09/24/2026
Strong financial decisions start with understanding the numbers behind them.
For small business owners, a few accounting terms can make day-to-day reporting and long-term planning much clearer:
• Equity: What remains for the owner after liabilities are subtracted from assets.
• Debt-to-equity ratio: A measure of how much a business relies on debt compared with owner equity.
• Reconciliation: Comparing financial records with bank statements and other supporting documents to confirm they match.
• Retained earnings: Profit kept in the business rather than distributed to owners.
• Liquidity: How readily a business can cover short-term obligations with available assets.
• Return on investment: A way to evaluate the gain or loss from an investment compared with its cost.
Knowing what these figures mean can help you spot opportunities, manage cash flow, and make decisions with greater confidence.
At James River Taxes, we provide personalized accounting services, payroll support, and business tax preparation for businesses throughout the Richmond area. Have a financial term or business question you would like us to cover next? Let us know in the comments.