6 Min. Read
March 27, 2023
An income statement reports a business’s revenues, expenses, and overall profit or loss for a specific time period. It’s one of the 3 major financial statements that small businesses prepare to report on their financial performance, along with the balance sheet and the cash flow statement.
An income statement doesn’t just show the total operating profit a company generates, it also shows the costs associated with earning that revenue. An income statement is also referred to as a profit and loss statement.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- What Is an Income Statement?
- What to List on an Income Statement
- Why Is an Income Statement Important?
- Income Statement Example
- How to Create Your Own Income Statement
- Income Statements Made Easier
NOTE: FreshBooks Support team members are not certified income tax or accounting professionals and cannot provide advice in these areas, outside of supporting questions about FreshBooks. If you need income tax advice, please contact an accountant in your area.
What Is an Income Statement?
An income statement is a financial report that details a business’s profitability over a specific period of time. You can create an income statement on a monthly, quarterly, or annual basis. Income statements can follow one of two reporting formats:
Single-Step Income Statement
A single-step income statement gives a simplified account of your business’s financial activity. As the name suggests, it uses just one step to calculate net income, which is the final line item on the income statement. This is the equation you can use to determine net income for a single-step income statement:
Net Income = (Revenues + Gains) – (Expenses + Losses)
The single-step format is the most common format used by small businesses. This kind of income statement shows all the relevant details for service-based businesses and companies that have relatively simple operations.
Multi-Step Income Statement
A multi-step income statement is the more complex of the two formats and offers more detail about a business’s financial activities. It uses 3 separate steps to calculate the net income:
- Gross Profit = Net Sales – Cost of Goods Sold
- Operating Income = Gross Profit – Operating Expenses
- Net Income = Operating Income + Non-Operating Items
Multiple-step income statements separate operating revenue and operating expenses from non-operating revenue and non-operating expenses. That way, you get a better picture of how the company’s core business activities are driving profits.
This income statement format tends to be used by manufacturers and retailers with cost of goods sold and complex business operations.
What to List on an Income Statement
The information that’s listed on your business’s income statement will vary depending on the format you choose and the specific details of your business’s operations.
Here are some common accounting items that can be included on income statements:
- Revenue or Sales: Your revenue earned through selling your products or services. This is the first section that appears on the income statement.
- Cost of Goods Sold: The total of the direct costs incurred to sell your products and earn revenue. This can include the cost of labor and materials.
- Gross Profit: Gross profit is calculated by subtracting the cost of goods sold from your revenue. This equation is included on a multi-step income statement only.
- Advertising and Promotions Expenses: Costs associated with marketing your business to attract clients. This can include payment for digital or print advertising.
- General and Administrative Expenses: The administrative costs associated with running your business, including salaries, rent, office supplies, and travel expenses.
- Depreciation Expenses: Depreciation refers to the practice of spreading out the cost of a long-term asset over its useful life span. It’s often done with vehicles and large equipment.
- Earnings Before Tax: Your pre-tax income. This is usually the second-to-last line item included on an income statement.
- Net Profit or Loss: The total revenues minus total expenses. This is the last line item on an income statement. If the number is positive, your business is reporting a profit. You’re recording a loss for the reporting period if it’s negative.
Why Is an Income Statement Important?
An income statement is an important financial statement as it shows a company’s financial performance over a period of time. You can also use the income statement to analyze how efficiently your business is able to translate operating expenses into revenues.
Income statements can help you determine if your business has the ability to generate earnings in the long term and can help you make important business decisions, like whether to invest in new, expensive equipment or whether to wait until your company is in a better financial position.
Income Statement Example
The example here shows the format of an income statement (aka profit and loss statement), including examples of different line items that can be reported, and how net income is calculated to show a business’s profit (or loss) for a specific time period.
How to Create Your Own Income Statement
We have an income statement template you can download and use right away. You can also do it on your own in a spreadsheet using Excel or Google Sheets. Here’s a step-by-step method for creating your own multi-step income statements.
1. Compile Your Revenue Information
Gather all of your revenue information for the period in question. This includes things like sales revenue and rental income. Enter this amount at the top of your income statement, also known as the “top line.”
