Running a business is a never-ending learning process that teaches you a valuable lesson every day. Whether you have just built a startup or are an experienced entrepreneur, you never stop learning and evolving. There are different technical aspects of business that you have to focus on. So, you have to be an excellent learner to analyze things from a bigger perspective and act accordingly. You should look into everything personally from marketing to investment to ensure that you are on the right track. Your concepts should be crystal clear to make the right business decisions when it comes to finances.
You should know that finance is a vast field. So, to run your business operations smoothly, you need to have a good grasp of it. You will be able to monitor the financial health of your business closely and make necessary modifications to your business structure. The figures measure the success of any business, so eventually, results hold special significance. Whether profit, loss, revenue, taxes, or ROI, you should know how finances work. Let’s find out some of the finance terms that will keep your business away from any trouble.
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Tax Lien
If you have failed to pay business-related taxes to the government, the relevant organization can seize your assets by claiming the tax lien. So, as a company owner, you have to know what is tax reform and the different technical aspects of tax to avoid a tax lien. If you have not paid your business taxes, then the government holds the right to seize your assets and charges you heavy penalties according to the amount you owe.
You should keep yourself updated regarding tax collection policies that change continuously to avoid financial trouble. It will help you avoid any trouble and ensure that you pay all taxes on time.
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Accruals
It is a business finance term that means the expenses incurred but have not been recorded anywhere. Payroll taxes and wages are some of the common examples of accruals.
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Asset
From a business finance perspective, an asset is something a company owns and has some tangible or intangible value. Some of the typical business assets include cash on hand, accounts receivable, buildings, inventory, equipment, and anything you can turn into cash.
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Balance Sheet
The balance sheet provides you the clear insight into the financial health of your business. It contains all the essential financial information, including its net worth and other details about assets and business liabilities. By reviewing the balance sheet regularly, you get the idea that either your finances are going on the right business track or not.
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Capital
Capital reflects the overall wealth of a specific business demonstrated by the assets, investments, and accounts. It is also often known as fixed capital, which focuses on the business’s long-term growth. Capital can be tangible such as durable goods, equipment, or intangible such as intellectual property.
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Working Capital
You should be clear that working capital and fixed capital are not the same. A working capital contains the financial resources needed to manage and run daily business operations. It is the business cash or any other valuable instrument that you can, later on, turn into cash quickly.
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Cash Flow
You may know well that the survival of any business is not possible without cash. The term cash flow refers to the amount that flows through the business and impacts its liquidity. Cash flow shows you the financial activities for the particular period, usually for one month.
If your business is new, you have to keep your cash flow’s proper check and balance. You can limit the ready cash until your business starts to generate more working capital and grow at a large scale.
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Cash Flow Projections
If you want to ensure that your business stays on the right track in the future, then you require accurate cash flow projections. If you want to plan for working capital and upcoming expenditures, you have to rely on past cash flow patterns. Such patterns will provide you with valuable insights into how you should manage your cash.
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Depreciation
A business asset can lose its value with time due to increments known as depreciation. It occurs due to financial wear and tears. Businesses use different methods to reduce the recorded value of assets.
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Fixed Asset
A long-term and tangible business asset that cannot be sold or converted into cash during the future or current fiscal year is known as a fixed asset. Gadget, tools, computer equipment, furniture, and different items are included in fixed assets.
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Gross Profit
If you want to calculate gross profit, you should analyze if total sales, “income,” are less than costs that are “expenses” or not. Manufacturing, materials, labor, and transportation costs are included in expenses.
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Income Statement
To calculate the viability of the business, investors and lenders use income statements. It is commonly known as a profit and loss statement that shows you the business’s bottom line and how much revenue a business has generated over a certain period. The results show that either a company has gained net loss or net gain.
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Annual Percentage Rate
The APR (annual percentage rate) shows the actual annual cost of a loan that includes fees and interest. To pay the total amount of interest, you have to consider the original amount taken for a loan. When taking the loan, you should know the APR. It will give you an idea about the actual cost that you borrowed.
You should understand that to run a business successfully, you need to have the proper financial knowledge. It will help you make the right business decisions without depending on anyone. You can hire a financial advisor to have helpful business insights, but it is compulsory to have the basic financial knowledge that will go a long way with you. Finance has a significant role in every business operation. So, if you want to take growth-driven steps for your business, then having financial knowledge is a must.
