Income Statement
BusinessGlossary term
Definition
A financial statement that summarizes a company's revenues, costs, and expenses over a specific period, ultimately showing whether the business made a profit or loss. Also known as a profit and loss (P&L) statement, it is one of the three core financial statements used to evaluate a company's performance. The income statement helps business owners and investors understand where money is coming from and where it is being spent.
Related terms
- Balance SheetA financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company's financial position at a specific point in time, showing what the business owns (assets), what it owes (liabilities), and the owners' equity. The fundamental accounting equation states that assets must always equal liabilities plus equity. Reviewing a balance sheet helps investors and business owners assess the company's financial health, liquidity, and ability to meet its obligations.
- Cash Flow Statement (Business)A financial statement that tracks the actual movement of cash in and out of a business over a specific period, organized into operating, investing, and financing activities. Unlike the income statement, which includes non-cash items like depreciation, the cash flow statement shows whether a company is generating enough actual cash to fund operations and growth. Positive cash flow is essential for business survival, even for companies that appear profitable on paper.
- RevenueThe total amount of money a business earns from selling its products or services before any expenses, taxes, or costs are deducted. Revenue is often referred to as the 'top line' because it appears at the top of the income statement. While revenue growth is important, it does not necessarily indicate profitability since a company can have high revenue but still operate at a loss if expenses exceed income.
- Profit MarginA financial metric that measures what percentage of revenue a company keeps as profit after accounting for costs and expenses. There are several types of profit margin, including gross margin, operating margin, and net margin, each measuring profitability at different levels of the business. Higher profit margins generally indicate a more efficient and financially healthy business, though acceptable margins vary significantly by industry.
Get advice that uses your real numbers
Warren reads your accounts and explains what terms like this mean for your plan. Free to start, no credit card required.