π What is a Cash Flow Statement?
π΅ What is a Cash Flow Statement? Imagine you have a piggy bank π· where you put your pocket money every week.
Sometimes you add money π°, sometimes you take out for ice-cream π¦ or toys π.
At the end of the month, you check:
How much money came in? β‘οΈ
How much money went out? β¬
οΈ
What is left in your piggy bank now? π·
This is exactly what big companies do too β but they call it the Cash Flow Statement! ππ΅
π― Why is the Cash Flow Statement Important?
You may wonder: "Company earns profit, why care about cash flow?" π€
Because a company can show profit on paper π but still have no cash in hand! π±
π₯ Profit is theory... but Cash is Reality! π₯
No cash = No salary πΈ, No rent payment π , No raw material π
Even a profitable company can collapse without enough cash!
So cash flow tells:
βοΈ Is money flowing into the company regularly?
βοΈ Where is money going out fast?
βοΈ Is the company self-sufficient or always borrowing?
π What does the Cash Flow Statement Show?
It is like checking 3 water tanks π°:
1οΈβ£ Operating Activities (Daily Business Water Tank)
π‘ Money from main business: selling products or services!
Example:
βοΈ Company earns βΉ50,000 selling mobiles π±
β Spends βΉ30,000 on raw materials, salaries π·ββοΈ
Cash from Operating Activities = βΉ20,000 left π°
If this is always positive = Company runs its daily shop smoothly!
2οΈβ£ Investing Activities (Future Growth Water Tank)
π‘ Money spent on buying or selling big things like land π, machines βοΈ, or shares π.
Example:
β Buys new factory machine = βΉ10,000 out
βοΈ Sells old shop building = βΉ5,000 in
Cash from Investing Activities = βΉ5,000 Outflow πͺ
Negative here? Not bad β means company is growing! π±
3οΈβ£ Financing Activities (Loans & Investors Water Tank)
π‘ Money from bank loans π³, investors πΌ, or giving dividend π΅.
Example:
βοΈ Takes βΉ15,000 loan from bank π¦
β Pays βΉ5,000 as dividend to shareholders π
Cash from Financing Activities = βΉ10,000 Inflow π°
Final Result?
Just like checking your piggy bank:
Cash In β Cash Out = Net Cash
π If the result is positive = Cash in hand increased! π€
π If negative = Company burned more cash than it got π₯
π¨ Funny Example:
Your friend Bunty runs a juice shop πΉ:
βοΈ Sells juices = βΉ1,000 cash in
β Buys oranges = βΉ400 out
β Repairs fridge = βΉ200 out
βοΈ Takes βΉ500 loan from friend
Total Cash Flow = βΉ1,000 + βΉ500 β βΉ400 β βΉ200 = βΉ900 cash in hand π°
Bunty is safe and can enjoy a samosa! ππ₯
π¨ Red Flags Investors Must Watch:
β Negative cash flow from daily operations π¨
β Too much borrowing to survive π³
β No cash left for emergencies! π₯
π‘ What Smart Investors Should Check:
βοΈ Is the company earning cash daily? (Operating activities positive?)
βοΈ Is the company investing wisely for the future? (Not wasting cash?)
βοΈ Is the company not borrowing too much? (Safe balance?)
π Golden Formula of Cash Flow:
Cash In β Cash Out = Net Change in Cash
Just like your wallet at month-end! π
No cash flow = Business breathless π¨
π― Summary for Every Investor:
β
Cash is King! π
β
Profit can fool you β but cash flow reveals truth π‘
β
See if cash from business is healthy and rising π
β
Bad cash flow = Danger ahead β οΈ
π Funny Tip for You:
If company cash flow looks weak β Run faster than you run from online sales ads! πββοΈππ¨π
π Final Gyaan:
"Before buying shares, peep into companyβs pocket (cash flow),
Not just its report card (profit)!" ππΌ
This way, youβll stay away from cash-hungry traps and become a smart investor! πΉπ§