Special discount: Get 30 days free plus 40% off Lili Smart fee for 3 months

Get 40% off Lili Smart fee for 3 months

Free accounting resources

Implementing new business accounting processes? Looking to improve your invoicing? Well, you’ve come to the right place: Lili’s Accounting Hub! Check out our free accounting guides and tools below.

 

Or, if you’re looking for an even simpler way to streamline your business accounting, check out Lili’s Accounting Software!

Woman reviewing accounting documents

What is accounting?

Accounting can be defined as any process whose purpose is to track and record financial information.

Financial information is recorded on various statements and reports that are then used to review the financial health of a business for internal or external purposes. Internally, a small business owner may use financial statements to inform economic decisions. They may also provide these reports to external entities (lenders, tax authorities, investors) to summarize cash flows, financial health, and business operations.

Accounting is essential for helping businesses assess their financial activity as it relates to the functioning of their business and investments. Inaccurate or incomplete accounting practices can be detrimental to a business’s success.

A woman manually recording financial information with a pen and notebook
A laptop displaying the Lili business banking web app, overlaid with a menu from the Lili app with headers including cash flow statement, expense report, profit & loss statement, and balance sheet.

Creating Financial Statements

There are a variety of financial statements a business can use to analyze and report on business activity and performance, and each one serves a different purpose for providing necessary information regarding a business’s financial health.

Cash Flow Statement

Also known as a statement of cash flows, this statement shows where your money is coming from and where it is going over a set period of time, specifically in regard to cash assets.

Expense Report

This report outlines all business-related costs and is often used either for employee reimbursements or tracking tax write-offs.

Profit and Loss Statement

This statement summarizes all revenue (cash and non-cash) and income-generating expenses over a set period of time to demonstrate business profitability.

Balance Sheet

This report shows a business’s real-time assets in contrast with its liabilities, showing how what is owed compares with what is owned.

Free invoice templates

Looking for a quick way to send professional invoices to your clients?

We’ve created free invoice templates suited for various business types. Simply choose the invoice template that fits your business, select the format you prefer, fill in your details and send!

A phone displaying the Lili's Invoicing Software within the Lili business banking mobile app, overlaid with a stack of invoices.

Make getting paid the smoothest part of your business

Payment fee calculators

When you receive invoice payments through PayPal or Stripe, you’re charged transaction fees. Use these calculators to easily determine fees and what you should charge to account for them.

Streamline your business accounting with Lili

Simplify your bookkeeping with instant transaction categorization, and gain clarity about your business’s financial status with income & expense insights and auto-generated financial reports. Make it easier to balance your books with Lili’s Accounting Software.

The main screen of Lili's accounting software via the web platform, displaying a list of transactions, expense categories, and the ability to mark each transaction as business or personal.

Frequently asked questions

Why is accounting important for your business?
What’s the difference between Accounting and Bookkeeping?
What is accounting software?

Accounting is essential for business success because most businesses fail due to poor financial management. Especially in the first year of business when income may be tight while expenses are high, accounting helps businesses to grow and develop. In addition to assessing financial health, accounting helps businesses to:

  • Keep track of cash flow,
  • Detect and avoid fraud,
  • Be ready for potential audits,
  • And demonstrate profitability to lenders and investors