What Are the Types of Income Statements and How Are They Calculated (2024)

There are two different types of income statement that a company can prepare such as the single-step income statement and the multi-step income statement.

What Are the Types of Income Statements and How Are They Calculated (1)

There are two methods that businesses can use to prepare the income statement.

Firstly, you can use the single-step approach to prepare your income statement. Second of all, you can also prepare the income statement using the multi-step methodology.

Before choosing the right type of income statement for your business, you will need to understand your company's nature, types, and sizes.


Single-Step Income Statement

As the name suggests, a single-step income statement is a simplified version of the income statement compared to the multi-step income statement.

Net Profit= Total Revenue - Total Expenses

When preparing the single-step income statement, this statement displays the company's expenses and revenues without breaking down into further sub-categories. To calculate the single-step income statement's net income, you will have to subtract the company's total revenue from the total expenses.

The single-step income statement is commonly used by small-sized businesses or those in sole-proprietorship companies.

Comparatively to a multi-step income statement, the single-step income statement is more straightforward and relatively easier to prepare and understand.

Multi-Step Income Statement

The multi-step income statement is the standard format of an income statement prepared by big corporations and all publicly listed companies.

Three equations are used to derive the net income using the multi-step income statement. Companies that prepare their income statement using the multi-step approach will typically breakdown their revenues and expenses into operating and non-operating business activities.

The three accounting equations that are used to arrive at the net income are stated below:

Gross Profit= Net Sales - Cost of Goods Sold
Operating income = Gross Profit - Operating Expense
Net Income = Operating Income + Non Operating Items

Hence, the multi-step income statement is a more comprehensive financial report compared to the single-step income statement. It provides a more significant and in-depth analysis of a businesses' financial performances that is hugely beneficial for potential investors and external readers.

Generate Your Income Statement Using Deskera Books

Deskera Books is one of the accounting software that enables businesses to generate their income statement conveniently.

Here's the snapshot of Deskera Books' multi-step income statement.

What Are the Types of Income Statements and How Are They Calculated (2)

Thanks to automation, using Deskera Books enables you to sit back, relax, and let the automation work for you. There's no need to scratch your head and burn the midnight oil preparing the income statement manually.

All the accounts in the Profit and Loss Report will be auto-populated based on the business activities performed in the system. Therefore, it helps to reduce your manual workload and save time.

Visit Deskera's website today to find out more about Deskera's products, subscription plans, or even sign-up for the 30 days free trial.

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What Are the Types of Income Statements and How Are They Calculated (2024)

FAQs

What are the types of income statements? ›

There are two different types of income statement that a company can prepare such as the single-step income statement and the multi-step income statement. There are two methods that businesses can use to prepare the income statement.

How is income statement calculated? ›

You would use three formulas throughout the income statement:
  1. Step 1: Gross profit = net sales – cost of goods sold.
  2. Step 2: Operating income = gross profit – operating expenses.
  3. Step 3: Net income = operating income + non-operating income.

What are the 4 parts of an income statement? ›

What Are the Four Key Elements of an Income Statement? (1) Revenue, (2) expenses, (3) gains, and (4) losses.

What are the three financial statements and how are they calculated? ›

The income statement illustrates the profitability of a company under accrual accounting rules. The balance sheet shows a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a particular point in time. The cash flow statement shows cash movements from operating, investing, and financing activities.

What are the 4 types of financial statements in accounting? ›

For-profit businesses use four primary types of financial statement: the balance sheet, the income statement, the statement of cash flow, and the statement of retained earnings. Read on to explore each one and the information it conveys.

What are the major classifications of an income statement? ›

The income statement presents revenue, expenses, and net income. The components of the income statement include: revenue; cost of sales; sales, general, and administrative expenses; other operating expenses; non-operating income and expenses; gains and losses; non-recurring items; net income; and EPS.

What is the basic income statement? ›

The basic income statement shows how much revenue a company earned (or lost) over a specific period (usually for a year or some portion of a year). An income statement also shows the costs and expenses associated with earning that revenue. Another term for an income statement is a profit and loss statement.

How to calculate retained earnings? ›

At the end of the period, you can calculate your final Retained Earnings balance for the balance sheet by taking the beginning period, adding any net income or net loss, and subtracting any dividends.

How is net profit or loss calculated? ›

Net profit is gross profit minus operating expenses and taxes.

What is the relationship between P&L and balance sheet? ›

Is the Balance Sheet the Same as a P&L? The balance sheet reports the assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a point in time. The profit and loss statement reports how a company made or lost money over a period. So, they are not the same report.

How to tell if a company is profitable from a balance sheet? ›

The two most important aspects of profitability are income and expenses. By subtracting expenses from income, you can measure your business's profitability.

Is an income statement the same as profit and loss? ›

There is no difference between income statement and profit and loss. An income statement is often referred to as a P&L. The income statement is also known as statement of income or statement of operations. Now that we've answered the question surrounding income statement vs.

What are the two different income statements? ›

Single-step and multiple-step are two ways that companies complying with GAAP accounting standards can report income statements. Multiple-Step statements provide an in-depth look at a company's financial health, offering details about the company's wellbeing.

How many income statement formats are there? ›

Small businesses have two reporting options when preparing an income statement: you can create a single-step income statement or a multi-step income statement. The format you choose depends on the type of business you own and the ultimate purpose of the income statement you're creating.

What are the different names of income statement? ›

The income statement is also known as a profit and loss statement, statement of operation, statement of financial result or income, or earnings statement.

What are the two types of P&L? ›

There are two kinds of P&L statements: cash accounting method and accrual method. Cash accounting method – In cash accounting, revenue and expenses are recognized when the actual cash transactions occur, providing a simplified way for small businesses to manage their finances and track their cash flow.

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