings statement, alongside your regular balance sheet and income statement\/<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/profit-and-loss-account-financial-statement\/\">profit and loss<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">This helps investors in particular get a snapshot view of the profitability of your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Usually, the retained earnings statement is very simple and shows the calculations as described below in the next section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"calculate-anchor-link\">How to calculate retained earnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Calculating retained earnings on your balance sheet is very simple. You can use a basic accounting formula:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Retained earnings = opening retained earnings + net income\/loss \u2013 dividends<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Let\u2019s look at this in more detail to see what affects the retained earnings account, assuming you\u2019re creating a balance sheet for the current accounting period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Here we\u2019ll look at how to calculate retained earnings for the end of the third quarter (Q3) in a fictitious business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Look at the balance sheet<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">We start by looking to the Q2 balance sheet. You\u2019ll need the final retained earnings figure from this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Let\u2019s say it\u2019s \u20ac10,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If your business is brand new then the starting retained earnings figure will be \u20ac0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Make deductions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Assuming your business isn\u2019t new, deduct from the retained earnings figure any dividends that you want to pay from Q2 to yourself, other owners of the business, or shareholders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Let\u2019s say you decide to take \u20ac3,000 as a dividend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Therefore, your retained earnings figure will now be \u20ac7,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Make additions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Add this retained earnings figure of \u20ac7,000 to the Q3 balance sheet in the retained earnings section under the equity section.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Final calculations<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Finally, add the current net income\/earnings figure, listed on your Q3 income statement\/profit and loss, to the retained earnings figure for Q3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">If you\u2019re using a spreadsheet, you might create a formula that automatically does this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">To carry on our example, if your income statement\/profit and loss shows net income as \u20ac5,000 for Q3, then your closing retained earnings figure on the balance sheet for the Q3 period is \u00a312,000 (that is, \u20ac7,000 + \u20ac5,000 = \u20ac12,000).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"final\">Final thoughts on retained earnings<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Retained earnings is one of those financial matters that might not seem important for smaller or newer businesses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But it\u2019s very important to at least gain an understanding of what it means, even if you\u2019re not directly accounting for it yet (for example, if your business accounting doesn\u2019t really get much beyond a profit and loss statement).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">Knowing and understanding your retained earnings figure can help with business growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">But, more than this, those who want to invest in your business will expect you to understand its importance because they\u2019re investing not only in your business but also in you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\">And if you\u2019re taking care of your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/sage-business-cloud\/accounting\/\">basic accounting<\/a>, then it could be viewed as a sign of a well-run business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"\"><\/p>\n \n<div class=\"single-cta gated-content\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">7 ways to take control of your business<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Want to know how you can boss it at your business? Read this guide for top tips to help you master your business admin and truly take control.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-22eaecb8-922f-4375-9c86-3ce8792a98f0\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Download your free guide<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1289906599-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1289906599-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Join 1.5 million subscribers and get the best business admin strategies and tactics, as well as actionable advice to help your company thrive, in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-53abbdcc-410c-4c8c-bf97-ca5c6982eebd\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe now<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"999\" height=\"666\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2021\/04\/z.5E3A0481_All-Uses.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Read our guide on retained earnings and how they are calculated. Learn more about how they impact forecasting and statements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":280,"featured_media":8384,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_sage_video":false,"post_featured_image_hide":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[163],"tags":[105,107],"business_type":[5],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[232],"imagine_tag":[230],"coauthors":[393],"class_list":["post-8878","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-bookkeeping","tag-business-finances","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ie","author_name":"Keir Thomas-Bryant","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/13\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-934870386.jpg","imagine_tags":{"230":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Ireland","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8878","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/280"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8878"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8878\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8878"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=8878"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ie\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=8878"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}