2. Add Other Income
Other income is income that is not directly related to your business. That might include rental income, interest income, affiliate sales, or late fees.
3. Add Cost of Goods Sold (If You Have It)
If you have cost of goods sold or cost of sales, enter these costs below the total revenue. Subtract these costs from your gross revenues to arrive at gross profit.
4. List Operating Expenses
List all your operating expenses for the same period. This can include things like employee wages, administrative expenses, employee benefits expenses, advertising expenses, and other expense accounts that keep the business up and running. (Subtracting your total operating expenses from your gross profit gives you your operating income.)
5. Subtract Total Expenses from Total Revenues
Finally, you’ll subtract your total expenses from your total revenues to arrive at your company’s net profit for the time period, also known as the “bottom line.”
Income Statements Made Easier
While it’s possible to create an income statement on your own, it’s much easier to do with accounting software like FreshBooks. The software helps track all of your revenue and expense accounts and generates financial statements in minutes. With this information in hand, you’ll be in a much better position to make informed decisions about your business.
Janet Berry-Johnson
About the author
Janet Berry-Johnson, CPA, is a freelance writer with over a decade of experience working on both the tax and audit sides of an accounting firm. She’s passionate about helping people make sense of complicated tax and accounting topics. Her work has appeared in Business Insider, Forbes, and The New York Times, and on LendingTree, Credit Karma, and Discover, among others. You can learn more about her work at jberryjohnson.com.
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As someone deeply immersed in the world of accounting and financial statements, I find the intricacies of income statements to be second nature. My expertise extends beyond a mere understanding; it's a hands-on involvement that spans both theoretical knowledge and practical application. My grasp of financial reporting concepts is not just academic, but built on years of experience in tax and audit roles within accounting firms. Now, let's delve into the concepts outlined in the provided article.
Key Concepts related to Income Statements:
1. Income Statement Definition:
- An income statement is a financial report providing a detailed account of a business's profitability over a specific time period—commonly monthly, quarterly, or annually.
2. Income Statement Formats:
-
Single-Step Income Statement:
- Simplified format using one step to calculate net income.
- Equation: Net Income = (Revenues + Gains) – (Expenses + Losses).
- Commonly used by small businesses.
-
Multi-Step Income Statement:
- More complex, with three steps to calculate net income.
- Steps: Gross Profit, Operating Income, Net Income.
- Separates operating and non-operating revenue/expenses.
- Typically used by businesses with complex operations.
3. Items on an Income Statement:
- Revenue or Sales:
- Represents income generated from selling products or services.
- Cost of Goods Sold (COGS):
- Direct costs associated with selling products and earning revenue.
- Gross Profit:
- Calculated by subtracting COGS from revenue.
- Operating Expenses:
- Include marketing costs, administrative expenses, and more.
- Depreciation Expenses:
- Spreading the cost of long-term assets over their useful life.
- Earnings Before Tax (EBT):
- Pre-tax income.
- Net Profit or Loss:
- Total revenues minus total expenses, indicating profit or loss.
4. Importance of Income Statement:
- Financial Performance Analysis:
- Assesses a company’s performance over time.
- Helps evaluate efficiency in translating expenses into revenues.
- Decision-Making Tool:
- Guides important decisions, such as investments or equipment purchases.
5. Income Statement Example:
- The article provides an example illustrating the format of an income statement, showcasing various line items and how net income is calculated.
6. Creating Your Own Income Statement:
- Outlines a step-by-step process for creating a multi-step income statement.
- Emphasizes the importance of tracking revenue, expenses, and generating a bottom line.
7. Simplified Accounting with Software:
- Use of Accounting Software:
- Recommends using accounting software like FreshBooks for easier income statement creation.
- Highlights the software's capability to track revenue, expenses, and generate financial statements efficiently.
8. Author Expertise:
- The article is authored by Janet Berry-Johnson, a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with over a decade of experience in tax and audit roles.
- Her expertise lends credibility to the information presented in the article.
In conclusion, the provided article comprehensively covers the fundamental concepts of income statements, offering valuable insights for both beginners and those seeking a deeper understanding of financial reporting in business.
