Explain a principal-agent relationship and its significance to revenue recognition.

Short Answer

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The principal-agent relationship states that the principal's performance role is to deliver goods or provide services for the customer.

Step by step solution

01

Meaning of Principal-Agent Relationship

A principal-agent relationship is one entity appoints another to operate on its behalf legally. The agent acts on behalf of the principle in a principal-agent relationship and should not have a conflict of interest in carrying out the act.

02

Principal-agent relationship and its significance

In a principal-agent relationship, the principal's performance responsibility is to supply products or execute services for a client. The agent's performance responsibility is to have the principal arrange to deliver these products or services to a client. In a principal-agent relationship, the amount collected by the agent on behalf of the principal is not considered revenue. The amount of commission received by the agent is its income (usually a percentage of the sales price or total revenue).

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Tyler Financial Services performs bookkeeping and tax-reporting services to startup companies in the Oconomowoc area. On January 1, 2017, Tyler entered into a 3-year service contract with Walleye Tech. Walleye promises to pay \(10,000 at the beginning of each year, which at contract inception is the standalone selling price for these services. At the end of the second year, the contract is modified and the fee for the third year of services is reduced to \)8,000. In addition, Walleye agrees to pay an additional $20,000 at the beginning of the third year to cover the contract for 3 additional years (i.e., 4 years remain after the modification). The extended contract services are similar to those provided in the first 2 years of the contract.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the journal entries for Tyler in 2017 and 2018 related to this service contract.

(b) Prepare the journal entries for Tyler in 2019 related to the modified service contract, assuming a prospective approach.

(c) Repeat the requirements for part (b), assuming Tyler and Walleye agree on a revised set of services (fewer bookkeeping services but more tax services) in the extended contract period and the modification results in a separate performance obligation.

What is the nature of a sale on consignment?

Tyler Financial Services performs bookkeeping and tax-reporting services to startup companies in the Oconomowoc area. On January 1, 2017, Tyler entered into a 3-year service contract with Walleye Tech. Walleye promises to pay \(10,000 at the beginning of each year, which at contract inception is the standalone selling price for these services. At the end of the second year, the contract is modified and the fee for the third year of services is reduced to \)8,000. In addition, Walleye agrees to pay an additional $20,000 at the beginning of the third year to cover the contract for 3 additional years (i.e., 4 years remain after the modification). The extended contract services are similar to those provided in the first 2 years of the contract.

Instructions

(a) Prepare the journal entries for Tyler in 2017 and 2018 related to this service contract.

(b) Prepare the journal entries for Tyler in 2019 related to the modified service contract, assuming a prospective approach.

(c) Repeat the requirements for part (b), assuming Tyler and Walleye agree on a revised set of services (fewer bookkeeping services but more tax services) in the extended contract period and the modification results in a separate performance obligation.

When must multiple performance obligations in a revenue arrangement be accounted for separately?

(Franchise Fee, Initial Down Payment) On January 1, 2017, Lesley Benjamin signed an agreement, covering 5 years, to operate as a franchisee of Campbell Inc. for an initial franchise fee of \(50,000. The amount of \)10,000 was paid when the agreement was signed, and the balance is payable in five annual payments of \(8,000 each, beginning January 1, 2018. The agreement provides that the down payment is nonrefundable and that no future services are required of the franchisor once the franchise commences operations on April 1, 2017. Lesley Benjamin’s credit rating indicates that she can borrow money at 11% for a loan of this type.

Instructions

(a) Prepare journal entries for Campbell for 2017-related revenue for this franchise arrangement.

(b) Prepare journal entries for Campbell for 2017-related revenue for this franchise arrangement, assuming that in addition to the franchise rights, Campbell also provides 1 year of operational consulting and training services, beginning on the signing date. These services have a value of \)3,600.

(c) Repeat the requirements for part (a), assuming that Campbell must provide services to Benjamin throughout the franchise period to maintain the franchise value.

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