Every business owner, CA student, MBA aspirant, and investor must understand two fundamental financial statements:
- Profit & Loss Account (P&L)
- Balance Sheet
99% log in dono ko “ek hi cheez” samajhte hain, lekin yeh bilkul alag hain – jaise cricket mein batting average aur bank balance alag hote hain.
Aaj ke is detailed 1500+ words article mein hum zero se samjhaayenge ki dono mein kya difference hai, kaunsa statement kab dekhein, aur real business mein kaise use karte hain.
1. Basic Definition – Ek Line Mein Samjho
| Statement | Kya Batata Hai? | Time Period | Example Question it Answers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Profit & Loss Account | Business ne kitna profit (ya loss) kamaya ek saal mein | Specific period (1 Apr 2024 – 31 Mar 2025) | “Is saal company ne kitna paisa kamaya?” |
| Balance Sheet | Ek particular date pe company ke paas kya-kya hai aur kiska kitna debt hai | Single date (31 March 2025) | “Aaj company ke paas kitna maal, paisa, loan hai?” |
Simple language mein:
P&L = Income – Expenses = Profit/Loss (jaise salary slip)
Balance Sheet = Assets = Liabilities + Owner’s Capital (jaise bank statement ek fixed date ka)
2. 10 Major Differences – Ek Jhalak Mein
| Point | Profit & Loss Account | Balance Sheet |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Nature | Flow statement (income-expense ka flow) | Position statement (snapshot ek date ka) |
| 2. Time | For a period (monthly, quarterly, yearly) | As on a particular date |
| 3. Objective | Profitability check karna | Financial position & solvency check karna |
| 4. Starts with | Revenue / Sales | Assets or Liabilities + Capital |
| 5. Main components | Income, Expenses, Profit/Loss | Assets, Liabilities, Equity |
| 6. Depreciation | Expense ke roop mein dikhta hai | Asset value ghatta hai (accumulated dep.) |
| 7. Carried forward | Net profit Balance Sheet mein jaata hai | Next year ka opening Balance Sheet ban jaata hai |
| 8. Can it be zero? | Yes (break-even) | Almost impossible (kuch na kuch toh hoga) |
| 9. Used by | Management, shareholders, tax dept | Banks, creditors, investors |
| 10. Format | T-shape or vertical | T-shape (horizontal) or vertical |
3. Profit & Loss Account – Puri Structure (Trading + P&L)
Real trading manufacturing company ka example lete hain (₹ in lakhs)
| Particulars | Amount | Amount | Amount | |------------------------------------------|--------|---------| | Sales (Revenue from operations) | | 12,000 | | Less: Sales return | | (200) | | Net Sales | | 11,800 | | Less: Cost of goods sold (COGS) | (8,500) | | Gross Profit | 3,300 | | Less: Operating expenses | | | | - Salaries | 800 | | | - Rent | 150 | | | - Electricity | 80 | | | - Advertising | 200 | | | - Depreciation | 300 | | | Total operating expenses | (1,530) | | Operating Profit (EBITDA) | 1,770 | | Add: Other income (interest, rent recd) 120 | | Less: Interest on loan | (400) | | Profit Before Tax (PBT) | 1,490 | | Less: Tax @ 25% | (372) | | Net Profit After Tax (PAT) | 1,118 |
Yeh ₹1,118 lakh profit Balance Sheet ke “Reserves & Surplus” mein add hoga.
4. Balance Sheet – Puri Structure (Same Company, 31 March 2025)
| Liabilities | Amount | Assets | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Share Capital | 2,000 | Fixed Assets (net) | 5,500 |
| Reserves & Surplus (incl. ₹1,118 profit) | 3,618 | Investments | 500 |
| Long-term Borrowings | 3,000 | Inventory | 2,200 |
| Short-term Borrowings | 800 | Trade Receivables (Debtors) | 1,800 |
| Trade Payables (Creditors) | 1,500 | Cash & Bank | 1,200 |
| Other Current Liabilities | 482 | Other Current Assets | 400 |
| Total Liabilities | 11,400 | Total Assets | 11,400 |
Dono side barabar – yeh golden rule hai Balance Sheet ka.
5. Real-Life Examples – Kab Kaunsa Statement Dekhein?
| Situation | Kaunsa Statement Dekhna Chahiye? | Kyun? |
|---|---|---|
| Company profit mein hai ya loss mein? | P&L | Direct PAT dikhega |
| Bank loan lena hai | Balance Sheet | Debt-Equity ratio, current ratio dekhte hain |
| Share kharidne se pehle company healthy hai? | Dono | P&L se growth, Balance Sheet se strength |
| Income tax return file karna | P&L | Taxable profit nikalega |
| Company ke paas cash hai ya nahi | Balance Sheet | Cash & bank balance dikhega |
| Last 3 saal ka performance compare karna | P&L (3 years) | Sales & profit growth dikhega |
6. Common Mistakes Log Karte Hain
- Balance Sheet ko “Profit & Loss Sheet” bolna
- Sochna ki Balance Sheet mein bhi profit dikhta hai – nahi, sirf accumulated profits (reserves) dikhte hain
- Depreciation ko Balance Sheet mein expense samajhna – woh toh P&L mein jaata hai
- Cash profit aur bookkeeping profit ko mix karna
- P&L ko monthly dekhna aur Balance Sheet ko yearly – dono monthly ban sakte hain
7. Quick Ratio Cheat-Sheet (Investors Ke Liye)
| Ratio | Formula | Good Range | From Which Statement? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Profit Margin | (Gross Profit / Net Sales) × 100 | >30% | P&L |
| Net Profit Margin | (PAT / Net Sales) × 100 | >10% | P&L |
| Current Ratio | Current Assets / Current Liabilities | 2:1 | Balance Sheet |
| Debt-Equity Ratio | Total Debt / Shareholder Equity | <1.5 | Balance Sheet |
| Return on Equity (ROE) | (PAT / Shareholder Equity) × 100 | >15% | P&L + Balance Sheet |
Final Words
P&L batata hai – “Tumne kitna kamaya?” Balance Sheet batata hai – “Tumhare paas kitna hai aur kiska kitna udhaar hai?”
Dono ko saath mein padho toh company ki asli tasveer saamne aati hai. Ek accha businessman har mahine dono statements check karta hai.
Ab tu bhi apne business ya job ke liye dono statements banane aur samajhne lag ja – yeh skill tujhe lakhs aur crore bacha sakti hai.
){kind=link}
Post a Comment