Three types of businesses
-an organization which seeks to provide goods and services to customers
To start a business you need: (3)
Some business are on non-profit basis (purpose) but still need those three things (like a hospital)
2 Ways to access capital - “Financing of a business” (how capital is obtained for a business)
Debt Financing
(temporary financing) -borrowed capital must be repaid in future with interest -harsh consequences in failure to repay -difficult to qualify for KEY ADVANTAGE -no sacrificing ownership rights -interest (but it is upfront)
Equity financing
-Capital for ownership (in corporation it is in shares of stock)
—right to vote and say in business affairs
—right to share in profits (Marriott lost $ bc of this)
—right to share in remaining resources if business terminates
KEY ADVANTAGE
-permanent financing (don’t have to repay and no interest)
2 ways owners/investors make a profit/loss on an investment
Who requires information for investment decisions?
Creditors - evaluate company’s credit worthiness
-capable of repaying debt?
Investors - want to evaluate profit potential of an investment in company’s stock
Financial accounting
Primary Purpose is to provide info to assist investors/creditors in these evaluations (External users)
Managerial accounting
-provide information to internal users - managers in operation
-customized, detailed reports of current, future, and historical data
Purpose: to improve managerial performance
General Purpose Financial Statements
Two conditions for financial statements to be useful
Comparability and credibility
Comparability
Need for company’s to prepare statements in same methods as other companies
-standard form when investors look at info from other companies - comparative analysis (consistency)
GAAP
Generally accepted accounting principles
In response, Congress created SEC (Securities and exchange commission) - to regulate capital transactions of publicly-held companies (large companies with stocks/bonds
Credibility
Provide accurate and reliable info
Publicly held companies…
FEDERAL AGENCIES
-SEC regulates publicly held companies
-IRS - collects income taxes
*Publicly held companies provide annual report for investors and creditors
PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS
-AICPA license and certify CPAs who audit the annual reports
-FASB creates GAAP
Accounting is often referred to as…
the “language of business”
-bc it involves organizing and analyzing information to evaluate and make business decisions
Why is financial accounting information applicable to investors?
They are questioning the long-term profitability of the company
-look at past for clues to the future
Why is GAAP important?
Important for consistency in comparative analysis and credibility
SEC, FASB, AICPA, IRS
SEC - regulate capital transactions of business and public in stocks and bonds
FASB - Financial accounting standards board - currently determines GAAP (independent, private institution - not gov. regulated)
AICPA - used to be responsible for GAAP, now licenses and certifies CPAs - establish procedures of auditing
IRS - (internal revenue service) - collect income taxes (An. institute of CPAs)
Do only large publicly held companies have audits performed?
They must have external audits to ensure their financial stmts are accurate
3 Basic legal forms of business
Proprietorship, partnership, corporation
Proprietorship
Partnership
Corporation
Separate legal entity apart from its owners