While both accounting methods provide a similar picture of a company’s profitability, they differ in a few ways. The cash method is more straightforward but labor-intensive. It might also provide a clearer view of your company’s financial situation.
Cash basis method
Using the cash basis method in accrual accounting has both benefits and drawbacks. Although the accrual method can smooth out earnings over time, it can also result in more frequent changes in profitability. For example, a highly profitable retailer in Q4 might only be unprofitable in Q1 if they could collect some of their outstanding invoices.
An essential benefit of the accrual method is that it keeps track of unpaid liabilities, bills, and expenses. It allows you to get a better overall picture of your financial health. This type of accounting also requires a double-entry system and relies on accounting equations to record transactions.
Another advantage of using the cash basis method in accrual accounting is that it requires less work, especially for small businesses. This method is simpler than the accrual approach and involves less information monitoring and logging. In addition, you don’t need to plan out detailed financial statements since you’ll only be looking at what you’ve received versus what you expected.
Simpler
The pros and cons of cash vs accrual accounting are herein discussed. The former is more labor-intensive but more expensive. Many organizations use accrual accounting to give a complete picture of business performance. For example, an accrual accounting profit and loss statement show revenue and expenses that line up and a remaining balance.
On the other hand, cash accounting is easier to implement and provides a better view of bank funds. However, it is less accurate than accrual accounting. Stick to cash if your company is small and just getting started. However, this approach is also more expensive and complicated.
Timing is the primary distinction between accrual and cash accounting. In a cash-basis company, revenue is recorded as cash changes hands, while accrual businesses recognize revenue when a bill is issued. In cash-basis companies, revenues are recognized when the cash is received, while expenses are recognized when the company pays suppliers. Both types of accounting require different taxes.
Labor-intensive
When a business converts from cash to accrual, it must consider the timing of income and expense recognition. While cash is a helpful tool in calculating earnings, accrual accounting records revenue at the time, it is earned. As a result, the company will have two accounts: prepaid and payable.
Businesses can better understand their performance by using accrual accounting. It gives lenders a clearer understanding of a company’s financial situation. Accounting is one of the most frequent issues for small businesses and startups. The accrual method can help alleviate these problems.
As a result, accrual accounting can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. In addition to tracking cash flow, it also requires a complex accounting system. It also requires the input of bills and invoices. It can make end-of-month accounting a complex process. Plus, it can lead to higher taxes if you need to track your cash flow properly.
A better picture of profitability
You must be aware of the distinctions between the two approaches when deciding if cash basis accounting is best for your business. Cash basis accounting is the most basic form of accounting and doesn’t have to adhere to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). Revenue is recorded when you receive cash from customers, and expenses are recorded when you pay employees and vendors.
However, cash-based accounting won’t provide you with a clear view of your company’s profitability.
For example, consider a situation where a business pays employees on the first and fifteenth of each month. It is a basic cash accounting situation, and you’ll likely find that the cash was received on July 1. As a result, your team members have been working overtime to meet the deadlines and are receiving payment on July 1.
While both cash-basis and accrual-basis accounting have advantages, they have disadvantages. One of the primary disadvantages of cash basis accounting is that you will need to be aware of your business’s cash flow. It can be devastating if your business turns out to be profitable one month but has an empty bank account the next. It is why many businesses file their taxes on a cash basis and then convert them to an accrual basis at tax time.