Accurately tracking financial data is not only critical for running the day-to-day operations of your small business, but it is also essential when seeking funding from lenders or investors to take your business to the next level. In addition, keeping tabs of your finances can help ensure your products and services are priced right, identify what your margins are, determine your cash flow and make filing taxes easier.
Here are three basic financial statements that are important for your small business:
1. Balance sheet. This statement provides an overall financial snapshot of your small business. As an equation, it looks like liabilities + owner?s equity = assets. The two sides of the equation must balance out.
There are two types of assets: current and fixed. Current assets include cash or other holdings that can quickly be converted to cash within a year. These may include inventory, prepaid expenses and accounts receivable. Machinery, equipment, land, buildings, furniture and other essentials that you are not planning to sell are considered fixed assets.
Liabilities can be broken down into current or short-term liabilities, such as accounts payable and taxes, and long-term debt such as bank loans or notes payable to stockholders. Owner?s equity includes any invested capital or retained earnings. ?If you captured all of your accounting information correctly, both sides of the balance sheet equation should be equal. Download SCORE?s template to start setting up your own balance sheet.
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