Most important small business finance data?

May 3, 2011 4:16 PM

For small business owners, freelancers, and finance managers in small enterprises, what financial data is important to have easy access to?

For small business owners, freelancers, and finance managers in small enterprises, what financial data is important to have quick and easy access to?

Cash balance, debt, receivables, payables, income, expense.... what else?

posted by pallen123 to work & money (5 answers total)

Definitely the comprehensive annual financial statements. As a commercial director, that's all I care about for making bids. I have an accountant for that, YMMV.
posted by parmanparman at 4:24 PM on May 3, 2011

inventory, cash flow, budgets & forecasts
detailed accounting info
posted by canoehead at 5:34 PM on May 3, 2011

spreadsheets of various kinds, eg loan amortization schedules
posted by canoehead at 5:37 PM on May 3, 2011

As a freelancer: The information I need most often (that you don't mention up there) is payments received per quarter, for purposes of calculating my estimated taxes.
posted by Andrhia at 6:04 PM on May 3, 2011

As a freelancer:

bank balances
outstanding invoices due
known income for the next couple of months
current amounts owed for taxes

...because these things help me work out how much cash I can take out of the business at any point.
posted by dowcrag at 1:50 PM on May 4, 2011