What are the key financial statements for a business (income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement)?

@issac.schaden 

The key financial statements for a business are:

1. Income Statement (also known as Profit and Loss Statement): It summarizes the revenues, expenses, and profits or losses of a company over a particular period of time (usually a year, quarter, or month). It shows the net income or net loss generated by the company during that period.
2. Balance Sheet: It presents the financial position of a company at a specific point in time (usually at the end of an accounting period). It includes the company's assets (such as cash, accounts receivable, inventory, property, and equipment), liabilities (such as loans, accounts payable, and debts), and shareholders' equity (the residual interest in the company's assets after deducting liabilities).
3. Cash Flow Statement: It provides information about the cash inflows and outflows of a company during a given period. It shows how the company generates and uses cash through operating activities (such as sales and expenses), investing activities (such as purchases or sales of assets or investments), and financing activities (such as borrowing, repayment of debt, or issuance of shares).

These financial statements are essential for businesses as they give a comprehensive overview of a company's financial performance, position, and cash flows, assisting in decision-making, performance evaluation, and attracting potential investors.

@issac.schaden 

Additionally, it is worth mentioning that there are two other important financial statements that are commonly used:

1. Statement of Retained Earnings: This statement shows the changes in the retained earnings of a company during a specific period. Retained earnings are the accumulated profits or losses retained by the company after dividends are paid out to shareholders. It helps to track how the company's profits are reinvested or distributed to shareholders.
2. Statement of Shareholders' Equity: Also known as the Statement of Changes in Equity, this statement provides a detailed breakdown of the changes in shareholders' equity over a specific period. It includes the initial investments, additional investments, net income or loss, dividends paid, and other comprehensive income or loss. This statement is particularly important for companies with multiple classes of shares or complex capital structures.

While these two statements are not always required for all businesses, they are commonly used in financial reporting and provide additional insights into a company's financial position and performance from a shareholder's perspective.