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Hiring an accountant is best practice for small business owners.  But delegating financial analysis and reporting doesn’t mean completely checking out of the process each month or quarter. On the contrary, it’s recommended that business owners work closely with their accountants throughout the year to better understand their financial position, and make smart plans for future growth.

Want to increase your accounting knowledge so you can have more informed, insightful discussions with your accountant this quarter?

Start right now, with this list of 6 essential accounting terms for small business owners.

1. Cash Flow

Do you have more cash flowing into your business each month than you pay out to cover costs and expenses? If so, your accountant will conclude that you’re “cash flow positive.” If the opposite is true, your cash flow statement will reveal that you’re “cash flow negative.”

Having excess cash on hand means you’re better equipped to keep up with debt, cover unforeseen expenses, and invest in growth opportunities. Your accountant can generate a cash flow statement each quarter to keep tabs on this key performance indicator.

2. Profit and Loss Statement

The profit and loss statement (also known as the income statement) is one of the most important documents accountants use to determine the profitability of your business.

The P&L statement lists revenues and gains as well as expenses and losses over a specific period of time (typically every three months for small businesses). It calculates your all important “bottom line” so you know if you’re operating at a loss or turning a profit.

3. Gross vs Net Profit

Gross profit is what remains when you subtract the cost of goods sold (COGS) from your total revenue. Net profit, on the other hand, drills deeper. It reveals your exact dollar per profit of sales after subtracting all operating expenses, including COGS, administration costs, interest paid on debt, etc.

Gross and net profit are both profitability ratios. They are key for measuring business performance against an industry benchmark and your competitors.

4. Balance Sheet

The balance sheet offers a snapshot of your overall financial position at a particular moment in time. It lists the assets (such as cash, inventory, accounts receivable, and equipment); liabilities (like accounts payable, income tax, and employee salaries); and shareholder capital.  In a nutshell, the balance sheet shows what you own, as well as what you owe.

5. Accounts Receivable & Accounts Payable

Simply put, accounts receivable (or Trade Debtors) is money customers owe your business for goods or services sold. It is an asset on your balance sheet. Conversely, accounts payable (or Trade Creditors) is money you owe suppliers and any bills you have yet to pay, so it’s listed as a liability on your balance sheet.

6. Bad Debt Expense

Bad debt happens when you can’t collect payment from your customers. You may have to consider whether some long term outstanding accounts receivable will never pay you. These are “bad debts”, and you have to write them off as a loss.

And there you have it – six key terms to help you build your accounting vocabulary, join the conversation, and empower smarter decision-making.