To read a financial report of a company, you don’t need to be afraid of big words. Just think of it like checking the records of Mama Ngozi’s tomato business.

Step one is to understand what the company does.
Before reading numbers, ask yourself what business the company is in and how it makes money. If you understand the business, the numbers will make more sense.

Using Mama Ngozi as an example, you first know she sells tomatoes, so you already understand her source of income.

Step two is to check the income statement.
This tells you how much money the company made and how much it spent. You look at revenue which is the total money coming in, and profit which is what is left after expenses.

For Mama Ngozi, this is like checking how much she sold her tomatoes for and how much she spent on buying tomatoes, transport, and other costs, then seeing what is left as profit.

Step three is to check the balance sheet.
This shows what the company owns and what it owes. It includes assets like cash, equipment, and inventory, and liabilities like loans or debts.

For Mama Ngozi, her assets could be her market stall, her money, and her tomatoes, while her debts could be money she borrowed from someone.

Step four is to check cash flow.
This shows how cash is moving in and out of the business. A company can show profit on paper but still have cash problems, so this is very important.

For Mama Ngozi, even if she made profit, she must also have actual cash in hand to restock tomatoes and run daily operations.

Step five is to compare reports over time.
Do not just look at one year. Check if revenue and profit are growing or reducing over time. This helps you see the trend.

Now, as an Accountant, let me tell you the truth:
Reading financial reports is about understanding the business, checking profit, knowing what the company owns and owes, and confirming that cash is flowing well. Once you follow these steps, even a beginner can make better investment decisions.