What is the primary purpose of a Balance Sheet?

The primary purpose of a balance sheet is to provide a snapshot of an organization's financial health at a specific point in time. It displays the company's assets, liabilities, and equity, giving stakeholders insight into what the company owns and owes. This financial statement helps assess the liquidity and solvency of the business, indicating whether it has sufficient assets to cover its liabilities.

While other financial statements, such as the cash flow statement, are designed to track cash flow, and the income statement illustrates profitability, the balance sheet focuses solely on the overall financial position. It is not aimed at planning future budgets, which are typically informed by financial forecasts and historical data but instead captures the company's current financial status. Understanding how assets and liabilities interact allows investors, creditors, and management to make informed decisions regarding the business's financial strategy and operational capabilities.