Internal Finance
A company can mobilize finance through external and internal sources. A new company may not raise internal sources of finance and they can raise finance only external sources such as shares, debentures and loans but an existing company can raise both internal and external sources of finance for their financial requirements. Internal finance is also one of the important sources of finance and it consists of cost of capital while compared to other sources of finance.
Internal source of finance may be broadly classified into two categories:
A. Depreciation Funds
B. Retained earnings
Depreciation Funds
Depreciation funds are the major part of internal sources of finance, which is used to meet the working capital requirements of the business concern. Depreciation means decrease in the value of asset due to wear and tear, lapse of time, obsolescence, exhaustion and accident. Generally depreciation is changed against fixed assets of the company at fixed rate for every year. The purpose of depreciation is replacement of the assets after the expired period. It is one kind of provision of fund, which is needed to reduce the tax burden and overall profitability of the company.
Retained Earnings
Retained earnings are another method of internal sources of finance. Actually is not a method of raising finance, but it is called as accumulation of profits by a company for its expansion and diversification activities. Retained earnings are called under different names such as; self finance, inter finance, and plugging back of profits. According to the Companies Act 1956 certain percentage, as prescribed by the central government (not exceeding 10%) of the net profits after tax of a financial year have to be compulsorily transferred to reserve by a company before declaring dividends for the year. Under the retained earnings sources of finance, a part of the total profits is transferred to various reserves such as general reserve, replacement fund, reserve for repairs and renewals, reserve funds and secrete reserves, etc.
Advantages of Retained Earnings
Retained earnings consist of the following important advantages:
Disadvantages of Retained Earnings
Retained earnings also have certain disadvantages:
Difference Between Internal and External Sources of Finance
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1. What are the main sources of internal finance? |
2. What is the role of accountancy in managing internal finance? |
3. What is financial management and why is it important for internal finance? |
4. How can businesses improve their internal finance management? |
5. How does internal finance impact the overall financial health of an organization? |
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