What is the Equity Method? The equity method is a type of accounting used for intercorporate investments. It is used when the investor holds significant influence over the investee but does not exercise full control over it, as in the relationship between a parent company and its subsidiary. In this case, the terminology of “parent”…
What is an Installment Sale? An installment sale is a financing arrangement in which the seller allows the buyer to make payments over an extended period of time. In an installment sale, the buyer receives the goods at the beginning of the installment period and makes payments over an installment period. Revenue and expense are…
What is Weighted Average Cost (WAC)? In accounting, the Weighted Average Cost (WAC) method of inventory valuation uses a weighted average to determine the amount that goes into COGS and inventory. The weighted average cost method divides the cost of goods available for sale by the number of units available for sale. The WAC method…
What is Deferred Revenue? Deferred Revenue (also called Unearned Revenue) is generated when a company receives payment for goods and/or services that have not been delivered or completed. In accrual accounting, revenue is only recognized when it is earned. If a customer pays for goods/services in advance, the company does not record any revenue on…
What is the Matching Principle? The matching principle is an accounting concept that dictates that companies report expenses at the same time as the revenues they are related to. Revenues and expenses are matched on the income statement for a period of time (e.g., a year, quarter, or month). Example of the Matching Principle Imagine…
What is Share Capital? Share capital (shareholders’ capital, equity capital, contributed capital, or paid-in capital) is the amount invested by a company’s shareholders for use in the business. When a company is first created, if its only asset is the cash invested by the shareholders, the balance sheet is balanced with cash on the left…
What are Startup Valuation Methods? Valuing a startup is one of the most challenging tasks often required by financial analysts. In this article, we will discuss how to value a startup as well as some of the more popular valuation methods. Startups, in the most general sense, are new business ventures created by an entrepreneur….
What is Advanced Technical Analysis? Advanced technical analysis usually involves using either multiple technical indicators or a rather sophisticated (i.e., complex) indicator. “Sophisticated” does not necessarily mean “better” – it just means more difficult to calculate than, say, an arithmetic average. Technical analysis is a means of interpreting the price action over time of a…
What is Bookkeeping? Bookkeeping involves the recording, on a regular basis, of a company’s financial transactions. With proper bookkeeping, companies are able to track all information on its books to make key operating, investing, and financing decisions. Bookkeepers are individuals who manage all financial data for companies. Without bookkeepers, companies would not be aware of…
