Free Basic Accounting Course with Certificate

Basic Accounting

Updated with GenAI for 2026
star 4.44  Beginner level 3.75 learning hrs 109.4K+ Learners

Enroll in this Basic Accounting course to learn to record, summarize, analyze and report financial data pertaining to businesses. Understand the significance of income tax and monitoring transactions online for free.

Instructor:

Madhur Singh

Key Highlights

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About this course

This free online Accounting course is designed to enrich your knowledge about systems for gathering, evaluating, and reporting information about financial and business transactions. The course begins with explaining accounting and then continues with book-keeping and record-keeping concepts of accounting. You will learn to track transactions, report them, and be knowledgeable about the accounting cycle. Complete the assigned exercises to earn the Basic Accounting certificate upon successfully completing the course. 

  

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Course outline

What is Accounting?

This section discusses the basics and different types of accounting. It also covers different stakeholders involved in accounting. 

 

BookKeeping

This section discusses what bookkeeping is and points out to the importance of doing it systematically. It also covers different types of bookkeeping practices. 
 

Record keeping system

This section explains the logical approach to maintaining records within the organization. It discusses various elements in the record-keeping system with examples. 
 

Tracking Transactions

This section covers the practices to track transactions and the involvement of sales tasks in cash flow. It also discusses various elements that complete transactions. 

Reporting Transactions

This section explains the concepts of the balance sheet, income statement, and balance statement. It also demonstrates the approach to maintaining accounts through these practices. 

Accounting Concepts

This section explains separate entities, going concern, double entry, and matching concepts in accounting with examples.  
 

Accounting Cycle

This section defines the accounting cycle and explains the collection of transactions, recording journals, positioning ledger accounts, trial balance, adjusting entities, preparing financial statements, and closing entities phases. 

ChatGPT for Accounting

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This module introduces how ChatGPT can support accountants by integrating with accounting software, providing step-by-step financial solutions, and simplifying the basics of financial accounting for greater accuracy and efficiency.

Get access to the complete curriculum once you enroll in the course

Basic Accounting

rating icon 4.44

3.75 Hours

Beginner

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109.4K+ learners enrolled so far

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Trusted by 10 Million+ Learners globally

Learner reviews of the Free Courses

4.44
70%
18%
6%
1%
5%
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Singapore
“Financial Accounting”
A great introductory course that demystifies complex accounting standards. The modules on Assets, Liabilities, and Equity were clear and helped me understand how financial statements interact. The course does an excellent job of explaining the 'why' behind the 'how' of bookkeeping. This course provided a comprehensive deep dive into fundamental principles. I particularly valued the clarity around the Separate Entity Concept and the Accrual Basis of Accounting.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Engaging and Practical Learning Experience”
This course exceeded my expectations with its well-structured curriculum and hands-on tools. The instructor explained complex concepts clearly, making the topics easy to follow. The quizzes and assignments were thoughtfully designed, reinforcing the learning material effectively. I feel confident applying these skills to real-world scenarios!
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Australia
“The course provided detailed examples and was easy to follow ”
The course provided detailed examples that made complex topics easier to understand and apply. Each concept was explained with practical illustrations that clearly demonstrated how theories and principles work in real-world scenarios. These examples helped bridge the gap between theory and practice, making the content more relatable and engaging. Additionally, the course was well-structured and easy to follow, with a logical flow that guided participants through each section seamlessly. The step-by-step explanations, combined with concise summaries and clear visuals, ensured that key points were reinforced and easy to grasp. The user-friendly format allowed for a smooth learning experience, making it accessible to participants with varying levels of prior knowledge. Overall, the course’s combination of detailed examples and clear, straightforward presentation greatly enhanced its effectiveness and made the learning process enjoyable.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Poland
“Clear, Concise, and Comprehensive Learning Experience”
I thoroughly enjoyed the well-structured curriculum, which made complex accounting concepts easy to follow and understand. The course content was presented in a logical, step-by-step manner, allowing me to grasp key principles like bookkeeping, financial statements, and the accounting cycle with ease. It’s a great course for both beginners and those looking to refresh their accounting knowledge. Highly recommend!
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Qatar
“Basic Accounting Online Course Feedback”
I absolutely enjoyed the entire topics in this course. I gained more knowledge pertaining to accounting and its significance for both individuals and companies. In addition, I learned the importance of bookkeeping in our everyday lives (be it for food, groceries, shopping, and traveling expenses of an individual as well as for business purposes) in order to distinguish the assets, equity, and profits incurred in the past and recent years. Moreover, the course provides me with in-depth knowledge on how accounting truly works and its relevance for both individuals and companies.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Quick Insight with Great Knowledge”
I enjoyed the accounting course because it provided a clear understanding of essential financial concepts, like the double-entry system, balance sheets, and liabilities. The course helped me build strong foundational knowledge, making complex topics easy to grasp and apply in real-world situations.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Saudi Arabia
“mastering the practical application of the double entry system through real-world case studies. This hands-on approach not only reinforces theoretical concepts.”
provides essential skills for understanding financial principles. It covers key concepts like the accounting equation, financial statements, and the double entry system. This foundation is invaluable for anyone entering business or finance, enhancing analytical abilities and ensuring better financial decision-making in personal and professional contexts.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Saudi Arabia
“Engaging and Comprehensive Learning Journey”
really enjoyed the comprehensive curriculum, which was well-structured and easy to follow. The instructor was highly knowledgeable and explained complex topics in an understandable way. The practical tools and quizzes provided were invaluable, helping me apply what I learned immediately. The depth of the topics covered was perfect, giving me a strong foundation without feeling overwhelmed.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Philippines
“Essential Basics of the Accounting”
Basic accounting provides the foundational knowledge necessary to understand financial statements, track expenses, and manage budgets. It covers essential concepts like debits and credits, the accounting equation, and the preparation of balance sheets. By mastering these principles, individuals and businesses can make informed financial decisions and ensure their financial health.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

