Non-profit and for-profit businesses have many similarities, but they also differ in specific areas. For-profit businesses report to shareholders and investors, whereas non-profits report to a Board of Directors or other governing authority. When it comes to bookkeeping for non-profits, many of the processes remain the same as in the for-profit world; however, differences in terminology will apply when managing a charitable organization’s books.
For example, when comparing the major financial statements of a for-profit to a non-profit organization, you’ll notice that even though both are reports of financial value, they differ in title and motivation.
Differences Between For-Profit and Non-Profit Financial Statements
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Balance Sheet vs. Statement of Financial Position
A for-profit company’s balance sheet takes a snapshot of the company’s assets (what the company owns) and liabilities (money owed to others). Additionally, a balance sheet will show what is called owner’s equity (also known as stockholder’s or shareholder’s equity). When you subtract the company’s liabilities from its assets, you are left with owner’s equity. The owner’s equity represents a company’s net worth and is a very important variable for shareholders, current investors, and potential investors.
Since non-profit organizations don’t have “owners,” its balance sheet is referred to as a statement of financial position (SOP). Like a balance sheet, the SOP shows the organization’s assets and liabilities. The main difference is that in an SOP, what is left after you subtract the liabilities from the assets is called the net assets. Net assets represent the non-profit’s net worth and are divided into three categories – unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted.
Income Statement vs. Statement of Activities
The income statement of a for-profit business reports the amount of revenue the company has earned over a specific time period (i.e. a quarter or a year). Within the income statement are the costs and expenses associated with earning said revenue. The income statement is where you will see the company’s bottom line – what the company earned or lost over the specific time period. The bottom line is used as a measure of a business’s profitability.
In a non-profit organization, the statement of activities is used in lieu of an income statement. Since non-profits aren’t driven by a bottom line, but rather a specific service or mission, the statement of activities reports changes to an organization’s net assets (unrestricted, temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted) in relation to the organization’s income and expenses for the current fiscal year.
Cash Flow Statements
Even though non-profits and for-profits utilize different financial reports, both types of organizations are similar in that they need cash to stay afloat. Cash flow statements for non-profits are nearly identical to cash flow statements in the for-profit world. A cash flow statement for a non-profit organization reports the amount of cash a company has on hand by factoring its operation costs, assets, and financing.
Whether non-profit or for-profit, the impact of inaccurate or late financial information can have a devastating effect on the organization’s long-term financial health. At GrowthForce, we specialize in helping for-profit and non-profit organizations keep their finger on the financial pulse, so they can focus on what really matters - achieving their greatest potential.
