Accounting statement showing s firm's sales revenue over a trading
period and all the relevant costs generated to earn that revenue. PLC's
use income statements, small firms use profit and loss accounts.
Who Wants to See the Income Statements?
Shareholders (assessing profitability)
Gov agencies (tax authorities require data
on P&L to calculate corporation tax)
Suppliers (need to know financial position to establish
their reliability, stability and creditworthiness)
Potential shareholders and bankers
(commit funds?)
The Uses of Income Statements
Measure success of a business compared
to previous year or another
Assess actual performance
compared with expectations
Help obtain loans from banks
To enable owners and managers to
plan ahead i.e. future investment
Measuring Profit
Profit = Revenue - Costs
Gross Profit
Measure of the difference between income
(sales revenue) and the cost of
manufacturing/ purchasing the products sold.
Can compare with other
companies, maybe find
cheaper supplier or boost
prices?
Net Profit
/Operating Profit.
Net Profit = Gross Profit - (expenses + overheads)
Takes everything into account. If small net profit, business may
need to control costs such as salaries/ distribution