30.11.2023
2 minute read
Have you ever checked your bank statement to see how much money you spent last month? Well, businesses do something similar, but they use a cash flow statement. It’s a report that tells them how much cash is coming in and going out. Simple, right?
What is the Purpose of a Cash Flow Statement?
Think of a cash flow statement like a financial health check-up for a business. It answers questions like: Is the business earning more than it spends? Can it pay its bills on time? This statement is a key tool for anyone running a business, big or small.
Cash Flow Statement Basics
Let’s break it down:
Operating Activities: This part is like checking how much you earned and spent on your day-to-day life. For a business, it includes sales, expenses, and so on.
Investing Activities: Imagine you buy or sell something big, like a car. In business, this section talks about buying or selling big things like buildings or equipment.
Financing Activities: Ever taken a loan or paid one back? That's what businesses report in this part. It also includes money they received from or gave back to investors.
Cash Flow Statement Examples
Imagine a digital marketing agency. Their cash flow statement would detail earnings from client projects and online campaigns in the Operating Activities section. This also includes regular expenses like website hosting fees and employee wages. In the Investing Activities part, there might be expenses for upgrading their digital tools or purchasing new software.
Finally, the Financing Activities section would reflect any business loans taken for expansion or payments made to shareholders. This statement provides a snapshot of the agency's financial health, revealing how effectively they're managing their earnings, spending, and investments.
How is a Cash Flow Statement Prepared?
Gather Information: Collect all records of money coming in and going out.
Categorize: Put each transaction in the right bucket - operating, investing, or financing.
Do the Math: Add up the totals in each category to see the overall cash flow.
Wrap up
Understanding a cash flow statement can really help you get a grip on a business’s financial story. It's not just for accountants; it's a handy tool for anyone interested in the financial side of things. So next time you hear about cash flow statements, you’ll know exactly what’s going on!
