Business Finance

Profit

The amount of money left over once the costs of that activity have been paid for. (cost of goods and expenses) Profit is sometimes used to measure how successful a business activity has been.

Sale Revenue (Turnover)

Quantity of goods sold multiplied by the selling price.

Gross Profit

Sales revenue minus cost of sales.

Net Profit

Gross profit minus expenses.

Sources Of Finance

Where the businesses get money from internally or externally and whether it's needed for the short term or long term.

Internal Finance

Finance obtained from WITHIN the business.

External Finance

Finance obtained from OUTSIDE the business.

Interest

An amount of money which has to be paid on borrowed money.

Profit & Loss Account

Shows how much profit a business makes during the whole year after expenses are taken away.

Turnover

All the money coming into the business, also called 'Sales Revenue'.

Opening Stock

The value of the stock which the business has at the beginning of the accounting period. The value is always the same as the closing stock from the previous accounting period. (Opening Stock + Purchases)

Closing Stock

The value of the stock which the business has at the end of the accounting period. The value of the closing stock is carried forward to the beginning of the next accounting period.

Operating Profit

The amount of profit which the business has made on its main activities.

Net Profit Before Tax

The amount of profits which the business has made on all activities after expenses have been paid and before paying tax.

Corporation Tax

The tax which private and public limited companies must pay on their profits.

Retained Profit

The amount of profit kept by the business for its own use.

Dividends

The part of a company's profit paid out to shareholders.

Ratios To Learn

Are used to measure how well the business is doing

Gross Profit To Sales

Gross Profit � Sales x 100

Net Profit To Sales

Net Profit � Sales x 100

ROCE

Operating Profit � Capital Employed x 100

Balance Sheet

Shows exactly how much a business is worth on a stated day. A statement of what the business owns and owes on a given date. (One moment in time, the assets and liabilities for a business change all the time). The 'balance sheet' provides information on wh

Liquidity

The ability of a business to pay off its debts at short notice.

Fixed Assets

Items which can be used more than once and which do not tend to change in value on a daily basis.

Current Assets

Items which are owned by the business which tend to change in value on a daily basis and which can be changed into cash fairly easily.

Long-Term Liabilities

Money owned by the business which is not normally due for repayment within the next 12 months.

Current Liabilities

Debts of the business which will usually have to be repaid in 12 months.

Net Working Capital

The amount of money which a business has to manage and fund day to day affairs.

Net Current Assets

Current assets less current liabilities. This is the same as net working capital.

Net Assets Employed

The total value of all the assets owned by the business.

Capital Employed

The total value of all the long term finance provided to the business.

Creditors

People or organisations that are owed money.

Debtors

People or organisations that owe money.

Depreciation

The process of reducing the value of fixed asset/s.

Loan Capital

Money lent to a business, usually for a specific purpose. This may consist of bank loans or debentures.

Share Capital

Invested in the business by shareholders who are the owners of the business.

Cash Flow

Flow of money into and out of the business.

Cash Flow Forecast

The expected flow of money into and out of the business over a period of time.

Cash Flow Statement

A document which shows where cash used by the business has come from and how it has been used. (The closing balance for the previous month is the opening balance for the next month).

Income

Money which the business receives.

Expenditure

Money which the business pays out.

Balance Carried Forward

The amount of cash left at the end of the month. This amount is used at the beginning of the next month.

Balance Brought Forward

The amount of cash available at the beginning of the month which was left over at the end of the previous month.

(Cash Flow) Surplus

The amount of cash left when income is greater than expenditure. (Income > Expenditure)

Cash Deficit

The amount of cash which a business is short of, when expenditure is greater than income. (Expenditure > Income)

Negative Cash Flow

More cash is flowing out of the business than is flowing into it.

Positive Cash Flow

More cash is flowing into the business than is flowing out of it.

Budget

Determined by the business as a way of helping to control what it does and used as a means of setting a target.

Current Ratio

Calculated using the following formula: Current Assets � Current Liabilities.

Acid Test Ratio

Calculated using the following formula: Current Assets - Less Stock � Current Liabilities.