Real-world examples of classified balance sheet examples

Why start with examples of classified balance sheet examples

Most accounting explanations start with theory and only then show a token example. That’s backwards. The fastest way to understand a classified balance sheet is to see how real numbers are grouped and what those groupings say about a business.

In every example of a classified balance sheet, you’ll see the same core structure:

• Assets split into current and noncurrent (or long-term)
• Liabilities split into current and long-term
• Equity as the residual interest

The power of a classified format is that it surfaces liquidity and solvency at a glance. In 2024–2025, lenders, investors, and even credit algorithms lean heavily on these categories to evaluate short-term risk and long-term capital structure. The examples of classified balance sheet examples below are written in plain language, but they follow the same logic you’d see in public company filings.

Example of a classified balance sheet: Small service business

Let’s start with a simple, service-based LLC: BrightPath Consulting, LLC, a fictional marketing firm with no inventory and modest equipment.

BrightPath Consulting, LLC
Classified Balance Sheet (December 31, 2025)
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current assets

• Cash and cash equivalents: $48,000
• Accounts receivable: $72,000
• Prepaid expenses: $5,000

Total current assets: $125,000

Noncurrent assets

• Office equipment (cost): $90,000
• Less: Accumulated depreciation: \((30,000)\)
• Net office equipment: $60,000
• Leasehold improvements (net): $15,000

Total noncurrent assets: $75,000

Total assets: $200,000

Liabilities and Members’ Equity
Current liabilities

• Accounts payable: $24,000
• Accrued expenses: $11,000
• Current portion of long-term debt: $5,000

Total current liabilities: $40,000

Long-term liabilities

• Bank loan, net of current portion: $25,000

Total long-term liabilities: $25,000

Total liabilities: $65,000

Members’ equity

• Members’ capital: $110,000
• Retained earnings: $25,000

Total members’ equity: $135,000

Total liabilities and members’ equity: $200,000

This first example of a classified balance sheet highlights how a lean, service-focused business is dominated by receivables and modest fixed assets. Bankers immediately look at current assets vs. current liabilities to compute the current ratio and judge short-term liquidity.

Manufacturing-focused examples of classified balance sheet examples

Now contrast that with a fictional mid-sized manufacturer, SteelRiver Fabrication, Inc. This is where classified balance sheet examples really start to show why categories matter.

SteelRiver Fabrication, Inc.
Classified Balance Sheet (December 31, 2025)
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current assets

• Cash and cash equivalents: $120,000
• Accounts receivable: $310,000
• Inventory: $650,000
• Prepaid insurance and other: $20,000

Total current assets: $1,100,000

Noncurrent assets

• Property, plant, and equipment (PPE), at cost: $2,700,000
• Less: Accumulated depreciation: \((900,000)\)
• Net PPE: $1,800,000
• Intangible assets (patents, net): $150,000

Total noncurrent assets: $1,950,000

Total assets: $3,050,000

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities

• Accounts payable: $430,000
• Accrued wages and benefits: $95,000
• Short-term notes payable: $150,000
• Current portion of long-term debt: $80,000

Total current liabilities: $755,000

Long-term liabilities

• Long-term debt, net of current portion: $900,000
• Deferred tax liabilities: $70,000

Total long-term liabilities: $970,000

Total liabilities: $1,725,000

Stockholders’ equity

• Common stock: $500,000
• Additional paid-in capital: $275,000
• Retained earnings: $550,000

Total stockholders’ equity: $1,325,000

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity: $3,050,000

In manufacturing-focused examples of classified balance sheet examples, inventory and PPE dominate. Analysts look at whether inventory is too large relative to sales and whether long-term debt is appropriate for the asset base. The classification makes these questions easy to ask.

Tech startup example of a classified balance sheet (2025 flavor)

Let’s move to a VC-backed SaaS startup, CloudBridge Analytics, Inc., operating under U.S. GAAP with heavy equity funding and minimal physical assets.

