What is the primary purpose of a balance sheet?

The primary purpose of a balance sheet is to record the financial situation of an institution on a specific date. A balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a particular point in time, detailing its assets, liabilities, and equity. This snapshot enables stakeholders to assess the company's liquidity, solvency, and overall financial health. By comparing what the company owns (assets) to what it owes (liabilities), users can evaluate how well the company is managing its resources and obligations. This is crucial for making informed decisions regarding investments, lending, and operational strategies.

Tracking expenses over time is typically the function of an income statement, which focuses on revenues and expenses over a period rather than a single date. Similarly, summarizing cash flow activities would pertain to a cash flow statement, which tracks the inflow and outflow of cash over time. While providing financial data relevant to a certain period, the income statement does not serve the same purpose as a balance sheet, which is fundamentally about capturing and reporting a company’s financial status at one specific moment.