Most startup businesses have the aim to maximize profitability and to produce a return on equity for the owner which is much higher than the return they could get from a less risky investment such as Government Securities.
In order to make the comparison with other investments a financial ratio known as the return on equity (ROE) is used to measure the percentage rate of return the owner of a business gets on their investment.
Basically the return on equity measures the ability of a business operation to use its money to generate earnings. The ratio is calculated by dividing the net income by the owners equity.
How to Calculate the Return on Equity
- Net income is shown in the income statement. It is sometimes referred to as net profit or profit after tax.
- Owners equity is found in the balance sheet and includes capital injected by the owners and retained earnings which belong to the owners.
To illustrate using the example income statement and balance sheets below, the net income and equity numbers are highlighted in blue.
| Revenue | 800,000 |
| Cost of sales | 320,000 |
| Gross margin | 480,000 |
| Operating expenses | 200,000 |
| Depreciation | 110,000 |
| Operating income | 170,000 |
| Finance costs | 15,000 |
| Income before tax | 155,000 |
| Income tax expense | 41,000 |
| Net income | 114,000 |
| Closing | Opening | |
|---|---|---|
| Cash | 50,000 | 23,000 |
| Accounts receivable | 280,000 | 218,000 |
| Inventory | 20,000 | 15,000 |
| Current assets | 350,000 | 256,000 |
| Long term assets | 450,000 | 375,000 |
| Total assets | 800,000 | 631,000 |
| Accounts payable | 150,000 | 130,000 |
| Other liabilities | 85,000 | 65,000 |
| Current liabilities | 235,000 | 195,000 |
| Long-term debt | 145,000 | 130,000 |
| Total liabilities | 380,000 | 325,000 |
| Capital | 150,000 | 150,000 |
| Retained earnings | 270,000 | 156,000 |
| Total equity | 420,000 | 306,000 |
| Total liabilities and equity | 800,000 | 631,000 |
If available, the average of the opening and closing equity should be used in the calculation as this gives a more accurate representation of the amount invested by the owners during the year.
ROE = Net income / Equity x 100% Net income = 114,000 Equity = (420000 + 306,000) / 2 = 363,000 (Average) ROE = 114,000 / 363,000 x 100% = 30.30%
In this case the average historical return on equity to the owners for the year is 30.30%.
In like manner this calculation can be carried out for any business. To demonstrate we can calculate the ROE of Apple using their income statement and balance sheets.
ROE = Net income / Equity x 100% Net income = 37,037 Equity = (123,549 + 118,210) / 2 = 120,880 (Average) ROE = 37,037 / 120,880 x 100% = 30.64%
ROE and the Financial Projections Template
Investors use the return on equity calculation to compare different businesses in deciding whether to invest or not. Consequently if you are seeking funding for your business by way of equity investment, it is likely that you will need to include an estimate of the return on equity an investor can expect to make in your business plan.
Additionally the return on equity can be calculated for projected figures, and is included in our financial projections template on the financial ratios page. For simplicity, the return on equity calculation has been based on the closing balance sheet equity for the year.
About the Author
Chartered accountant Michael Brown is the founder and CEO of Plan Projections. He has worked as an accountant and consultant for more than 25 years and has built financial models for all types of industries. He has been the CFO or controller of both small and medium sized companies and has run small businesses of his own. He has been a manager and an auditor with Deloitte, a big 4 accountancy firm, and holds a degree from Loughborough University.