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Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR)

Calculating the Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) is a useful method for determining the average growth of an investment or a business over a specific period.

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409A valuation

A 409A valuation is an independent appraisal of the fair market value (FMV) of a private company's common stock. The 409A valuation is required by the IRS for private companies that issue stock options to their employees to ensure these options are not issued at a discount.

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83(b) election

An 83(b) election allows you to pay tax on stock you're issued at the time it was granted, rather than when it vests.

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Accelerator

An accelerator is a program that supports early-stage, growth-driven companies through education, mentorship, and financing. The goal of an accelerator is to expedite the growth of these startups within a fixed, typically short, period.

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Accounting Equation

Accounting Equation is a fundamental concept in financial accounting that helps businesses understand their financial position.

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Accounting software

Accounting software is a type of computer software used by businesses to manage and process their financial transactions. This software can range from simple, single-entry systems for basic bookkeeping to more complex, double-entry systems that can process accounts payable, accounts receivable, payroll, and more.

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Accounts payable

Accounts payable (AP) refers to a company's short-term obligations owed to its creditors or suppliers for goods or services purchased on credit.

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Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable (AR) refers to the money owed to a company by its customers for goods or services sold on credit. It's an asset for the company and represents a legally enforceable claim for payment.

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Accounts receivable loans

Accounts receivable loans, also known as invoice financing or factoring, are a form of short-term borrowing where a business sells its outstanding invoices to a lender in exchange for immediate cash.

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Accredited Investor

An accredited investor is a high-net-worth individual or entity that meets certain federal requirements and can invest in securities that aren’t registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), like private company stock. If you want to angel invest in startups, you generally need to be an accredited investor.

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Accrual accounting

Accrual accounting is a method of accounting where revenues and expenses are recorded when they are earned or incurred, regardless of when the money is actually received or paid.

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Accrued Interest

Accrued interest is a financial metric that represents the interest earned on an investment or loan but not yet paid or received.

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Acquihire

An acquihire, a portmanteau of "acquisition" and "hire", is a strategy where a company is acquired mainly for the skills and expertise of its staff, rather than its products or services. It's often seen in the tech startup industry.

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Acquisition

An acquisition is a corporate action where one company, the acquirer, purchases most or all of another company's, the target, shares to gain control of that company. Acquisitions are commonly made as part of a company's growth strategy.

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Activity-based budgeting

Activity-based budgeting (ABB) is a budgeting method where activities that incur costs are recorded, analyzed, and connected to their outputs. It differs from traditional budgeting as it provides a more detailed view of where funds are being spent and how they contribute to an organization's goals.

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Adjusted gross income

Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) is a measure of income calculated from your gross income and used to determine how much of your income is taxable. It's the total income you receive over the course of the year, including wages, interest, dividends, and capital gains, minus specific deductions.

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Allocation

Allocation refers to the distribution of resources, such as capital or personnel, within a business or investment portfolio. It's a strategic decision made to maximize efficiency, profitability, or to achieve other business objectives.

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Alternative Financing

Alternative financing refers to financial channels, processes, and instruments that have emerged outside of the traditional finance system such as banks and capital markets. It includes crowdfunding, peer-to-peer lending, merchant cash advances, and more.

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Amortization

Amortization is the process of expensing the cost of an asset or loan over time.

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Angel Investor

An angel investor or seed investor is an individual who uses their own money to invest in startup companies.

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Annual Contract Value (ACV)

Your annual contract value (ACV) tells you the annual value of each customer or account regardless of the contract’s length. You can use your ACV to estimate how much you’ll earn from each new customer and how many customers you’ll need to reach your revenue goals. 

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Annual Percentage Yield (APY)

APY or Annual Percentage Yield, is a metric used to express the annual rate of return on an investment, taking into account the effect of compounding interest.

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Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)

Annual recurring revenue (ARR) tracks the expected revenue from products and services that are sold with contracts that last at least 12 months. Software as a service (SaaS) companies, and other companies that offer subscriptions, commonly track their ARR.

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Anti-dilution clause

An anti-dilution clause is a provision in an investment agreement that protects investors from dilution of their equity stake if the company issues shares at a lower price than what the investors originally paid.

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Asset Turnover Ratio

Asset Turnover Ratio is a financial metric that helps businesses evaluate the efficiency of utilizing their assets to generate revenue.

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Audit

An audit is an objective examination and evaluation of an organization's financial statements, usually conducted by an independent party, to ensure their accuracy and fairness.

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Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)

ARPU, or Average Revenue Per User, is a metric that helps businesses understand the revenue generated by each user over a specific period.

