it's definitely not objective with only one anwer...look at any accounting textbook and you will see at least three ways of valuing stock - LIFO,FIFO and Weighted Average...and each one will change the "bottom line". And then there's "re-stating" the financial results....but there are guidleins...however your advice is sound...swissgirl should be looking at the big picture and not seeing it as "book-keeping" which btw, spreadsheets won't do for you.....and then there is depreciation...how you choose to write off the cost of an asset over it's lifetime...all very subjective....and who said accountancy can't be fun???? (Not me)

If you're living life on the edge, you've got too much room.