“Learning of Basic Accounting Skills ”
Basic accounting involves recording, classifying, and summarizing financial transactions to provide accurate financial information about a business. It includes fundamental concepts such as: Double-entry bookkeeping: Every transaction affects at least two accounts, ensuring that the accounting equation (Assets = Liabilities + Equity) remains balanced. Financial statements: Preparing essential reports like the balance sheet, income statement, and cash flow statement. General ledger: Maintaining a comprehensive record of all financial transactions. Journal entries: Recording transactions in a journal before posting them to the ledger. Debits and credits: Understanding how transactions impact different accounts. Basic accounting is crucial for tracking a company's financial health, ensuring compliance, and making informed business decisions.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag India
“My learning experience in Basic Accounting was very transformative and enriching.”
I enjoyed learning about the accounting cycle and how it ties together financial statements. The explanation of assets, liabilities, and equity was crystal clear.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Excellent Course for those entering Accounting”
love the course. very informative . if you are a beginner you should take this course
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Very Educative course for those new to accounting”
The course breaks down complex accounting topics, into more simpler, easy to understand terms.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Super Quick Accounting Refresher! ”
This online course was a quick and effective refresher on the basics of accounting. I recommend to anyone who wants a recap of the basic accounting concepts.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag United States
“Great experience and easy to learn! ”
I loved how easy it was to follow—such a great refresher for basic accounting! I’d highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn or brush up on key concepts.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

“I learned all the basic accounting lik the translations,tracking transactions ,information about balance sheet ,cash flow and accounting equation.and separate entity ”
Double entity concept , going concern concept and separate entity concept. And tracking transactions like invoice ,employee compensation amd receipts and reporting transactions like income statements Bookkeeping -record keeping system as revenue,expenses and asset ,liabilities and equity and types accounting like financial accounting,Management Accounting,tax accounting,credit accounting and cost accounting
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Saudi Arabia
“Liabilities: Liabilities are financial obligations a company owes to others. They are divided into: ”
Liabilities: Liabilities are financial obligations a company owes to others. They are divided into: - Current Liabilities: Short-term debts due within a year (e.g., accounts payable, wages owed). - Non-Current Liabilities: Long-term debts due after a year (e.g., long-term loans). Equity: Equity represents the owners' residual interest in the company after liabilities are deducted from assets. It includes: - Capital: Money invested by owners. - Retained Earnings: Profits reinvested in the business.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Philippines
“Basic Accounting, accounting, Booking keeping”
Accounting is a broader field encompassing the entire process of recording, summarizing, analyzing, and reporting financial transactions. It is vital for businesses to make informed decisions and remain compliant with legal requirements. Basic Accounting refers to the foundational concepts and processes involved in recording and reporting financial transactions. It includes understanding key principles Bookkeeping is the process of recording day-to-day financial transactions in a business’s financial records. It is a subset of accounting and involves tasks.
Reviewer Profile

4.0

“With basic accounting knowledge, you can make more informed personal and business financial decisions, including budgeting, investing, and managing expenses.”
Gaining the ability to read and interpret financial statements such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements. This skill helps in understanding a company's financial health and performance.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Canada
“Short and easy to understand. Good timing”
Course is precise and to the point and easy to understand, What i would recommend, each slide would have a recap or the next slide should
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag India
“Excellent Learning Experience in Basic Accounting”
I recently completed the basic accounting certification with Great Learning and found the entire experience to be enriching and well-structured.
Reviewer Profile
Mohsin Ali

5.0

“Learning Experience in Basic Accounting”
I recently completed your Basic Accounting course, and I wanted to express my satisfaction and enjoyment. The course was extremely informative and valuable. I gained a deep understanding of the importance of accounting and its various aspects. Your teaching style and clarity of presentation greatly helped me. I thoroughly enjoyed this course and learned a great deal. I can confidently say that this course has enhanced my professional skills. Thank you for providing such a wonderful learning experience. I look forward to taking more courses from you in the future.
Reviewer Profile

5.0

Country Flag Malaysia
“Enroll in This Basic Accounting Course to Learn to Record, Summarize, Analyze and Report Financial Data Pertaining to Businesses”
This free online Accounting course is designed to enrich your knowledge about systems for gathering, evaluating, and reporting information about financial and business transactions.

