{"id":482,"date":"2023-04-18T08:37:41","date_gmt":"2023-04-18T08:37:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.smallbizgenius.net\/?p=482"},"modified":"2023-06-19T07:45:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-19T07:45:41","slug":"balance-sheet-vs-income-statement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.smallbizgenius.net\/knowledge-base\/balance-sheet-vs-income-statement\/","title":{"rendered":"Balance Sheet vs. Income Statement – Explanation and Examples"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
As a business owner, you will be expected to produce three primary financial statements for each accounting period. Given that they each have a crucial role in tracking your company\u2019s financial performance, you\u2019ll need to be able to compare a balance sheet vs. an income statement and know what a cash flow statement is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Whether you\u2019ve just launched your business or want to play a more active role in handling your accounts and financial reporting, this guide will provide the info that you\u2019ll need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There are over 32.5 million businesses in the US, and they all need to satisfy their obligations for accurate financial reporting and accounting. Before looking at a balance sheet example or a sample income statement, you must first know what they are and how they function.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The basic definitions of the main types of financial statements are as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While all financial reporting tools are used to determine where the company stands from a financial perspective, there are distinct contrasts in what they are used for. For example, balance sheets detail what the company owns and owes to see how effectively debt is used to leverage success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Conversely, an income statement tracks both revenue and expenses to outline whether the company is operating in a way where income outweighs the outgoing expenses. A cash flow statement checks that capital is available. This is a crucial consideration since over a third of small businesses in the US claim they need more cash to operate better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In other words, it\u2019s not about the usefulness of a balance sheet vs. income statement accounts; it\u2019s about using both of these financial tools together with cash flow statements to get a better picture of a company\u2019s financial health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n