CloudBridge Analytics, Inc.
Classified Balance Sheet (September 30, 2025)
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current assets

• Cash and cash equivalents: $8,500,000
• Short-term investments: $3,000,000
• Accounts receivable: $1,200,000
• Deferred contract costs (current): $600,000

Total current assets: $13,300,000

Noncurrent assets

• Property and equipment, net: $450,000
• Operating lease right-of-use assets: $1,100,000
• Deferred contract costs (noncurrent): $1,300,000
• Capitalized software development costs, net: $2,000,000

Total noncurrent assets: $4,850,000

Total assets: $18,150,000

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities

• Accounts payable: $900,000
• Accrued compensation: $1,100,000
• Deferred revenue (current): $3,400,000
• Current portion of lease liabilities: $300,000

Total current liabilities: $5,700,000

Long-term liabilities

• Lease liabilities, noncurrent: $900,000
• Convertible notes payable: $2,500,000

Total long-term liabilities: $3,400,000

Total liabilities: $9,100,000

Stockholders’ equity

• Preferred stock: $4,000,000
• Common stock: $50,000
• Additional paid-in capital: $9,500,000
• Accumulated deficit: \((4,500,000)\)

Total stockholders’ equity: $9,050,000

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity: $18,150,000

This is one of the best examples of classified balance sheet examples for modern startups: large cash balances, deferred revenue from subscriptions, and equity-heavy capital structure. The classification makes it clear that while the company is losing money (accumulated deficit), it’s still well-funded in the short term.

If you want to compare this to real examples, scan the balance sheets in recent 10-K or 10-Q filings on the SEC’s EDGAR database at sec.gov.

Retail business examples of classified balance sheet examples

Retail is where working capital management can make or break a company. Consider UrbanTrail Outfitters, Inc., a regional outdoor gear retailer.

UrbanTrail Outfitters, Inc.
Classified Balance Sheet (January 31, 2025)
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current assets

• Cash and cash equivalents: $260,000
• Merchandise inventory: $1,050,000
• Accounts receivable (credit card processors): $180,000
• Prepaid rent and insurance: $40,000

Total current assets: $1,530,000

Noncurrent assets

• Store fixtures and equipment, net: $620,000
• Operating lease right-of-use assets: $1,800,000

Total noncurrent assets: $2,420,000

Total assets: $3,950,000

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current liabilities

• Accounts payable (vendors): $780,000
• Accrued payroll and benefits: $120,000
• Deferred gift card revenue: $90,000
• Current portion of lease liabilities: $400,000

Total current liabilities: $1,390,000

Long-term liabilities

• Lease liabilities, noncurrent: $1,600,000
• Term loan, noncurrent: $450,000

Total long-term liabilities: $2,050,000

Total liabilities: $3,440,000

Stockholders’ equity

• Common stock: $100,000
• Retained earnings: $410,000

Total stockholders’ equity: $510,000

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity: $3,950,000

Retail-focused examples of classified balance sheet examples show how gift cards and leases are treated. Under current accounting rules, operating leases sit on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities, which has been a major shift for retailers over the last few years.

For background on lease accounting and financial reporting, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) provides standards and updates at fasb.org.

Nonprofit example of a classified balance sheet

Nonprofits often use a statement of financial position instead of the term “balance sheet,” but the classified logic is similar. Here’s GreenFuture Education Foundation, a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization.

GreenFuture Education Foundation
Statement of Financial Position (Classified)
June 30, 2025
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current assets

• Cash and cash equivalents: $380,000
• Grants receivable: $220,000
• Contributions receivable, current: $90,000
• Short-term investments: $150,000

Total current assets: $840,000

Noncurrent assets

• Long-term investments (endowment): $1,600,000
• Property and equipment, net: $900,000

Total noncurrent assets: $2,500,000

Total assets: $3,340,000

Liabilities and Net Assets
Current liabilities

• Accounts payable: $95,000
• Accrued expenses: $60,000
• Deferred grant revenue: $110,000

Total current liabilities: $265,000

Long-term liabilities

• Notes payable, noncurrent: $300,000

Total long-term liabilities: $300,000

Total liabilities: $565,000

Net assets

• Without donor restrictions: $1,225,000
• With donor restrictions: $1,550,000

Total net assets: $2,775,000

Total liabilities and net assets: $3,340,000

This nonprofit example of a classified balance sheet shows a twist: instead of equity, you see net assets with and without donor restrictions, reflecting the requirements of U.S. nonprofit standards (ASC 958). The classification still helps donors and regulators understand liquidity and long-term stability.

For real nonprofit statements, the IRS provides public access to Form 990 filings at irs.gov.

Bank and financial institution examples of classified balance sheet examples

Banks use more specialized line items, but they still rely on classification. Here’s a simplified fictional regional bank, CommunityFirst Bank, N.A.

