A balance sheet is one of four basic accounting financial statements. The other three being the income statement, state of owner's equity, and statement of cash flows. The balance sheet uses the accounting equation (assets = liabilities + owner's equity) to show a financial picture of the business on a specific day. In other words, a balance sheet lists all of the assets that a company owns as well as the debts owed by the company and the owner's interest or ownership share in the company.