
Financial Glossary
Your Essential Guide to Financial & Tax Terms: A simplified, go-to reference for understanding the key terms, concepts, and compliance language used in accounting, VAT, tax consultancy, and business regulations. This glossary is designed to help entrepreneurs, business owners, and professionals navigate financial conversations with clarity and confidence.
Balance sheet
A balance sheet is a financial statement that provides a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a particular point in time. It shows the company’s assets, liabilities, and equity, and it is used to calculate key financial ratios and metrics such as the debt-to-equity ratio and the return on equity.
Here is an example of how a balance sheet might look:
ABC Inc.
Balance Sheet
As of December 31, 2020
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash $100,000
Accounts receivable $200,000
Inventory $150,000
Total current assets $450,000
Non-current assets:
Property, plant, and equipment $1,000,000
Intangible assets $250,000
Total non-current assets $1,250,000
Total assets $1,700,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $100,000
Accrued expenses $75,000
Total current liabilities $175,000
Non-current liabilities:
Long-term debt $500,000
Total non-current liabilities $500,000
Total liabilities $675,000
Equity:
Common stock $500,000
Retained earnings $525,000
Total equity $1,025,000
Total liabilities and equity $1,700,000
In this example, ABC Inc. has total assets of $1,700,000, including $450,000 in current assets and $1,250,000 in non-current assets. It also has total liabilities of $675,000, including $175,000 in current liabilities and $500,000 in non-current liabilities. Finally, it has total equity of $1,025,000, including $500,000 in common stock and $525,000 in retained earnings.
The balance sheet provides a snapshot of a company’s financial position at a particular point in time, and it can be used to calculate key financial ratios and metrics that provide insight into the company’s financial health and performance.
Bank reconciliation
Bank reconciliation is the process of comparing a company’s records of its bank account transactions to the bank’s records of the same transactions. The purpose of bank reconciliation is to ensure that the company’s records are accurate and complete, and to identify and correct any discrepancies.
Here is an example of how bank reconciliation might work in practice:
Suppose that a company called ABC Inc. maintains a checking account at XYZ Bank. At the end of the month, ABC Inc. receives a statement from XYZ Bank showing all of the transactions that have occurred in the account during the month. ABC Inc. then compares this statement to its own records of the transactions, and it looks for any differences.
For example, ABC Inc. might find that it has recorded a deposit of $500 that is not shown on the bank’s statement. In this case, ABC Inc. would contact the bank to inquire about the missing deposit, and it would make the necessary adjustments to its records to ensure that they match the bank’s records.
Alternatively, ABC Inc. might find that the bank’s statement includes a charge for a bounced check that ABC Inc. was not aware of. In this case, ABC Inc. would need to investigate the charge and determine whether it is valid or if it should be disputed. If the charge is valid, ABC Inc. would need to make the necessary adjustments to its records to reflect the charge.
In this way, bank reconciliation is a valuable tool that helps companies ensure the accuracy and completeness of their financial records, and it can help identify and resolve any discrepancies between the company’s records and the bank’s records.
Basis point
A basis point is a unit of measure used in finance to describe the percentage change in the value or rate of a financial instrument. One basis point is equal to 0.01%, or one hundredth of a percent.
For example, if the interest rate on a loan increases from 4% to 4.25%, this would be a 25 basis point increase.
Similarly, if the price of a stock increased from $100 to $101, this would be a 1 basis point increase. Basis points are often used in finance to express very small changes in value or rate, and they are commonly used to describe changes in interest rates or other financial metrics.
Basis of accounting
The basis of accounting is the set of rules and principles that is used to prepare and maintain a company’s financial records and statements. The two most commonly used bases of accounting are the cash basis and the accrual basis. The cash basis of accounting is a simple and straightforward method in which transactions are recorded only when cash is received or paid. This means that revenues are recognized when they are received, and expenses are recognized when they are paid.
Here is an example of how the cash basis of accounting might work in practice:
Suppose that a company called ABC Inc. provides consulting services to a client in March, and the client agrees to pay for the services in April. Under the cash basis of accounting, ABC Inc. would not recognize the revenue from the consulting services in March, because the money has not yet been received. Instead, the revenue would be recognized in April, when the payment is received.
The accrual basis of accounting is a more complex method in which transactions are recorded when they are earned or incurred, rather than when cash is received or paid. This means that revenues are recognized when they are earned, and expenses are recognized when they are incurred.
