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Income Statement

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Multiple-Step Income Statement




An alternative to the single-step income statement is the multiple-step income statement, because it uses multiple subtractions in computing the net income shown on the bottom line.


The multiple-step profit and loss statement segregates the operating revenues and operating expenses from the nonoperating revenues, nonoperating expenses, gains, and losses. The multiple-step income statement also shows the gross profit (net sales minus the cost of goods sold).


Here is a sample income statement in the multiple-step format:



Sample Products Co.
Income Statement
For the Five Months Ended May 31, 2008

Sales $100,000 
Cost of Goods Sold     75,000 
Gross Profit     25,000 

Operating Expenses
Selling Expenses
Advertising Expense 2,000
Commissions Expense     5,000 7,000 
Administrative Expenses
Office Supplies Expense 3,500
Office Equipment Expense     2,500      6,000 
Total Operating Expenses    13,000 

Operating Income     12,000 

Non-Operating or Other
Interest Revenues 5,000 
Gain on Sale of Investments 3,000 
Interest Expense (500)
Loss from Lawsuit    (1,500)
Total Non-Operating      6,000 

Net Income $ 18,000 



Using the above multiple-step income statement as an example, we see that there are three steps needed to arrive at the bottom line Net Income:


Step 1. Cost of goods sold is subtracted from net sales to arrive at the gross profit.

Gross Profit
=
Net Sales
Cost of Goods Sold
Gross Profit
=
$100,000
$75,000
Gross Profit
=
$25,000


Step 2. Operating expenses are subtracted from gross profit to arrive at operating income.

Operating Income
=
Gross Profit
Operating Expenses
Operating Income
=
$25,000
$13,000
Operating Income
=
$12,000


Step 3. The net amount of nonoperating revenues, gains, nonoperating expenses and losses is combined with the operating income to arrive at the net income or net loss.

Net Income
=
Operating Income
+
Non-Operating Items
Net Income
=
$12,000
+
$6,000
Net Income
=
$18,000


There are three benefits to using a multiple-step income statement instead of a single-step income statement:

  1. The multiple-step income statement clearly states the gross profit amount. Many readers of financial statements monitor a company's gross margin (gross profit as a percentage of net sales). Readers may compare a company's gross margin to its past gross margins and to the gross margins of the industry.
  2. The multiple-step income statement presents the subtotal operating income, which indicates the profit earned from the company's primary activities of buying and selling merchandise.
  3. The bottom line of a multiple-step income statement reports the net amount for all the items on the income statement. If the net amount is positive, it is labeled as net income. If the net amount is negative, it is labeled as net loss.



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