There are two main types of business accounting methods: cash and accrual. In general, small-business owners have the option to choose which one to use. Both methods function to keep track of income ...

Many businesses prefer the simplicity of using cash basis accounting. An expense is recorded when cash is paid and income is recorded when cash is received. However, Generally Accepted Accounting ...

Cash basis accounting records when cash actually changes hands in a transaction, providing a real-time view of your financial position that reflects the actual cash flow of a business or individual.

Should small businesses use cash or accrual accounting? This question gets asked almost as much as “paper or plastic?” and “debit or credit?” While the IRS requires some companies to use accrual ...

Accrual basis accounting is typically the preferred method, but cash basis accounting may work for very small businesses. Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising ...

Savvy investors look at a company's financial health before buying its stock. Some investors monitor a company's free cash flow and review its cash flow statements to gauge how well it manages its ...

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. Should small businesses use cash or accrual accounting? This question gets asked almost as much as “paper or plastic?” and “debit or ...