CommunityFirst Bank, N.A.
Classified Balance Sheet (December 31, 2025)
Amounts in USD

Assets
Current and liquid assets

• Cash and due from banks: $150,000,000
• Interest-bearing deposits with other banks: $80,000,000
• Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell: $40,000,000

Total liquid assets: $270,000,000

Earning assets (noncurrent classification by maturity)

• Investment securities available-for-sale: $320,000,000
• Loans, net of allowance for credit losses: $1,900,000,000
• Premises and equipment, net: $60,000,000
• Other assets (including deferred tax assets): $50,000,000

Total earning and other assets: $2,330,000,000

Total assets: $2,600,000,000

Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current and short-term funding

• Noninterest-bearing deposits: $450,000,000
• Interest-bearing deposits: $1,550,000,000
• Short-term borrowings: $120,000,000

Total current and short-term liabilities: $2,120,000,000

Long-term liabilities

• Long-term debt: $120,000,000
• Subordinated notes: $60,000,000

Total long-term liabilities: $180,000,000

Total liabilities: $2,300,000,000

Stockholders’ equity

• Common stock and additional paid-in capital: $120,000,000
• Retained earnings: $170,000,000
• Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss): $10,000,000

Total stockholders’ equity: $300,000,000

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity: $2,600,000,000

Here, the classification is a bit different, but the concept is the same: separate liquid assets and short-term funding from longer-term positions. For real examples of classified balance sheet examples in banking, you can review call reports and financial statements compiled by regulators like the FDIC at fdic.gov.

How 2024–2025 trends show up in classified balance sheet examples

If you compare these examples of classified balance sheet examples to statements from ten years ago, a few trends jump out:

• Leases are everywhere. After lease accounting changes, most significant leases now appear on the balance sheet as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities. Retailers and airlines, in particular, show much larger asset and liability totals.
• Intangibles and software are growing. In tech and even traditional businesses, capitalized software, licenses, and acquired intangibles make noncurrent assets less “brick and mortar” and more “bits and bytes.”
• Short-term investments and cash management matter more. With higher interest rates since 2022, companies are more deliberate about parking surplus cash in short-term instruments, visible in current assets.
• Debt maturity profiles are under the microscope. Lenders and rating agencies care not just about total debt, but how much falls into current liabilities versus long-term. Classified balance sheet examples make that maturity split obvious.

For students or practitioners who want to see how these trends play out in real filings, many universities maintain open accounting resources; for instance, Harvard’s materials on financial accounting concepts at hbs.edu provide context on modern reporting.

Pulling patterns from the best examples of classified balance sheet examples

If you strip away the company names and industries, the best examples of classified balance sheet examples all follow a few consistent patterns:

• Liquidity is front and center. Cash, receivables, inventory, and other items expected to turn into cash within a year are grouped together.
• Operating vs. financing is clear. Long-term debt, leases, and equity sit in distinct sections, separate from operating assets.
• Industry flavor shows in the middle. Manufacturers show large PPE and inventory; SaaS startups show deferred revenue and capitalized software; nonprofits show donor-restricted net assets.

When you build your own example of a classified balance sheet, you’re really just:

• Listing assets and liabilities in order of liquidity or maturity, and
• Grouping them into current vs. noncurrent buckets that make sense for your business.

Once you’ve mastered these patterns, reading real corporate balance sheets stops being intimidating and starts feeling like pattern recognition.

FAQ: examples of classified balance sheet examples

Q1. What are some common examples of current assets on a classified balance sheet?
Common examples of current assets include cash, cash equivalents, short-term investments, accounts receivable, inventory, and prepaid expenses. In the examples of classified balance sheet examples above, you see variations of these in every industry, from consulting to retail to banking.

Q2. Can you give an example of how long-term debt appears on a classified balance sheet?
Yes. In the SteelRiver Fabrication example, long-term debt is split into a current portion of long-term debt under current liabilities and the remaining balance under long-term liabilities. That split is a textbook example of a classified balance sheet treatment of debt.

Q3. Are nonprofit statements valid examples of classified balance sheet examples?
They are. Nonprofits often use different terminology, such as net assets instead of equity, but they still classify assets and liabilities as current or noncurrent. The GreenFuture Education Foundation illustration is a clear example of how the same structure applies outside the corporate world.

Q4. Where can I find real examples of classified balance sheet examples from public companies?
You can access official, audited financial statements through the SEC’s EDGAR system at sec.gov. Public company 10-K and 10-Q filings include classified balance sheets (sometimes labeled “Consolidated Balance Sheets”) that you can compare to the examples in this article.

Q5. Do all companies have to use a classified balance sheet format?
No. Some entities, especially very small businesses or certain IFRS reporters, may use an unclassified balance sheet that doesn’t split items into current and noncurrent. However, banks, investors, and many educators prefer classified formats because they make liquidity and solvency analysis far easier. That’s why most instructional materials and real examples of classified balance sheet examples stick with the classified layout.