| If you are saddled with the task of compiling an | | | | Designing and Binding |
| annual report for your company, here are a few | | | | If photography, design, and copywriting are skills |
| quick tips to get you started. | | | | that you do not possess, you may have to hire |
| Get Your Numbers Together | | | | professionals, or find some people who are willing |
| The basic purpose of an annual report is to | | | | to donate their services if you are a non profit. It |
| present the financial status of your organization | | | | is important that your annual report look as |
| and a vision of the future (this goes for | | | | professional as possible, but if your company has |
| nonprofits as well). In order to get the information | | | | faced some challenges in the previous year, you |
| you need, you will have to have some meetings | | | | may not have the kind of budget you might like. |
| with your financial people, as well as those who | | | | In that case, find some writers and/or artists |
| are in charge of what direction the company is | | | | who are just starting out and may work for less. |
| planning on taking in the future. | | | | As far as printing and binding, there are a few |
| Organize the Report | | | | different styles that may suit an annual report. |
| Depending on your for profit/nonprofit status, | | | | Spiral coil, twin loop, and thermal binding are three |
| there are certain things that must be included in | | | | that you may want to consider. If your company |
| your annual report. You should consult with some | | | | is just starting out and looking to save some |
| legal and financial advisers who have some | | | | money, consider purchasing one of these binding |
| experience in these matters for information on | | | | machines and doing the work yourself. |
| what your annual report mus include. Here are | | | | Order |
| some of the basics, however: | | | | You will want to start with a letter from your |
| 1. Income Statement/Balance Sheet: Gives a | | | | most senior officer. His or her message should |
| report on your financial status, such as detailed | | | | include an overview of the year's high points, and |
| explanations of your net income or loss for the | | | | a summary of financial performance written in |
| year. You may have to list assets and liabilities, | | | | layman's terms. |
| and shareholder equity. | | | | After that, the order of what you present is up |
| 2. Cash Flow Statement: a report on the liquidity | | | | to you. Have a look at some other annual reports |
| of your company, and how cash moves through | | | | and borrow ideas from the ones that you like. |
| your business. | | | | How you present this material is entirely up to |
| 3. Risks: a detailed account of current and | | | | you, but in the overall narrative you will, of |
| presumed future risks your company might face. | | | | course, want to put as positive a spin on your |
| 4. Notes: here is where you will detail your | | | | situation as possible. If things have been going well |
| accounting practices, as well as how the | | | | for you, and are going to continue in that way, by |
| information you are presenting was gathered and | | | | all means, let the world know. If you have |
| processed. If your company is publicly traded, | | | | struggled, try to put as much emphasis as you |
| there must be a section wherein a senior officer | | | | can on the aspects of your year that showed |
| states that accounting meets the requirements of | | | | promise. |
| the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. | | | | |