Most veterinary businesses can operate very effectively using three financial statements; the income statement (also called the profit and loss statement), the cash flow statement, and the balance sheet. The purpose of the income statement is to show whether the company made or lost cash, and how much cash, from providing veterinary services and products during the period being reported. The purpose of the cash flow statement is to show what was done with the cash generated by the veterinary business as well sources and uses of cash generated from non cash assets located on the balance sheet during the period being reported. The purpose of the balance sheet is to show, on a specific date/time, what the veterinary business has to show for all of its efforts on a specific date/time. The balance sheet reports liabilities (debt) and two types of assets, cash and non cash assets. Once you understand these three financial statements, you know the following things: •
- INCOME STATEMENT/P&L- during a period of time o how much cash was generated or lost by your veterinary company
- CASH FLOW STATEMENT- during a period of time o how the cash was used during a period of time o how non cash assets became sources or uses of cash during a period of time
- BALANCE SHEET- on a specific date/time o what assets you have to show for the activities of the veterinary business o what liabilities you have to show for the activities of the veterinary business
Closer Look at Income Statement:
Income Statement or Profit and Loss (P&L) Statement The Income Statement is the financial report most commonly used in veterinary businesses. Remember, the income statement only tells part of the financial story. An income statement is a type of summary flow report that lists and categorizes the various revenues and expenses that result from operations during a given period - a year, a quarter, or a month. The difference between revenues and expenses represents a company's net income or net loss. The amounts shown in the income statement are the amounts recorded for the given period - a year, a quarter or a month. The next period’s income statement will start over with all amounts reset to zero. The income statement only shows the amounts earned or expensed during the period in question. The cash flow statement shows how the income (cash) was used and the balance sheet shows accumulated balances since inception,
(http://www.bouffordca.com/FS/SampleFS.pdf)
