Why do companies show a net loss on their balance sheet?

Answer:Net income is added to equity (retained earnings) at the end of the year. The end of year balance sheet can be presented either before and after profit appropriation. Before profit appropriation

When the balance sheet is made before profit appropriation, net income will be included as a item on the balance sheet in the equity section. In case net income is a loss, this amount will be negative. This is the situation that the question refers to (a loss is shown on the balance sheet).

When the balance sheet is made after profit appropriation, net income is not shown as a separate item on the balance sheet under equity. Depending whether or not a dividend is paid, net income will show up as a dividend payable, or will be added to a reserve (for example, retained earnings). In case of a loss, it will be subtracted from a reserve.