Financial Management & Reporting

You may think that because you have good bookkeeping and accounting processes in place and your cash flow is under control, you can sit back and relax. Unfortunately, you'd be wrong. This is the perfect time to do an in-depth analysis of where your business stands financially. If you're not so clued up about the accounting and financial side of your business, you may not realise how an in-depth financial analysis can benefit your company. Learn how to get the most out of your financial information.

Some describe the balance sheet as a "snapshot" of the company's financial position at a point (a moment or an instant) in time. For example, the amounts reported on a balance sheet dated December 31, 2012 reflect that instant when all the transactions through December 31 have been recorded. It summarizes the company's assets, liabilities and shareholders' equity at a specific point in time. Use this balance sheet template to create your own balance sheet.

There are a number of instances when you may need to determine the market value of a business. Certainly, buying and selling a business is the most common reason. Estate planning, reorganization, or verification of your worth for lenders or investors are other reasons. Valuing a company is hardly a precise science and can vary depending on the type of business and the reason for coming up with a valuation. This article looks at some of the common methods used to determine the value of a business.

In order to comply with VAT regulations, for any sale of more than R50, you have to issue a tax invoice, with the word "tax invoice" printed on it. This is the most important document in the VAT system. The VAT Act prescribes that a tax invoice must contain certain details about the taxable supply as well as the parties to the transaction. This includes the value of the goods/services excluding VAT, and the VAT amount (calculated at 14% of the above amount), among others.

Finding and choosing the right accountant for your business can mean the difference between success and failure. All accountants are not created equal. You need the right match for your exact needs. Unfortunately, once you've selected an accountant, it's often a hassle to switch due to the detailed knowledge that person gains of your business. Therefore it pays, when selecting an accountant, to 'get it right the first time'.

A profit margin is an indicator of a company's pricing strategies and how well it controls costs. Differences in competitive strategy and product mix cause the profit margin to vary among different companies. The easiest way to remember it, is that the margin is the difference (financially) between what everything costs and what you charge. If your margins are too low, you will never make a profit and on the other hand if you set your margins too high, you run the risk of never making a sale. This article looks at how best to increase your profit margin.

Financial performance is assessed by giving a summary of how the business incurs its revenues and expenses through both operating and non-operating activities. It also shows the net profit or loss incurred over a specific accounting period. The income statement is important because it shows the profitability of a company during the time interval specified in its heading. The period of time that the statement covers is chosen by the business and can vary. This template is intended to be a simple and practical tool to be adjusted and used by SMEs working in all sectors.

Does a small business owner need to understand their business's financials? Before we answer this question, let's draw a distinction between monthly accounting and financial accounting. Monthly accounting involves bookkeeping, payroll and tax. Financial accounting includes the calculations that allow you to price your products and services. Many small business owners who produce accurate monthly accounts, don't know how to then use those numbers the monthly accounts have produced, to carry out financial accounting. This article explores the importance of having basic accounting knowledge, but outsourcing your accounting needs.

For a growing business, having a manageable level of debt can be an effective way of doing business. While some small business owners are proud of the fact that they've never taken on debt, that's not always a realistic approach. The question for many small business owners is: How much debt is too much? The answer to this question will lie in a careful analysis of your cash flow and the specific needs of your business and your industry. This article will help you analyze whether taking on debt is a good idea for your company.

The National Credit Regulator (NCR) was established as the regulator under the National Credit Act No. 34 of 2005 (The Act) and is responsible for the regulation of the South African credit industry. It is tasked with carrying out education, research, policy development, registration of industry participants, investigation of complaints, and ensuring the enforcement of the Act. The Act requires the Regulator to promote the development of an accessible credit market, particularly to address the needs of historically disadvantaged persons, low income persons, and remote, isolated or low density communities.

SMEasy is an award-winning, easy-to-use business management and accounting system for small business that’s specifically designed for people who don’t understand accounting. SMEasy is totally different to any other accounting system. It’s developed by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs so it understands your realities and speaks your language. You don’t need to understand anything about accounting to use it! 

Whatever kind of business you run, you have to close your books at least once a year to prepare an income tax return — or more frequently, if you want to get a better handle on how your business is doing. An important part of closing your books is preparing a trial balance — in other words, a list of all of your bookkeeping accounts and the balance of each at the end of the period — to see if your books are still in balance. If you are already doing this, you know that it is tedious and time-consuming; if your accountant is doing it, you know that it is an added expense.

“Who here loves the VAT man?” That is a question that I ask on a regular basis.  Sadly though, more often than not, mine is the only hand that goes up. It is definitely a mind set that needs to be changed if we are to make the best use of the concessions that SARS gives us. It is about what you know and how you use it that will allow you to make the most of your relationship with SARS. That said, here are a few more tips in terms of what must be done regarding the VAT requirements. 

If entrepreneurship is the future of progressive industry, which I believe it is, then a shift needs to occur in the relationship between an entrepreneur and their accountant because this is one of the most important and enduring alliances they will forge. What makes an accountant valuable to an entrepreneur? In short, a valuable accountant is one who listens. This article further explores this relationship by looking at the types of accountant you may come across in your career.

It is imperative that your bookkeeper/accountant advise you in advance of any changes that will affect you. For example, imagine the waste of money and resources if the Company owner only found out that the has to pay VAT monthly when he reaches the R35 million turnover per annum mark, 6 months after he has met that particular milestone? The penalties and interest would be absolutely staggering! This article continues looking at the things that a good bookkeeper/accountant should be doing for you.