Our course instructor

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Madhur Singh

Career Growth Expert

Management Expert

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1.3M+ Learners
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53 Courses
Madhur Singh is a Research Analyst at Great Learning. As a subject matter expert for Finance, Marketing, and career guidance, his passion is to facilitate students for finance, management- preparation, and in areas like resume building, handling interview questions, career transition, digital marketing, etc.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I receive a certificate upon completing this free course?

Yes, upon successful completion of the course and payment of the certificate fee, you will receive a completion certificate that you can add to your resume.

Is this course free?

Yes, you may enroll in the course and access the course content for free. However, if you wish to obtain a certificate upon completion, a non-refundable fee is applicable.

What prerequisites are required to learn this online Accounting course?

The free Accounting course requires you to have no prior knowledge of anything. The course caters to everybody looking to learn Accounting from basics to advance concepts. 
 

How long does it take to complete learning this free online Accounting course?

The course contains one and a half hours of video content that you can finish at your own convenience. Great Learning Academy courses are self-paced and can be finished whenever you get time. 
 

Will I have lifetime access to this free course?

Yes, the Great Learning Academy free course comes with lifetime access. Any learner who wants to brush up on their skills can revisit and take the course again. 
 

What are my next learning options after this course?

After you complete this free online Accounting course and excel with the certificate, you can progress your learning through Great Learning’s Executive Management Program, which covers all the essential skills to build one’s career. 

Is it worth learning Accounting?

Yes, Accounting is an essential part of every organization. Financial statements are more trustworthy because of accounting principles. 
 

What is Accounting used for?

Accounting organizes the data into an understandable format, showing the outliers, and assisting in managing finances within your organization. Recording and reporting a company's financial transactions, financial performance, and cash flows is accounting's primary objective.
 

Why is Accounting so popular

Accounting is a vital practice to running any business because it makes it simpler to keep track of a company's income and expenses, ensures legal compliance, and provides access to quantitative financial data that may be used by investors, management, and the government to make choices.
 

What jobs demand that you learn Accounting?

  • With expertise in Accounting, you can land in jobs like:
  • Chartered Accountant
  • Chartered Management Accountant
  • Chartered Public Finance Accountant
  • Company Secretary
  • External Auditor
  • Forensic Accountant
  • Stockbroker
     

Will I get a certificate after completing this online Accounting course?

Yes, once you finish the course modules, you can take the quiz that will reward you with Basic Accounting certificate. The certificate showcases your skills and imparts value to your professional career. 
 

What knowledge and skills will I gain upon completing this free Accounting course?

You will be able to record, manage, and track financial information within your organization. You will also be able to maintain a ledger and be aware of the accounting cycle after completing this free Accounting course. 
 

How much does learning this Accounting course cost?

The course is entirely free of cost. So any learner can enroll in this course and start learning different concepts in Accounting and the practices to manage them. 
 

Is there a limit on how many times I can take this Accounting course?

No, the course doesn’t set any limit to taking it. Learners can take this course as many times as they want. Hence, whenever you feel like revising your learnings, you can revisit the course and start learning again. 

Can I sign up for multiple courses from Great Learning Academy at the same time?

Yes, there are a number of courses you can enroll in and start learning. You can sign up for as multiple courses as you want to enroll in simultaneously with Great Learning Academy. 
 

Why choose Great Learning Academy to learn Basic Accounting?

Great Learning Academy is a comprehensive platform that provides self-paced courses in various domains. Learners take benefit from these courses in their professional careers. There are more than 5 million learners worldwide who are benefitted from these courses. This course is helpful for enthusiasts looking forward to building a career in Finance and Accounting. This course will familiarize different accounting concepts for free online and also imparts skills to practice accounting. 
 

Who is eligible to take this Accounting course?

Anyone with no background in accounting can take this course. 

What are the steps to enroll in this course?

You need to follow the steps below to enroll in this course:
1. Visit the Great Learning Academy homepage.
2. Search for the course in ‘Basic Accounting.’
3. Now click on the ‘Enroll for Free’ button.
4. Register yourself with Great Learning Academy to enroll in any course by providing the required details and start learning the course for free. 
 

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