Accrual Basis Vs Cash Basis Accounting

It is the dream of every individual to flourish his business and make a mark in the business community. Proper direction and planning are the keystones of a successful business.

For the success of every business, the accounting sector is the most imperative part. An excellent accounting system helps to boost your business. The two important methods of accounting to record accounting transactions are cash-based accounting and accrual-based accounting.

In today’s blog, we’ll discuss accrual basis vs. cash basis accounting and what are the pros and cons of these methods.

Accounting Methods:

There are two most important and acknowledged methods of accounting for the business. One is accrual basis accounting and the other is cash basis accounting. The difference between the both lies in the recognition timing of expense and revenue.

Accrual Basis Accounting:

It is a standard accounting method beneficial for most organizations and aims at providing an accurate picture of the company’s position in the business hub.

This system works on the matching principle which states that the recognition period for revenue and expense must be the same. The accrual method aids in representing the underlying and actual economic reality of the business.

Pros:

• Showcase the accurate picture of the financial position of any business
• Aid the business to make productive financial decisions
• Provide immediate feedback on the business’s cash flows
• Easy management of the current resources by the business

Cons:

• It is relatively more complex than cash accounting
• Its relative complexity makes it more expensive to implement
• Demands careful monitoring of the invoices
• Sometimes causes short-term cash flow issues.

Implementation of a strong accounting system based on any of the above methods will reduce your tax liability; eliminate your tax issues; help your business to flourish and save your precious time.

Cash Basis Accounting:

It is a simple method of accounting in which revenues and expenses are recorded when payment is received and paid, respectively. This accounting method clearly describes the picture of how much cash a business has on hand. There are some advantages and disadvantages of cash-based accounting.

Pros:

•  Simple and easy to maintain
•  Easily acknowledge the cash status of the business
•  Tax payment only on the money you have received
•  Potential tax advantage
•  A clear picture of cash flow

Cons:

• Overstate or understate the condition of a business
• Potentially difficult to switch over
• Does not display the full picture of the business
• Not applicable to all types of business.

Accrual Basis Vs Cash Basis Accounting – Comparison:

As we know the recognition timing of revenue and expenses creates the distinction between the primary tax accounting systems of cash accounting and accrual basis accounting.

The former method allows the delayed recognition of revenue and expenses whereas the latter method focuses on anticipated revenue and expenses.

The accrual method is most commonly used by well-known business companies, whereas businesses working on a small scale use a primary tax accounting system based on cash accounting.

Conclusion:

To sum up the whole narration, we have come to the point that excellent accounting services analyze financial data to generate feedback that will help businesses make productive decisions.

We will be able to measure the financial performances of the organization through cash-based accounting or accrual-based accounting. You can go for any accounting method depending on your business size and needs.