As a small business owner, accurate financial reporting is an essential part of managing, organizing, and understanding your company’s finances. While this concept may seem complicated and overwhelming, we’re here to help define and simplify the process for you. NorthOne’s small business bank accounts also integrate with your existing accounting tools to help make financial reporting a seamless part of your day-to-day management.
This article will cover financial reporting from the ground up including its definition, the financial information it usually includes, the benefits, and the importance behind a standard financial reporting system.
What is Financial Reporting?
Financial reporting is a standard accounting practice that uses financial statements to disclose a company’s financial information and performance over a particular period, usually on an annual or quarterly basis. In simple terms, a financial report is critical for understanding how much money you have, where the money is coming from, and where your money needs to go. Financial reporting is important for management to make informed business decisions based on facts of the company’s financial health. Potential investors and banks will also use your company’s financial reporting to decide if they want to invest or loan you money.
4 Types of Financial Statements
Before we dive into the most common types of financial statements, it’s important to define what a financial statement is and how it works in the grand scheme of a financial report.
A financial statement is a document that provides information about the financial performance, position, and cash flows of a business over time or at a particular time. Financial statements are used by business owners, investors, lenders, and other stakeholders to assess the financial health of the business and make informed decisions.
The four key types of financial statements found within a financial report include income statements, balance sheets, a statement of retained earnings, and cash flow statements. Learn more about the significance of each statement and the value they provide to financial statement users below.
1. Income Statement
An income statement, also known as the profit and loss statement, summarizes a company’s revenue, expenses, gains, and losses over a specific period of time. The income statement essentially shows how much the business earned or lost during a period of time and ultimately determines a company’s net income or “bottom line.”
2. Balance Sheet
A balance sheet for small business is a financial statement that shows the assets, liabilities, and equity of a business at a specific point in time. It provides a snapshot of the financial position of the business and helps to assess its ability to meet its financial obligations.
3. Statement of Retained Earnings
A statement of retained earnings for is a financial statement that shows changes in a company’s retained earnings over a specific period. Retained earnings represent the portion of a company’s profits that are not distributed as dividends to shareholders but are instead reinvested in the business.
The statement of retained earnings is important because it shows how a company’s retained earnings have changed over time. This can provide insights into a company’s financial performance and its ability to generate profits and reinvest in the business.
4. Cash Flow Statement
A cash flow statement (CFS) shows the amount of cash coming in and out of a business. The CFS gives stakeholders an idea of how a business operates and manages cash to pay off debt and fund current expenses and future investments.
Other Financial Documents
Simply put, any financial communication, document, or information that’s shared with the public can be included in a company’s financial report.
Financial reports can include the following:
- Financial statements and related footnotes
- Any financial information featured on a company’s website
- Records surrounding common stock and additional securities
- Quarterly and annual reports to stockholders
- Financial reports issued to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and other regulatory agencies.
- Press releases covering quarterly earnings reports
Financial Reporting Requirements and Regulations
The financial reporting regulations for small businesses can vary depending on the business entity type, size, and location. However, here are some common financial reporting regulations that small businesses may need to comply with:
- Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP): Although small businesses are not legally required to follow GAAP, it is generally recommended as a standard to ensure accurate and consistent financial reporting.
- International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS): If a small business operates internationally, it may need to comply with IFRS, which are global accounting standards used in many countries.
- Tax regulations: Small businesses must comply with tax regulations at the federal, state, and local levels, which may include filing tax returns, paying taxes, and maintaining records.
- Other industry-specific regulations: Some industries, such as banking and healthcare, have specific regulations for financial reporting that small businesses must comply with.
It is important for small businesses to consult with a certified public accountant (CPA) or a tax professional to ensure compliance with all applicable financial reporting regulations.
Understanding The Importance of Financial Reporting
Without financial reporting, it’s difficult to understand how well a company is performing from a financial standpoint. Not only are financial reports crucial for management or investors to assess a business’s financial stability, but they are required by law for taxes and standard accounting practices. Here are the top reasons financial reporting can benefit your small business:
Make Better Financial Decisions
Analyzing and understanding financial statements is key when a business needs to make an important decision. Financial reports allow management to identify trends, potential roadblocks, and actively track their financial performance in real-time. Staying on top of your financial statements will give you the foundation you need to make quick and sound economic decisions when the time comes.
Manage Debt
Financial statements provide business owners and management direct insight into their company’s current assets and liabilities. Also, on how they should effectively manage their company’s outstanding debt moving forward.
Simplify Your Taxes
Financial reports are required by law for tax purposes and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) uses these reports to evaluate a company’s tax income. Accurate financial reporting mitigates the risk for error and saves an immense amount of time. It relieves the overall burden that comes along with filing your company’s taxes each year.
Compliance
It’s no secret that accurate financial reporting can improve your company’s financial performance but it also guarantees that your business is compliant with the law and regulations required by government agencies such as the IRS and SEC.
Financial Transparency
External stakeholders must research a company’s financial position before they decide to officially invest. Financial reporting is a great way to showcase a company’s financial integrity and build trust with potential investors and creditors.
