The language your numbers speak paints a picture of your performance, productivity and profitability. That picture forms a pattern and tells a story. Your story will show you how to move forward to manage and build your cash flow.

Most businesses struggle to have enough cash because they don’t know how to understand, interpret and use the numbers in their business. These lessons will teach you how.

Guessing eventually leads to wasted time, effort and money.  Sound business decisions are rooted and grounded in financial reality. The one thing business owners cannot ever afford is to fool themselves. A business must be anchored in financial reality to survive and thrive.

Don’t let the above information on cash flow statements overwhelm you. For now the main point to remember is that cash is real money. It is one of the only two indisputable facts in your financials. It is the lifeblood of your business and it will determine the destiny of your operation.

A set of financial statements can help you answer all of these questions. In this article, we'll explore the five most common types of financial statements – highlighting each one's role in helping you manage your business.