EBITDA - What Is It and How Do You Use It?

EBITDA is something your accountant likely talks about. Are you wondering what it is and why it is essential?

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Defining EBITDA

E - Earnings

B - Before

I - Interest

T - Taxes (Federal, state, and local taxes)

D - Depreciation

A - Amortization

EBITDA is calculated by taking Operating Income (EBIT) + Depreciation + Amortization.

EBITDA Margin is calculated by taking EBITDA and dividing it by Net Sales.

EBITDA reflects the short-term operational efficiency of your business and shows investors how much of your company's earnings are attributed to operations. The formula removes non-operating management decisions, providing a clear picture of your operating profitability.

• A decreasing EBITDA could indicate cash flow problems or low profitability.
• Higher EBITDA means stable business earnings. It is an essential indicator of the value of a company.

Calculating EBITDA requires 3-5 years of sound financial data, necessitating good financial reporting systems and processes. Your accountant should include the EBITDA calculation in your income statement.

How to Use EBITDA

EBITDA Margin indicates how much cash is generated for every dollar of revenue earned and is a benchmark used to compare companies. It is used for merger and acquisition planning to compare performance with similar companies. When looking back on five years of data, potential buyers will be able to see the increased performance, thus making your business more valuable.

Understanding your EBITDA will help you know where you are today and what changes you could make to impact a future sale as you begin your exit strategy.

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How to Improve EBITDA

Reduce Costs and Maintain Prices

Reduced pricing also reduces your EBITDA. Educate your customers on the value of your products/services and charge appropriately for what you are offering. Cost reduction is always necessary, so focus some time on delving into your costs by service, product, division, etc. Even slight cost reductions can be significant when calculated over a year.

Manage Inventory to Reduce Working Capital

Inventory incurs a cost when being produced and stored for long periods. Properly managing your inventory will help you collect revenue faster and reduce on-hand inventory costs. Review your inventory management to ensure a proper balance between inventory manufacturing/purchases and the sales cycle. This also applies to investments in employee skills.

As you train employees on new skills, have a plan to use those skills quickly, bringing full circle the cost of the skill enhancement to improved production or service sales.

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Shorten Billing Times

The time between a signed contract and the first invoice can affect your EBITDA. Review your process, communications, and planning so that you can start billing soon after a contract is confirmed.

Implement Appropriate Financial Reporting Software

Software functionality improves every year. Is it time for you to invest in updated systems? The results of your EBITDA calculation won't be valid if you aren't accurately reporting your financials.

Have an outside advisor review your financial reports to determine if you have what you need, when you need it. Enlist an advisor who understands your industry to review your processes, procedures, and reports. It will be money well spent to establish where you are now and what opportunities you have in the future.

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This is just a quick overview of EBITDA. Give us a call and let’s discuss your specific business needs.