Accounting Dictionary – 25 - DEB
DAC, in accounting, is an acronym for Deferred Acquisition Costs.
DATE DRAFT is a payment option draft that matures in a specified number of days after the date issued.
DATE OF RECORD is the date which determines which shareholders receive dividends.
DAYS CASH ON HAND is calculated: Cash/([operating expense - depreciation expense]/365).
DAYS' INVENTORY shows the average length of time items are in inventory, i.e., how many days a business could continue selling using only its existing inventory. The goal, in most cases, is to demonstrate efficiency through having a high turnover rate and therefore a low days’ inventory. However, realize that this ratio can be unfavorable if either too high or too low. A company must balance the cost of carrying inventory with its unit and acquisition costs. The cost of carrying inventory can be 25% to 35%. These costs include warehousing, material handling, taxes, insurance, depreciation, interest and obsolescence.
DAYS SALES OUTSTANDING (DSO) is the average collection period on accounts receivable for sales revenue.
DBA (doing business as) is a legal entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) conducting business under any chosen name for which a business license has been issued.
DCAA is the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
DEBENTURE is a corporate IOU that is not backed by the company's assets (unsecured) and is therefore somewhat riskier than a bond.
DEBIT is a record of an indebtedness; specifically : an entry on the left-hand side of an account constituting an addition to an expense or asset account or a deduction from a revenue, net worth, or liability account.
DEBIT CARD is a banking card enhanced with automated teller machine (ATM) and point-of-sale (POS) features so that it can be used at merchant locations. A debit card is linked to an individual's checking account, allowing funds to be withdrawn at the ATM and point-of-sale without writing a check. Each financial institution creates an identity for its debit card to customize the product and differentiate it in the market. Debit cards can also be called deposit access cards.
DEBIT MEMORANDUM can be either a) a form or document given by the bank to a depositor to notify that the depositor's balance is being decreased due to some event other than the payment of depositor originated check, e.g. bank service charges; or b) a form of document used by a seller to notify a buyer that the seller is debiting (increasing) the amount of the buyer's accounts payable due to errors or other factors requiring adjustments.
DEBIT NOTES are issued to indicate a short payment.
DEBT COVENANT is one of many terms used to describe rules governing the loans that a company has outstanding. Other related phrases would be "loan terms" "credit agreement," "loan agreement."
DEBT FINANCING is raising money through selling bonds, notes, or mortgages or borrowing directly from financial institutions. You must repay borrowed money in full, usually in installments, with interest. A lender incurs risk and charges a corresponding rate of interest based on that risk. The lender usually assesses a variety of factors such as the strength of your business plan, management capabilities, financing, and your past personal credit history, to evaluate your company’s chances of success.
DEBTOR is the party against who one has a claim.
DEBTOR DAYS is a ratio used to work out how many days on average it takes a company to get paid for what it sells. It is calculated by dividing the figure for trade debtors shown in its accounts by its sales, and then multiplying by 365.
DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE is the ratio of cash flow available to pay for debt to the total amount of debt payments to be made (interest and principal payments).
DEBT RATIO measures the percent of total funds provided by creditors. Debt includes both current liabilities and long-term debt. Creditors prefer low debt ratios because the lower the ratio, the greater the cushion against creditor's losses in liquidation. Owners may seek high debt ratios, either to magnify earnings or because selling new stock would mean giving up control. Owners want control while "using someone else's money." Debt Ratio is best compared to industry data to determine if a company is possibly over or under leveraged. The right level of debt for a business depends on many factors. Some advantages of higher debt levels are:
• The deductibility of interest from business expenses can provide tax advantages.
• Returns on equity can be higher.
• Debt can provide a suitable source of capital to start or expand a business.
Some disadvantages can be:
• Sufficient cash flow is required to service a higher debt load. The need for this cash flow can place pressure on a business if income streams are erratic.
• Susceptibility to interest rate increases.
• Directing cash flow to service debt may starve expenditure in other areas such as development which can be detrimental to overall survival of the business.
DEBT SERVICE RATIO is the measurement of debt payments to gross income.