Here is an example of how the accrual basis of accounting might work in practice:
Again, suppose that a company called ABC Inc. provides consulting services to a client in March, and the client agrees to pay for the services in April. Under the accrual basis of accounting, ABC Inc. would recognize the revenue from the consulting services in March, when the services were provided, even though the money has not yet been received. The transaction would be recorded in the company’s general ledger as a credit to the consulting services revenue account and a debit to the accounts receivable account.
In this way, the basis of accounting refers to the set of rules and principles that is used to prepare and maintain a company’s financial records and statements. The cash basis and the accrual basis are the two most commonly used methods, and they each have their own unique characteristics and advantages.
Billings
Billings refer to the total amount of revenue that a business has generated from its customers for goods or services that have been delivered or used, but not yet paid for. In other words, billings represent the value of goods or services that a business has provided to its customers on credit, and they are typically recorded on the company’s balance sheet as accounts receivable. Billings are different from revenue, which is the amount of money that a business has actually received from its customers. Billings are an important metric for businesses because they provide an indication of the future revenue that the company can expect to receive.
Board Director
A board director is an individual who is elected to serve on the board of directors of a corporation or other organization. The board of directors is responsible for overseeing the management of the organization and making key strategic decisions on behalf of the company. Board directors are typically chosen for their expertise, experience, and leadership skills, and they are expected to act in the best interests of the company and its shareholders. Board directors are usually elected by the shareholders of the company, and they serve for a fixed term. They are typically paid a fee for their services, and they may also be eligible for stock options or other forms of compensation.
Book value
Book value is a financial term that refers to the value of an asset as recorded on a company’s balance sheet. It is calculated by subtracting the asset’s liabilities from its assets.
For example, if a company owns a piece of equipment with a purchase price of $100,000 and has accumulated depreciation of $20,000, the book value of the equipment would be $80,000 ($100,000 – $20,000). Book value is important because it provides a measure of an asset’s worth based on the company’s accounting records. It is different from the market value of an asset, which is the price at which the asset could be bought or sold in the open market. The market value of an asset may be higher or lower than its book value, depending on a variety of factors. Book value is commonly used to evaluate a company’s financial health and performance.
For example, if a company has a high book value compared to its market value, it may be considered undervalued by investors. On the other hand, if a company has a low book value compared to its market value, it may be considered overvalued.
Bookings
Bookings refer to the total value of customer orders that a business has received for goods or services. In other words, bookings represent the total amount of revenue that a business expects to generate from its customers in the future. Bookings are different from revenue, which is the actual amount of money that a business has received from its customers. Bookings are an important metric for businesses because they provide an indication of future demand for the company’s products or services. Bookings are often used in sales and marketing to help forecast future revenue and to set targets for sales teams.
Burn Multiple
Burn multiple is a term used in venture capital (VC) to describe the amount of money that a VC firm has invested in a portfolio company relative to the company’s valuation at the time of investment. The burn multiple is calculated by dividing the amount of money invested by the company’s valuation at the time of investment.
For example, if a VC firm invests $1 million in a company with a valuation of $5 million, the burn multiple would be 0.2 ($1 million / $5 million).
The burn multiple is often used by VC firms as a way to measure the potential return on their investments, and it is a key factor in determining the overall performance of a VC portfolio.
Burn Rate
Burn rate is a term used to describe the rate at which a company is spending its cash reserves. It is typically calculated by dividing the company’s monthly expenses by its cash balance.
For example, if a company has $100,000 in monthly expenses and a cash balance of $500,000, its burn rate would be 20% ($100,000 / $500,000).
Burn rate is an important metric for businesses because it can provide an indication of how long the company’s cash reserves will last. It is often used by investors and analysts to evaluate the financial health of a company and to assess its potential for growth.
C Corporation (C Corp)
A C corporation (also known as a C corp) is a type of business entity that is taxed as a separate entity from its owners. C corps are formed by filing articles of incorporation with the state government, and they are owned by shareholders who elect a board of directors to oversee the management of the company. C corps are the most common type of corporation, and they are subject to corporate income tax on their profits. The shareholders of a C corp are also subject to personal income tax on any dividends they receive from the company. C corps offer several advantages, including the ability to raise capital through the sale of stock, limited liability protection for shareholders, and the potential for favorable tax treatment. However, they are also subject to more complex tax and regulatory requirements than other business structures.

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