Days payable outstanding (DPO) measures the number of average days from when a company purchases inventory and materials until the supplier is paid. The DPO calculation divides average accounts payable by annual cost of goods sold times 365 days. A higher DPO indicates that the company is taking longer to pay its suppliers. Accounting software…
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Inventory Aging Report and How to Calculate: The Ultimate Guide
An inventory aging report is a list of the items on hand grouped by the length of time in inventory. It’s used to identify slow moving inventory plus the additional costs to store and maintain these products until they are sold. If you use accounting software, you’ve got a few options for creating the report….
Inventory Turnover Ratio: Definition, Formula & What It Means
The inventory turnover ratio is an efficiency ratio that measures how quickly inventory is turned into sales. A high inventory turnover is generally positive and means a company has good inventory control while a low ratio typically indicates the opposite. There are exceptions to this rule that we also cover in this article. If you…
Inventory Accounting: Definition, Methods & Examples
Inventory accounting is valuing and tracking fluctuations in inventory assets. The three primary inventory costing methods are average cost, last-in, first-out (LIFO), and first-in, first-out (FIFO). Businesses using manual bookkeeping systems should use the average cost method. However, businesses with nonperishable products should use LIFO, while FIFO is right for businesses that carry perishable items….
FIFO vs LIFO: Differences & Which Is Right for Your Business?
First-in, first-out (FIFO) and last-in, first-out (LIFO) are costing methods used to value ending inventory and the cost of goods sold. The differences between FIFO vs LIFO are simple. FIFO assumes the first items sold are the first ones added to inventory. With LIFO, the first items sold are the last items put into inventory….
Accounts Payable Turnover Ratio: Definition, Formula & Free Template
The accounts payable (A/P) turnover ratio measures how fast a business pays its suppliers. The ratio is calculated by dividing total supplier purchases by the average accounts payable balance for the period. It can be used to identify payment issues, and it gives creditors a sense of your payment history with vendors. If you use…
Journal Entries: What They Are & How to Do Them
A journal entry is a record of a financial event that has occurred in your business. By recording journal entries, you ensure that your financial statements are accurate and complete. We cover basic accounting, two types of journal entries, and three simple steps to prepare journal entries manually or using an accounting software. What Is…
What Is Depreciation & How Does Depreciation Work?
Depreciation is an income tax deduction that allows you to recover the cost of assets like cars, furniture, and equipment that you purchase and use in your business. It can also be reported for accounting purposes so that your financial statements accurately reflect your investment in fixed assets and allocate those costs over time. How…
Controller vs CFO: Differences & Which Is Right for Your Business
A controller oversees the accounting department to ensure financial statements are accurate. The CFO takes these financial statements and formulates a strategy to meet business goals. A controller has a solid understanding of accounting principles, whereas a CFO can also analyze current performance to predict future outcomes of the business. Businesses typically hire a controller…
Units of Production Depreciation: How to Calculate & Formula
Units of production depreciation is a depreciation method that allows businesses to determine the value of an asset based upon usage. Common in manufacturing, it’s calculated by dividing the equipment’s net cost by its expected lifetime production. Multiplying this rate by the asset’s output for the year gives you the depreciation expense. You cannot use…
Bookkeeper vs Accountant: Differences & Which Is Right for You
Eventually, most small businesses will need to hire a bookkeeper and accountant. If you are struggling to keep up with daily transactions like invoicing customers and paying bills, you need to hire a bookkeeper. If you’ve got daily tasks under control but need someone who can interpret financial statements, it’s time to hire an accountant….
Free Invoice Template for Excel, PDF & Word
An invoice is a customer’s bill for a sale after goods or services have been delivered but before payment has been made. Accounting software is the best way to create and send an invoice but typically costs a monthly fee. To help, we have a free, downloadable free invoice template in Excel, PDF, and Word….
