BREAK IT DOWN! What's on my Profit and Loss?

Whether you're building an empire, hustling from home or starting a side gig, you need to understand your financials. It will give you confidence, help you make informed business decisions & at the end of the day, let you know if all the effort is paying off.

Here is the first in a  series of byte-sized info for busy people to help you understand some of the terminology in business. So let me break it down for you......

Okay, we all know that weird moment  when your accountant presents you with your profit for the year and it's nothing like your bank balance! Ever wondered why that is? A Profit & Loss statement reports your income and expenses over a period of time and can help you figure out things like whether you're charging enough, selling enough or spending too much. It reports all income (in-coming funds) less all your expenses (exiting funds). 

Or as my friend Ange likes to say, it shows 'What your Earn' less 'What you Burn'.

If you record your income less all your expenses, at the very bottom you have a number representing your profit or (loss) known as your net income or net profit - often referred to as the 'bottom line'.  Not a reference to someone wearing undies a size too small! It is literally the last number on the bottom line of the Profit and Loss.  

If you are registered for GST, your income and expenses show net (without) GST because that 10% ain't yours in the first place. It belongs to the ATO.  

PRO TIP> Every time you get paid, pop that 10% into a separate bank account. It takes discipline but you'll thank yourself when it's BAS time. 

That's pretty straightforward right? But in truth it's a little more complex. Of course it is. Try and stay with me....

Here's a sample of things that you wont find on your Profit & Loss because they sit on your Balance Sheet/ Statement of Financial Position as assets, liabilities or equity [read here].

The money used to purchase stuff for your business  (office equipment, computers, machinery, motor vehicles etc) do not show up as an expense as they are considered an asset of the business, that is, something that will help you produce future income. 

You may not have received the actual payment (money in your bank)  for your sales invoices, so that sits on your accounts receivable/debtors. And flip that for any bills you may have in your books on credit - these sit in your accounts payable/creditors. 

Loans and debts (for example a credit card) are recorded as liabilities and represent future obligations to pay. If you make a repayment on your credit card, it's not recorded as an expense it's a reduction of that liability.

Also any drawings, director loans or trust distributions don't show on your profit and loss.

That's why it's never the same as your bank balance. Your P&L does not record all movements of money in and out of your bank account. 

That's your P&L basics done. 

Next time we'll look at the Balance Sheet (also known as Statement of Position)  - click here to read more. 

Gabrielle Osborne (BAcc) is a small business specialist who loves to help business owners focus on what they do best. An innovation enthusiast and determined problem-solver, Gabrielle is also fun to work with.

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