Balance sheet (bilan comptable)
The balance sheet is a financial statement that presents, at a given date, all assets of the business and the resources financing them. The fundamental rule requires that total assets equal total liabilities at all times.
In practice
Reading a balance sheet starts with two blocks: fixed assets (goodwill, equipment) against equity and long-term debt; current assets (inventory, receivables) against short-term liabilities. A franchise network buying back distressed units sees its goodwill asset swell; if equity does not grow in parallel, the structure weakens the whole group. Statutory auditors verify this balance every year.