What financial reports should I review each month?
The income statement should be your starting point each month. Also called a profit and loss report, it shows revenue, expenses, and whether you actually made money. Don’t just glance at the bottom line. Look at the trends. Are your expenses creeping up? Is revenue flat while costs are rising? The income statement answers whether your business model is working.
Cash flow matters just as much as profit. You can be profitable on paper and still run out of cash. Review your actual bank balance alongside a cash flow statement, or at least compare your starting and ending cash for the month. If cash keeps dropping even though you’re profitable, dig into why. Common culprits are slow-paying customers, inventory purchases, or loan payments that don’t show up on the income statement.
Accounts receivable aging tells you who owes you money and for how long. Anything over 30 days should get attention. Over 60 days needs action. Over 90 days might not get collected at all. Review this report and follow up on late invoices before they become uncollectible.
Accounts payable aging shows what you owe vendors. This helps you manage cash and avoid late fees or damaged supplier relationships. Knowing what’s due this week versus next month helps you plan around tight periods.
The balance sheet gives you the overall picture of assets, liabilities, and equity. It’s less about monthly trends and more about understanding your financial position. Are you building net worth or going deeper into debt? Is inventory piling up? Do you have enough assets to cover what you owe?
Some businesses need additional reports depending on their industry. Restaurants should track food cost percentages. Contractors need job profitability reports. Retailers and e-commerce businesses should monitor inventory turnover. These specialized reports turn accounting data into operational insights you can actually use.
The point of monthly review isn’t just checking boxes. It’s catching problems early and spotting opportunities while you can still act on them. Financial reports are only useful if someone actually looks at them and asks questions about what they show. If you’re not sure what your reports mean or you’re not getting them consistently, Scottsdale area bookkeeping services can help you establish a monthly rhythm that keeps you informed without overwhelming you.
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