What is meant by indepandent branch in Branch A/c in financial account...
Meaning of Branch:
In order to increase the volume of profit, it is the primary aim of all business enterprises to increase their volume of sales. For this purpose, many firms open their shops in different parts of the locality/country. (The parent establishment is known as ‘Head Office’ and its offshoots are termed as ‘Branch’.)
Besides, if branches are opened, particularly in developed regions, both the local consumers and the firms are benefited.
Independent Branch:
Independent branches are those which maintain complete system of accounting. This particularly happens when their sizes are very large due to various functional complexities. In short, they prepare their accounts independently, i.e., they also purchase and sell goods for cash and credit independently in addition to the goods that are supplied by the Head Office.
They may supply goods to Head Office, pay expenses and deposit cash in their own account like an independent unit. Thus, they maintain their own accounts under Double Account System. That is why they are called Independent Branch.
Procedure for Maintaining Accounts of an Independent Branch!
Independent Branch, like the Head Office, keeps all its records separately and independently on Double Entry System. Dependent Branches are those with little power and depend on Head Office for their supplies and expenses and is like a Minor Son.
Independent Branches are those which make purchases from outside, get goods from Head Office, supply goods to Head Office and fix the selling price by itself Thus an independent Branch enjoys a good amount of freedom like an American Son.
Characteristics of an Independent Branch:
1. Independent Branch keeps a complete set of books. Such Branch gets goods from Head Office and from outside parties. It has its own Bank Account. Thus, the Branch keeps frill system of accounting.
2. It prepares its own Trial Balance, Trading and Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet. Copies of these statements are sent to Head Office for incorporating in the Head Office Books.
3. The books contain an Account called “Head Office Account” or “Head Office Current Account” which is credited with everything received from the Head Office and debited with everything sent to Head Office. That is, all transactions relating to Head Office are recorded in this Account. The Head Office Current Account is thus a Proprietorship Account (i.e. Capital Account).
In-spite of the independent status, the Branch cannot function without resources, and the resources, specially at the initial stage, are provided by the Head Office. Thus, the investments made by the Head Office seen from the Head Office Account are a personal Account in nature.