SMALL BUSINESS ACCOUNTING

 An income statement, also known as a profit and loss statement, is an itemized list of all your revenues and subtracts an itemized list of all your expenses to come up with a profit or loss for the period. An income statement allows you to...

• Track revenues and expenses so that you can determine the operating performance of your business.
   
• Determine what areas of your business are over-budget or under-budget.
   
• Identify specific items that are causing unexpected expenditures. Like phone, fax, mail, or supply expenses.
   
• Track dramatic increases in product returns or cost of goods sold as a percentage of sales.
   
• Determine your income tax liability.

A balance sheet gives you a snapshot of your business' financial condition at a specific moment in time. A balance sheet helps you...

• Quickly get a handle on the financial strength and capabilities of your business.
   
• Identify and analyze trends, particularly in the area of receivables and payables. For example, if your receivables cycle is lengthening, maybe you can collect your receivables more aggressively.
   
• Determine if your business is in a position to expand.
   
• Determine if your business can easily handle the normal financial ebbs and flows of revenues and expenses? 
   
• Determine if you need to take immediate steps to bolster cash reserves?
   
• Determine if your business has been slowing down payables to forestall an inevitable cash shortage?