DAC, in accounting, is an acronym for Deferred Acquisition Costs.
DATE DRAFT is a payment option draft that matures in a specified number of days after the date issued.
DATE OF RECORD is the date which determines which shareholders receive dividends.
DAYS CASH ON HAND is calculated: Cash/([operating expense - depreciation expense]/365).
DAYS' INVENTORY shows the average length of time items are in inventory, i.e., how many days a business could continue selling using only its existing inventory. The goal, in most cases, is to demonstrate efficiency through having a high turnover rate and therefore a low days’ inventory. However, realize that this ratio can be unfavorable if either too high or too low. A company must balance the cost of carrying inventory with its unit and acquisition costs. The cost of carrying inventory can be 25% to 35%. These costs include warehousing, material handling, taxes, insurance, depreciation, interest and obsolescence.
DAYS SALES OUTSTANDING (DSO) is the average collection period on accounts receivable for sales revenue.
DBA (doing business as) is a legal entity (sole proprietorship, partnership, corporation) conducting business under any chosen name for which a business license has been issued.
DCAA is the Defense Contract Audit Agency.
DEBENTURE is a corporate IOU that is not backed by the company's assets (unsecured) and is therefore somewhat riskier than a bond.
DEBIT is a record of an indebtedness; specifically : an entry on the left-hand side of an account constituting an addition to an expense or asset account or a deduction from a revenue, net worth, or liability account.
DEBIT CARD is a banking card enhanced with automated teller machine (ATM) and point-of-sale (POS) features so that it can be used at merchant locations. A debit card is linked to an individual's checking account, allowing funds to be withdrawn at the ATM and point-of-sale without writing a check. Each financial institution creates an identity for its debit card to customize the product and differentiate it in the market. Debit cards can also be called deposit access cards.
DEBIT MEMORANDUM can be either a) a form or document given by the bank to a depositor to notify that the depositor's balance is being decreased due to some event other than the payment of depositor originated check, e.g. bank service charges; or b) a form of document used by a seller to notify a buyer that the seller is debiting (increasing) the amount of the buyer's accounts payable due to errors or other factors requiring adjustments.
DEBIT NOTES are issued to indicate a short payment.
DEBT COVENANT is one of many terms used to describe rules governing the loans that a company has outstanding. Other related phrases would be "loan terms" "credit agreement," "loan agreement."
DEBT FINANCING is raising money through selling bonds, notes, or mortgages or borrowing directly from financial institutions. You must repay borrowed money in full, usually in installments, with interest. A lender incurs risk and charges a corresponding rate of interest based on that risk. The lender usually assesses a variety of factors such as the strength of your business plan, management capabilities, financing, and your past personal credit history, to evaluate your company’s chances of success.
DEBTOR is the party against who one has a claim.
DEBTOR DAYS is a ratio used to work out how many days on average it takes a company to get paid for what it sells. It is calculated by dividing the figure for trade debtors shown in its accounts by its sales, and then multiplying by 365.
DEBT SERVICE COVERAGE is the ratio of cash flow available to pay for debt to the total amount of debt payments to be made (interest and principal payments).
DEBT RATIO measures the percent of total funds provided by creditors. Debt includes both current liabilities and long-term debt. Creditors prefer low debt ratios because the lower the ratio, the greater the cushion against creditor's losses in liquidation. Owners may seek high debt ratios, either to magnify earnings or because selling new stock would mean giving up control. Owners want control while "using someone else's money." Debt Ratio is best compared to industry data to determine if a company is possibly over or under leveraged. The right level of debt for a business depends on many factors. Some advantages of higher debt levels are:
• The deductibility of interest from business expenses can provide tax advantages.
• Returns on equity can be higher.
• Debt can provide a suitable source of capital to start or expand a business.
Some disadvantages can be:
• Sufficient cash flow is required to service a higher debt load. The need for this cash flow can place pressure on a business if income streams are erratic.
• Susceptibility to interest rate increases.
• Directing cash flow to service debt may starve expenditure in other areas such as development which can be detrimental to overall survival of the business.
DEBT SERVICE RATIO is the measurement of debt payments to gross income.