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B Corporation

A B corporation (or Benefit Corporation) is a type of for-profit company that has an additional mission to contribute positively to society or the environment. It's a legal structure that balances public benefits with profit-making, and is designed to hold companies accountable for producing some kind of societal benefit in addition to profits.

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Balance sheet

A balance sheet is one of the three main financial statements (along with the income statement and cash flow statement) used to evaluate a company's financial health. It provides a snapshot of a company's assets, liabilities, and shareholders' equity at a specific point in time.

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Bank reconciliation

Bank reconciliation is the process of matching the balances in an entity's accounting records for a cash account to the corresponding information on a bank statement. The goal of this process is to ascertain the differences between the two, and to book changes to the accounting records as appropriate.

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Basis Point

A basis point (bp), or “bip,” is one-hundredth of 1%, or 0.01%.

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Billings

Software as a service (SaaS) companies often track their current and future income in three ways: bookings, billings, and revenue. Billings are the money that you’ve invoiced for and will be paid soon.

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Board Director

Your startups’ board members, the board directors, have a fiduciary duty to the company’s shareholders and they make important decisions, such as whether to sell the company. Generally, founders will be the first board directors and lead investors may get board seats during each funding round. 

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Bookings

You book a client when they sign a contract with your company, and your bookings are the total value of the signed contracts.

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Bootstrapping

Bootstrapping is a method where an entrepreneur starts a company with little capital, relying on personal finances or the operating revenues of the new company rather than outside investments.

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Bottom line

The "bottom line" refers to the net income, or profit, a business has earned. It's called the bottom line because it's typically found at the bottom of the income statement, after all expenses, including taxes and interest, have been subtracted from revenues.

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Break-even points (BEPs)

Break-even points (BEPs) are a metric for businesses to understand the level at which their revenues equal their costs.

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Bridge loan

A bridge loan is a type of short-term loan intended to "bridge" the gap between short-term cash requirements and long-term financing. These loans are commonly used in real estate transactions and by startups awaiting closing on their next round of funding.

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Budget forecasting

Budget forecasting is the process of making projections about revenues and expenditures for a future period based on historical data, market research, and other relevant information. These forecasts form the basis for a company's budget.

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Budget variance analysis

Budget variance analysis is a financial process where the actual budgeted amount is compared to the projected budget. The purpose is to find any discrepancies, or "variances," to help improve financial control and decision-making.

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Burn Multiple

Your burn multiple is your net cash burned divided by your net new ARR in a given period. It’s a measure of capital efficiency, and you’d like to keep it as low as possible.

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Burn Rate

Burn Rate is a financial metric that measures the rate at which a company is spending its cash reserves, typically expressed as a negative cash flow.

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Business expenses

Business expenses are the costs associated with operating a business. These may include rent, utilities, salaries, office supplies, marketing expenses, taxes, and more.

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Buy now pay later

"Buy now, pay later" (BNPL) is a type of point-of-sale installment loan that allows consumers to purchase goods or services immediately and pay for them over a period of time. These services can provide interest-free loans if the balance is paid in full by a certain date.

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C Corporation (C Corp)

A C corporation, or C corp, is a type of legal business entity. C corps are the default corporation type and a popular choice for startup founders. Other options include S corporations and limited liability companies (LLCs). 

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CFO

A CFO, or Chief Financial Officer, is a senior executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a business. The CFO's duties include tracking cash flow, financial planning, analyzing the company's financial strengths and weaknesses, and proposing corrective actions.

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COO

A COO, or Chief Operating Officer, is a high-ranking executive in a company who oversees the day-to-day administrative and operational functions of a business. The COO reports directly to the CEO (Chief Executive Officer) and is often considered the second in command within the organization.

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CPA

A CPA, or Certified Public Accountant, is a professional accountant who has passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and met all other state education and experience requirements to obtain this certification in the United States. CPAs offer financial statement audits and other attestation services to help businesses comply with laws and regulations.

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California Sales Tax Exemption

The California sales tax exemption applies to certain types of sales and is designed to encourage economic development or to benefit certain categories of purchasers. The type of goods that may be exempted from sales tax vary, but generally include items like groceries, prescription medicines, and certain agricultural supplies.

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California Statement of Information

The California Statement of Information is a document that most businesses are required to file with the California Secretary of State on a regular basis. This document includes important information about the business, such as its address, the names of its officers, and the nature of its business activities.

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Cap Table

A capitalization table (cap table) tells you who owns what percentage of a company. It often starts as a spreadsheet, but there are programs that can help you create and manage your cap table. 

