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Best Accounting Methods for Small Businesses

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John Tie
Best Accounting Methods for Small Businesses

Accounting is an integral part of small businesses. It is a core operation they cannot avoid or run away from. It involves keeping a check on revenue, paying off debts on time, balancing books and monitoring cash flow. Accounting is a job performed regularly and mandatory for the accounts team of any business to accurately assess the financial position of the company. There are different accounting methods for different businesses. The two most common and best accounting methods for small businesses are the accrual method and the cash method. The two most widely preferred accounting methods for a small business have been written about below.

1.  Accural Method:

This is one of the best accounting methods for small businesses as it revolves around the practice of recording income as soon as a sale is closed out, though the payment may have or may not have been received. Anytime a retailer sells an item and accepts cash payment on the spot, the cost of the item sold gets recorded as official revenue. Income generated through customers billed by retailers belatedly is also recorded as income. The accrual method of accounting for small businesses also recognizes debits as soon as the small business is liable for them.

2.  Cash Method:

Unlike the earlier one, the cash accounting method for small businesses require transactions to be recorded only when the money gets paid out or received. The cash method of accounting for small businesses is generally used to track personal finances. However, it is not that widely recommended in business settings. Reason being, if not mastered it often distorts the finances of small businesses. Hence, if you are not that familiar with it, it is recommended that you hire a virtual accountant who can do the job for you. An example of this can be an organization paid by customers for its services rendered but having not settled its own debts. In such a case, the genera ledger incorrectly reports the firm being in possession of more money than it has on its balance sheet. Both accrual and cash accounting methods for small businesses are best accounting methods. If you do not understand that well, it is suggested that you hire a virtual accountant.

The million dollar question here for businesses is to know which methods works best for them.

Cash method of accounting for small businesses works best in two cases:

  • When you are the sole proprietor or have just started off in business. The cash method does not have the steep learning curve the accrual method has. Entrepreneurs running short of time and cash will find this ideally suited for their needs as they juggle multiple responsibilities in tandem. Business promoters who feel they can do without an accountant will find this accounting method ideally suited for their style.

 

  • When you are starved for cash and have an impending tax season ahead of you. Businesses are often worried about paying their taxes. They are more worried about adequate income generation, which can be dicey at times. Hence, this method of accounting is best suited for them. It lets businesses know how much cash they have in hand. Clients paying late for a service or product sale can be reported for in the current year’s taxes to save reporting revenue until next year.

Accrual method is ideal in the following situations:

  • When your small business has average gross revenue of over $25 million over a three-year period. As soon as your business averages over $25 million in gross receipts, you must file accrual basis tax returns.

 

  • When you have inventory. Businesses selling inventory are generally required to use accrual basis accounting. The inventory can either be treated as non-incidental material or the option to use whatever accounting method suits the business owner best lies with the owner himself as per his financial statements.

 

  • When you must file taxes. There are certain states, according to whose laws business owners must file their sales tax returns on an accrual basis. In such cases, this type of method suits business owners best. Reason being, they must have solid accounts receivable and collection procedures in place. Else, they might find themselves paying taxes on invoices against which payments have not yet been made. This can impact their cash flow very badly.
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John Tie
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