A complete set of financial statements for your business contains three reports. Each serves a different purpose, but ultimately helps stakeholders — including managers, employees, investors, and lenders — evaluate a company’s performance. Here’s an overview of each report and a critical question it answers.
Income Statement: Is the Company Growing and Profitable?
Many people focus on earnings, which are reported on the income statement (the profit and loss statement). This statement provides an overview of revenue, expenses, and earnings over a period.
A common term used when discussing income statements is “gross profit,” or the income earned after subtracting the cost of goods sold from revenue. Cost of goods sold includes the cost of labor, materials, and overhead required to make a product. Another important term is “net income.” This is the income remaining after all expenses (including taxes) have been paid.
Though it may be tempting to just review revenue and profit trends, thorough due diligence looks beyond the income statement. Growth and profitability aren’t the only metrics that matter. For example, high-growth companies that report healthy top and bottom lines may not have enough cash on hand to pay their bills.
Balance Sheet: What Does the Company Own (And Owe)?
The balance sheet (the statement of financial position) provides a snapshot of the company’s financial health. It tallies assets, liabilities, and equity.
Under GAAP, assets are reported at the lower of cost or market value. Current assets (such as accounts receivable or inventory) are reasonably expected to be converted to cash within a year, while long-term assets (such as plant and equipment) have longer lives. Similarly, current liabilities (such as accounts payable) come due within a year, while long-term liabilities are payment obligations that extend beyond the current year or operating cycle.
Intangible assets (such as patents, customer lists, and goodwill) can significantly value a business. But internally developed intangibles aren’t reported on the balance sheet. Intangible assets are only reported when they’ve been acquired externally.
Owners’ equity (or net worth) is the extent to which the book value of assets exceeds liabilities. If liabilities exceed assets, net worth will be negative. However, book value may not necessarily reflect market value. Some companies may provide the details of owners’ equity in a separate statement called the statement of retained earnings. It details sales or repurchases of stock, dividend payments, and changes caused by reported profits or losses.
Cash Flow Statement: Where Is Cash Coming From and Going To?
The cash flow statement shows all the cash flowing in and out of your company. For example, your company may have cash inflows from selling products or services, borrowing money, and selling stock. Outflows may result from paying expenses, investing in capital equipment, and repaying debt.
Typically, cash flows are organized into three categories: operating, investing, and financing activities. The bottom of the statement shows the net change in cash during the period. Watch your statement of cash flows closely. To remain in business, companies must continually generate cash to pay creditors, vendors, and employees.
Read the Fine Print
Financial reporting is more than an exercise in compliance with accounting rules. Financial statements can be a valuable management tool. However, to get a holistic assessment of your organization’s performance, it’s important to look beyond profits. Contact us for help preparing these statements and benchmarking your organization’s performance over time and against competitors.
© 2023
