The Accounting Game: Basic Accounting Fresh from the Lemonade Stand

By Judith Orloff and Darrell Mullis

Book Overview

Confused by accounting? Start with a lemonade stand.

Whether you're launching a small business, running a side hustle, or just want to feel confident reading a balance sheet, The Accounting Game makes learning accounting fast, fun, and unforgettable.

This bestselling guide uses the story of a child's lemonade stand to teach real-world accounting basics, without the confusing jargon. Through interactive lessons, step-by-step worksheets, and a gamified format, you'll master key financial skills like tracking expenses, understanding cash flow, and building profit.

Included you'll find:

Interactive format gives you hands-on experienceColor-coded charts and worksheets help you remember key termsStep-by-step process takes you from novice to expert with easeFun story format speeds retention of essential conceptsDesigned to apply what you learn to the real world

Used in classrooms, corporate trainings, and homeschool curriculums around the world, this is the go-to accounting book for people who hate accounting books.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402211864
• ISBN13: 9781402211867
• Release Date: March 2008
• Publisher: Sourcebooks
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.33 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.5" x 10.9"

Customer Reviews

Clearest Explanation ever

I just graduated this June with an MBA- so I've had done lots of accounting in the past for homework and exams and case study projects at school. I just applied for a job that said I had to take an accounting exam so to study I thought I start with this book before I dive back into accounting since it's thinner than my fat textbooks. I sort of knew all this before- like in school I had half memorized where things went in the balance sheet, income statements etc. and what to subtract or add- but after reading this book, I feel like I really really understand everything in a way I never had before. The book is amazing. I understand the basic concepts intuitively now. It made everything very clear and easy. It's a fun read too!

Fantastic Learning Tool

Don't let this book title fool you. It is not an oversimplification of accounting and financial principles. It is, however, a serious and very effective examination of a very small but progressively complex business. There are not many books available on the market that make a complex and dry subject understandable and even fun. This book successfully does just that. The authors help the reader understand the principles without getting caught up in large numbers to confuse matters.This book is a brilliant analysis of the original small business --a lemonade stand. This business starts off simple and progresses into a more and more complex financial entity over the course of several weeks. While it is so well explained that even the average teen could undertsand it, this book is a serious learning tool for anyone and does not in any way take on a condescending tone. The authors have fun, but offer meaty information. Ever wonder what the difference and advantages are between the accural and cash methods or why the statement of cashflows is so important or how depreciation effects the bottom line or how the decision to use LIFO or FIFO effects the income statement? All those answers and many more are nicely illustrated in this wonderful book.

Excellent Training Tool

I am using this book to teach accounting fundamentals to my accounting staff. It is filled with important accounting concepts and terms that are explained with easy to understand examples. The book actually teaches itself. However, my students read a chapter and complete the related transactions before each class. We then go over the chapter together and apply what we learned to our daily accounting responsibilities.I have been a certified public accountant for almost 25 years and I have personally benefited from the review of accounting concepts presented in this book.

a must read for all..even accountants

ever get bombarded with terms like revenues, bottom line, gross margin, fifo, negative cash flow? i had taken almost 21 units of accounting in college but without practice(marketing is my expertise) i have but almost forgotten the meaning of the terms as well as the relationships among the balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flows. this book relies on the simple method of relating the basics of accounting to running a small business as a kid(a lemonade stand) and then applies the principles of accounting to it. although i never did have problems with my accounting courses, my classmates did and they could have used a quite engaging method as described by "the accounting game." even if you are in the financial/accounting field, this would still provide you with ways of explaining concepts to non-financial people. i would highly recommend this as a must read...

Effective and engaging!

What a fun and effective way to learn accounting! After years of teaching economics to MBA students and freshmen, I wish there had been textbooks written like this to facilitate instruction of often dry topics. It doesn't read like a textbook, rather it entertains while it teaches and got me personally involved. I didn't realize that I was learning accounting concepts until the chapter was over and I stopped laughing. I felt like I had a personal tutor with me each time I read it. Very interactive. Very fun. The material covered is comprehensive, starting out with basic terminology to the construction of a balance sheet to deriving an income statement to understanding how various business scenarios impact financial statements. Don't be put off by its simplicity, because that is what makes this book so effective and engaging. Anybody who wants to make learning interesting should read this book. Anybody who wants a great crash course in accounting to know how to read a balance sheet or explain one should read this book.