Black Friday Sale! 50% Off All Access

A Visual Guide to Financial Statements for Your Business (Infographic) They provide insight into the health of a company, as well as information on assets, liability, income and cash flow.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

JGI | Jamie Grill | Getty Images

Financial statements are essential for every company. They provide insight into the health of a company, as well as information on assets, liability, income and cash flow.

Related: 8 Factors That Determine the Financial Health of a Business

And the more transparent you can be with your finances, the better off you'll be in the long run. Financial statements can help you get funding and loans, as well as prepare for the future. It may sound like a daunting task, so to get started, break down the process into stages.

First, create a balance sheet. A balance sheet will show you where your business stands financially, and the different forms of assets and liabilities you currently have. After you've sorted that out, move on to your income statement and cash flow. Break down cash flow into operating, investing and financing activities to see where your money's coming from.

Related: What Exactly Is Your Income Statement Telling You?

Still having trouble? No need to worry. Check out Business Backer's infographic for a step-by-step guide to creating a financial statement for your business.

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Living

These Are the 'Wealthiest and Safest' Places to Retire in the U.S. None of Them Are in Florida — and 2 States Swept the List.

More than 338,000 U.S. residents retired to a new home in 2023 — a 44% increase year over year.

Business News

These Are the Highest Paying Jobs Available Without a College Degree, According to a New Report

The median salaries for these positions go up to $102,420 per year.

Starting a Business

This Sommelier's 'Laughable' Idea Is Disrupting the $385 Billion Wine Industry

Kristin Olszewski, founder of Nomadica, is bringing premium wine to aluminum cans, and major retailers are taking note.

Starting a Business

He Started a Business That Surpassed $100 Million in Under 3 Years: 'Consistent Revenue Right Out of the Gate'

Ryan Close, founder and CEO of Bartesian, had run a few small businesses on the side — but none of them excited him as much as the idea for a home cocktail machine.

Business News

Is Reddit Down Again? Tens of Thousands of Users Are Reporting Issues With the Platform.

A Reddit outage has been occurring off-and-on for two days.

Business News

DOGE Leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy Say Mandating In-Person Work Would Make 'a Wave' of Federal Employees Quit

The two published an op-ed outlining their goals for their new department, including workforce reductions.