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Capital Asset Pricing Model (CAPM)

CAPM, or the Capital Asset Pricing Model, is a financial theory used to calculate the expected return on an investment while considering its risk relative to the overall market.

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Capital Cycle

Capital Cycle is a financial metric that helps businesses understand the time it takes for their invested capital to generate returns.

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Capital Employed

Capital Employed is a financial metric used to measure the total resources a company has invested in its operations.

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Capital Expenditures (CapEx)

CapEx, short for capital expenditure, is a metric that represents the funds a company uses to acquire, upgrade, or maintain its physical assets, such as property, equipment, or technology.

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Capital Gains

Capital Gains is a financial metric that represents the profit made from the sale of an asset, such as stocks, real estate, or other investments.

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Carry or carried interest

Carry, or carried interest, refers to the share of profits that a fund manager receives as compensation, regardless of whether they contributed any initial funds. This is a common form of compensation in venture capital and private equity firms, where managers are often rewarded based on the fund's performance.

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Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC)

The Cash Conversion Cycle (CCC) is a financial metric that helps businesses understand the time it takes to convert their investments in inventory and other resources into cash flows from sales.

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Cash accounting

Cash accounting is a method of accounting where revenues are recorded when cash is received, and expenses are recorded when they are paid. This method does not recognize accounts receivable or accounts payable.

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Cash burn

Cash burn refers to the rate at which a company spends its cash reserves, particularly common in startups that may not yet be profitable. It's an important measure of a company's financial health and sustainability.

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Cash burn rate

A cash burn rate is a measure of how quickly a company uses up its cash reserves in its operations. This is especially important for startups and other companies that may not yet be profitable.

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Cash disbursement

Cash disbursement is the outflow of cash from a business for expenses, investments, or any other operational or financial costs. It's an important part of managing a company's cash flow and maintaining accurate financial records.

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Cash flow

Cash flow refers to the net amount of cash and cash-equivalents being transferred into and out of a business. Positive cash flow indicates that a company's liquid assets are increasing, enabling it to settle debts, reinvest in its business, return money to shareholders, pay expenses, and provide a buffer against future financial challenges.

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Cash flow from operating activities

Cash flow from operating activities (CFO) is a measure of the amount of cash generated by a company's normal business operations. It is an important indicator of a company's financial health, as it shows the company's ability to generate consistent positive cash flow from its core business operations.

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Cash management

Cash management refers to the process by which a business manages its financial operations, including collecting receivables, managing payments, and ensuring liquidity. It's essential to the financial health of a business and ensures that the company can meet its obligations.

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Cash out date

A cash out date refers to the specific date when a business will run out of cash if nothing changes in its income and expenses. It's a crucial metric in cash management and financial forecasting for startups.

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Cash projection model

A cash projection model is a vital tool that provides insights into the future financial health of your startup by predicting your cash inflows and outflows. It helps you understand when and where your startup might run out of cash, thereby assisting you in making informed business decisions.

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Cash zero date

A "cash zero date" is the forecasted date at which a company will run out of cash if it does not raise additional funds, reduce costs, or generate more revenue. This date is a crucial financial milestone for startups as it highlights the importance of cash flow management and the need for financial planning.

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Chart of accounts

A "chart of accounts" is a structured list of all the accounts used by a business to track its financial transactions and to prepare financial statements. It serves as the backbone of a company's accounting system, categorizing transactions into different buckets for clear and easy financial reporting.

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Chief executive officer (CEO)

A Chief Executive Officer, or CEO, is the highest-ranking executive in a company, responsible for making major corporate decisions and managing the overall operations and resources of a company. The CEO is the main point of communication between the board of directors and corporate operations.

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Chief financial officer (CFO)

A Chief Financial Officer, or CFO, is the executive responsible for managing the financial actions of a company. Their duties include tracking cash flow, financial planning, analyzing the company's financial strengths and weaknesses, and proposing corrective actions.

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Chief operating officer (COO)

A Chief Operating Officer, or COO, is a high-ranking executive responsible for the day-to-day administration and operation of a company. The COO typically reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and is considered second-in-command.

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Churn

Customer churn refers to how many customers you’ve lost during a period, while revenue churn can refer to the annual or monthly recurring revenue change from losing customers. Depending on your business, churn could refer to someone who stops using your service, uninstalls your app, downgrades their plan, or cancels a subscription.

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Cliff vesting

"Cliff vesting" is a term used in equity-based compensation that refers to the period before an employee fully owns their shares or options. With cliff vesting, the employee earns the right to their full benefits after a specified period, typically one year, rather than gradually over time.

