[GNC] Modify Balance Sheet report in 4.13?

[Michael or Penny Novack]

On 3/23/2023 7:01 PM, Stan Brown wrote:
> I'm setting up a local nonprofit with GnuCash books. It's a bare-bones
> organization, with no liabilities.
>
> When I run a Balance Sheet report in 4.13, there's a final line, "Total
> for Liability and Equity". Of course that's appropriate in most cases,
> but in this case it's redundant with the "Total for Equity" line.
>
> I've tried the Display options that seem appropriate, but haven't found
> any that suppress that line. Is there any way I can modify the report to
> suppress the "Total for Liability and Equity" line?
>
Stan, let me ask you a question. How do you know you will never be 
needing to enter one side of a transactions as a liability?

When you say "no liabilities" I imagine that is because there is no 
intention of this organization taking out loans, having organizational 
credit cards, etc. (even ones NOT used for credit but as "30 day net" 
accounts). But obvious things like those cases are not the only things 
that result in transactions affecting an account under liabilities. I 
will give you a couple examples to think about:

1) The organization is having an "event" for which various supplies will 
be needed. As a resident of the town, Tom can rent the town hall at a 
lower rate than somebody outside the town can. So he is detailed to do 
that. Dick and Harry will be purchasing various supplies needed for the 
event, At the event, Tom, Dick, and Harry turn the receipts over to the 
Treasurer who writes then checks to pay them back. How would you be 
entering all the transactions?

2) The organization is planning a trip and will be collecting from each 
person going for their share of the bus/driver rental. The amount needed 
for the bus rental deposit is far more than in the organizational 
treasury. Mary says, I'll got to the transit company and pay them the 
deposit. How did you handle that transaction?

a) Mary says "I will donate the money needed for the bus deposit, but 
just fir that purpose, and does that" leaving to you as treasurer to go 
to the transit company. How did you handle those transactions?

b) Begins as "a", but the trip ends up being called off and the deposit 
is returned. How did you handle that?


Michael D Novack