Edexcel Business A Level Revision

Working capital - provides a strong indication of a business' ability to pay is debts. By adding together the totals for current assets and current liabilities in the balance sheet, a very important figure can be calculated – working capital. Working capital = current assets - current liabilities   Every business needs to be able to maintain day-to-day cash flow. It needs enough to pay staff wages when they are due, and to pay suppliers when invoice payment terms are reached. Maintaining adequate working capital is important both in the short-term (day-to-day) and the long-term. The challenge is to maintain sufficient liquidity in the business to ensure the business can survive and grow in the long-term. The current liabilities show the amounts that need to be paid in the next twelve months. Current assets show the cash and other assets that are available to settle those current liabilities. Of course the balance sheet is just a snapshot...

Cash flow forecast - is a statement of the expected cash inflow coming from the sales revenue and expected cash outflow needed to cover production costs. The difference between the inflow and the outflow is the net cash flow , a crucial indicator of the ability of a business to cover its day-to-day running costs. Cash flow is important to a business as it needs it to ensure a positive cash balance in order to meet day to day expenses. It roughly estimates cash flow for up to about two years into the future. The forecast will help potential lenders (including banks) to see what the likely financial needs of the business will amount to.  CALCULATING CASH FLOW Opening Balance = what is in the bank on the first day of the month Total cash inflow = all cash entering the business in that month Total cash outflow = all cash leaving the business in that month Net cash flow = Total cash inflow - Total cash outflow Closing balance = Opening balance + Net cash flow FIGUR...

Liability - is a company's financial debt or obligations that arise during the course of its business Limited liability - An investor's liability/financial commitment is limited to the total amount invested or promised in share capital. An investor's personal belongings beyond this venture are protected. Unlimited liability - The owners of a business are responsible for the total amount of debt of the business. The owner may lose their personal belongings, e.g. home and cars, if the value of these is needed to cover the debts of the business. UNLIMITED LIABILITY IS SEEN AS A HIGH RISK Incorporated - An incorporated business (also called a corporation) is a type of business that offers many benefits over being a sole proprietor or partnership, including liability protection and additional tax deductions. Forming a corporation also allows you raise capital through sale of shares of your company . Creditors - is owed money, either by a business or an individual f...

Internal Finance - from within the business e.g. retained profit External finance - from outside the business e.g. loans Owner's capital : Personal savings - how much the owner has invested in the business OR the proportion of the business' assets that are owned by the business owner rather than creditors. Assets - Items owned by the business e.g.  stock is a current asset that will stay in the business for less than a year and vehicles are long term assets. Creditors - People who the business owes money to e.g. the bank Retained profit - Profit kept within a business from profit for the year to help finance future activities. Profit that remains after tax bills and dividends have been covered. Sale of assets - the sale of a long term or fixed assets. (NOT CURRENT ASSETS) ADVANTAGES OF OWNERS CAPITAL Do not have to repay No interest charges Owner's maintain control Risking own savings can be motivational  Do not have to go through a...