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Cloud accounting

Cloud accounting, also known as online accounting, refers to the use of accounting software where both the software and the data are stored online on remote servers. This approach provides access to real-time data from any device with an internet connection, which is a significant advantage over traditional desktop-based software.

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Cohort Analysis

Cohort analysis involves segmented populations based on a shared characteristic, such as customers who signed up for a service during the same month, to better analyze and understand trends. 

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Common stock

Common stock is a type of equity ownership in a corporation, representing a claim on part of the corporation's assets and earnings. Common shareholders typically have the right to vote on major corporate issues, such as electing the board of directors and authorizing major corporate initiatives.

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Competitive Analysis

Competitive analysis is the process of understanding your competitors in business, including their strengths and weaknesses, and how your product or service compares. This analysis aids in defining your value proposition, identifying market opportunities, and developing competitive strategies.

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Compounded monthly growth rate (CMGR)

A compounded monthly growth rate (CMGR) is a metric used to calculate the average rate at which something (such as revenue, user base, etc.) has grown every month, over a specified period. CMGR is a common metric in the startup world, where monthly growth rates can be a valuable indicator of a company's momentum and potential.

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Contra revenue

Contra revenue refers to deductions from gross revenue that result in net revenue. It includes items such as sales returns, discounts, and allowances that are deducted from gross sales to arrive at a company's total net sales.

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Contraction

Contraction in a business context refers to a period of economic decline or slowdown. It is a phase in the business cycle where the growth of a company or economy slows, stalls, or shrinks.

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Contribution Margin

Contribution Margin is a financial metric that helps businesses understand the profitability of their products or services.

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Convertible Note

A convertible note is a loan that can convert into equity during a conversion event, such as a funding round. They are an option for raising money from venture capitalists and angel investors. However, the simple agreement for future equity (SAFE) has become a popular alternative.

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Cost Per Click (CPC)

Cost per click (CPC) advertising is when you pay based on how many people click on your ad. With CPC advertising, you can be certain that you’re not paying for ads that don’t result in someone visiting your website. 

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Cost of Debt

The Cost of Debt is the effective rate that a company pays on its borrowed funds from financial institutions and other sources.

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Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)

Calculating the Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) is an essential step in understanding the financial health of a business.

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Cram-down round

A "cram-down round" refers to a financing round where investors purchase equity from a company at a lower valuation than the valuation placed on the company during previous financing rounds. This usually happens when a company is struggling financially and cannot negotiate terms that are more favorable.

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Credit risk

Credit risk is the possibility that a borrower will default on any type of debt by failing to make required payments. If a company lends money to customers or other businesses, there's always a risk that the borrowers may not repay the loan, leading to a financial loss for the company.

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Cross-Selling 

Cross-selling is when you sell current customers an additional related product or service. A successful cross-selling strategy can increase the customer lifetime value (CLTV). Often, it costs less to cross-sell a customer than to acquire a new one.

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Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is a method of funding a venture or project by raising small amounts of money from a large number of people, typically via the Internet. Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo allow individuals to solicit funds from a large pool of backers.

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Current Assets

Current Assets is a financial metric that represents the value of all assets that can reasonably be expected to be converted into cash, sold, or consumed within one year.

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Current Ratio

Current Ratio is a financial metric used to evaluate a company's liquidity and its ability to pay short-term obligations.

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Customer Acquisition Cost

CAC is a metric that calculates the average cost of acquiring a new customer, considering the expenses related to marketing and sales.

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Data Room

A data room is a secure location that’s set up to store and limit access to confidential and privileged information. They’re often used for mergers and acquisitions (M&A), initial public offerings (IPOs), audits, and venture capital (VC) financing deals. 

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Days Sales Outstanding (DSO)

Days Sales Outstanding (DSO) is a financial metric that helps businesses understand how long it takes, on average, to collect payments from customers after a sale has been made.

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Debt Ratio

Debt Ratio is a financial metric that helps businesses and investors assess a company's financial health by comparing its total debt to its total assets.

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Debt Service Coverage Ratio

Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) is a financial metric used to assess a company's ability to meet its debt obligations.

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Debt capital

Debt capital refers to borrowed money that a business uses to fund its operations or growth. This can come in the form of loans from banks, bonds issued to investors, or other types of debt instruments. The business agrees to repay the principal amount along with interest over a specified period.

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Debt-to-Income (DTI) Ratio

Debt-to-Income ratio, or DTI, is a financial metric used to assess an individual's ability to manage their debt and their income.

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Debt-to-equity ratio

The Debt-to-Equity (D/E) Ratio is a financial metric that helps assess a company's financial leverage by comparing its total debt to its total equity.

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