Accruals vs. Deferrals Explained: How Accrued Expenses, Accrued Revenue, Prepaid Expenses, and Unearned Revenue Each Hit Your Books
Accruals book revenue and expenses before cash moves; deferrals hold cash on the balance sheet until earned or used.
#revenue-recognition
Revenue Recognition
Revenue recognition principles and accounting standards
Pledges Receivable, Explained: How Nonprofits Book Unconditional Promises to Give
Unconditional pledges are booked at present value when promised — conditional gifts wait until the barrier falls.
Accrued Revenue vs. Deferred Revenue: The Two Timing Gaps Every Accrual-Basis Business Must Book
Accrued revenue is earned-but-unbilled income (an asset); deferred revenue is unearned cash (a liability) — each clears with its own adjusting entry.
Constructive Receipt, Explained: Why Income You Haven't Touched Is Already Taxable
IRS rules tax income when it is available, not when you cash the check — December bonuses and uncashed checks count for this year.
GAAP vs. IFRS: How US and International Rules Differ on Revenue, Inventory, Leases, and Development Costs
GAAP allows LIFO and expenses R&D; IFRS bans LIFO and capitalizes development — four framework gaps that change reported profit, and records that survive both.
Annual vs. Monthly Billing for SaaS Founders: Upfront Cash and Lower Churn Against Easier Sign-Ups and Faster Churn Signals
Annual SaaS billing cuts churn far below monthly rates and pulls a year of cash forward — but prepayments are deferred revenue, not day-one income.
FOB Shipping Point vs. Destination: Who Owns Goods in Transit, Who Pays Freight, and How the Answer Lands Year-End Sales in the Right Year
FOB shipping point transfers ownership at the seller's dock; FOB destination, at the buyer's — and the term decides revenue timing, freight, and cutoff.
Corkage Fees and BYOB Programs, Explained: What to Charge, What's Legal, and How to Book the Revenue
Most US restaurants charge $20-$25 per bottle in corkage; the fee is a taxable service charge, so ring it separately and run staff payouts through payroll.
Gross vs. Net Revenue for Ad Agencies: When Media Buying Makes You a Principal Under ASC 606
If your agency controls client media before it reaches the client, ASC 606 says you are a principal — the full billing is your revenue.
Conditional vs. Unconditional Contributions: The Two-Part Test That Decides When Your Nonprofit Can Book Grant Revenue
A contribution is conditional only with both a barrier and a right of return — otherwise your nonprofit books the grant as revenue now, not a liability.
How to Reconcile Stripe Billing, Subscriptions, and Invoicing Without Double-Counting Revenue for SaaS Companies
Book each Stripe dollar once as gross revenue when earned; route fees and refunds through a clearing account and treat payouts as transfers, never income.
How to Reconcile Stripe Payouts When You Bill Annually but Recognize Monthly
Stripe payouts are net cash transfers, not revenue — book annual prepayments to deferred revenue and recognize one-twelfth monthly.