Difference between single and double entry system?

Single entry system is an incomplete system of recording financial transactions. Double entry system  is a complete system of recording and reporting financial transactions.

The following are the major differences between single entry system and double entry system:

1. The bookkeeping system in which only one aspect of a transaction is recorded, i.e. either debit or credit, is known as Single Entry System. Double Entry System, is a system of keeping records, whereby both the aspects of a transaction are captured.
2. Single Entry Transaction is simple and easy whereas Double Entry System is complex as well as it requires expertise in accounting for maintaining records.
3. In single entry system incomplete records are maintained while in double entry system complete recording of transactions is there.
4. In single entry system comparison between two accounting periods is very difficult. Conversely, we can easily compare two accounting periods in the double entry system.
5. Single Entry System maintains personal and cash accounts. On the other hand, personal, real and nominal accounts are maintained in Double Entry System.
6. The Single Entry system is best suited for small enterprises, but Double Entry System is preferred by big organizations.
7. Frauds and embezzlement are easy to identify in double entry system which cannot be located in single entry system.

Single entry system does not follow GAAP and it can not be used for financial reporting and decision making.

Double entry system follows GAAP and it is being used for financial reporting and decision making. 

Single entry bookkeeping is where a transaction only has to be recorded against one category, either an income account or an expense account. The cash book is an example 

Double-entry bookkeeping is an accounting system where every transaction is recorded in two accounts: a debit to one account and a credit to another.

Single-entry bookkeeping is a system that tracks basic income and expenditures as these transactions occur. Double-entry bookkeeping goes a step further and demonstrates the effect of each transaction on the company's overall finances, showing where the funds have come from as well as how the resulting purchase or sale has affected your bottom line.

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In a single entry system, only single entry is recorded which can be either debit or credit transaction. On the other hand, double entry system has a double recording method in each transaction. This means that for every debit record there is a corresponding credit entry and vice versa

Single-entry bookkeeping is when each transaction is recorded as a single-entry in a journal. Double-entry bookkeeping is a method of recording transactions where for every business transaction, an entry is recorded in at least two accounts as a debit or credit. In a double-entry system, the amounts recorded as debits must be equal to the amounts recorded as credits.