# Retained Earnings

Retained earnings is a component of owner's equity that represents net income reinvested in the business. By recording periodic results correctly, you can track how profits and losses accumulate on the balance sheet over time.

## Setting up the account

The retained earnings account is a **liability type** account (yellow in Bkper), grouped within **Owner's Equity**.

## Understanding the accounting

After an operating period, the financial result is either positive (profit) or negative (loss). That result can then be presented on the balance sheet through retained earnings as part of owner's equity.

### Transitioning the result to the balance sheet

Moving the periodic result from the income statement to the balance sheet via the retained earnings account presents accumulated results within owner's equity. The book itself remains balanced throughout.

**Profits increase owner's equity** — A profit is recorded to the retained earnings account, growing the owner's stake in the business.

**Losses decrease owner's equity** — A loss is recorded from the retained earnings account, reducing the owner's stake.

## Sample transactions

An operating period that ends with a **profit** increases owner's equity:

| Date | Amount | From Account | | To Account | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31/12/2023 | 10,000.00 | Income Summary | >> | Retained Earnings | Net income for the period |

An operating period that ends with a **loss** decreases owner's equity:

| Date | Amount | From Account | | To Account | Description |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 31/12/2023 | 5,000.00 | Retained Earnings | >> | Income Summary | Net loss for the period |

> **Tip: Practical tips**
> - **Account type for the income summary** — You can use either an incoming or outgoing type account. For clarity, consider using an incoming type account (green) for profits and an outgoing type account (red) for losses.
> - **Exclude from the income hierarchy** — The income summary account should be omitted from the income hierarchy, since it would zero out the actual result.
> - **Keep things tidy** — Place the income summary account in the lower section of incoming and outgoing type accounts. Consider grouping summary accounts into one hidden group to keep the sidebar organized.