Financial and management accounts

It's important that your accounts are accurate and up-to-date. Your accounts should be backed up with full and detailed records of all business income and expenditure, such as receipts, invoices and purchase orders, payments in and out, etc. 

Why you should keep records and documents

Following careful record keeping procedures can also help you with tax returns and prevent fraud or theft. Using a good record keeping system will help you to:

• track expenses, debts and creditors
• apply for additional funding
• save time and accountancy costs
• pay tax, accurately and on time, avoiding penalties
• apply for and receive the correct amount of benefits or credits

If you are starting a new business it is essential that you get a proper record keeping system in place immediately.

You can use various storage methods to keep records as long as they:

• show all information contained within a document
• allow information to be presented in a readable format

You should try to keep all original documents, and must keep any which show that tax has been deducted - eg your end of year certificate for PAYE (form P60).

See set up a basic record-keeping system.

Detailed and up-to-date records will help you comply with tax legislation as you can be penalised for:

• not keeping adequate records
• failing to keep records for required periods of time
• inaccurate tax returns

Analytical accounting tools

Analysing your financial accounts enables you to compare your performance against previous years and with its competitors.

Ratios enable you to quickly compare relative values - eg two items on the balance sheet.

Ratios are often split into the following areas of common control:

• liquidity ratios - measure solvency and short-term survival prospects
• capital structure ratios - measure the adequacy of owners' funding in relation to long-term debt
• activity and efficiency ratios - measure the operating efficiency of the business in non-financial terms
• profitability ratios - measure overall profitability and how well the business is using its assets and covering overhead costs

See balance sheets.