Learn what equity means in accounting, how to calculate it using the accounting equation, understand the difference between owner's equity and shareholders' equity, what negative equity signals, and practical strategies to grow your business equity over time.
Learn about the four core financial statements every business needs: balance sheet, income statement, cash flow statement, and statement of retained earnings. Includes practical examples, key ratios, common mistakes to avoid, and a framework for using financial data to make better business decisions.
Learn what gross margin is, how to calculate it with the gross margin formula, industry benchmarks, the difference between gross margin and net margin, and seven proven strategies to improve your gross margin.
Understand the difference between gross and net across income, profit, pay, and revenue. Includes formulas, real-world examples, industry benchmarks, and common mistakes to avoid when analyzing your business finances.
Learn how to pay yourself from an LLC, including owner's draws, salary, and guaranteed payments. Compare tax implications across LLC structures, understand IRS reasonable compensation rules, and find the best compensation strategy for your business.
A complete guide to creating professional invoices. Learn about the 13 essential elements of an invoice, common mistakes, payment terms, and tips to get paid faster.
Learn what liabilities are in accounting, the difference between current, non-current, and contingent liabilities, key financial ratios for analyzing debt, and practical strategies to manage your business obligations effectively.
Learn the most important financial ratios every business owner should track, including liquidity, leverage, profitability, and efficiency ratios—with formulas, examples, benchmarks, and practical tips for using them effectively.
Learn what a profit and loss statement is, how to read and create one for your small business, understand the difference between single-step and multi-step formats, calculate key profitability ratios, and avoid common P&L mistakes that could be costing you money.
Learn what Return on Assets (ROA) is, how to calculate it step by step, what constitutes a good ROA by industry, how ROA compares to ROE and ROIC, and six proven strategies to improve your ROA.