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The Global Insight

How do you do a statement of cash flows using the indirect method?

Author

Christopher Davis

Updated on February 25, 2026

Prepare the Operating Activities Section of the Statement of Cash Flows Using the Indirect Method

  1. Begin with net income from the income statement.
  2. Add back noncash expenses, such as depreciation, amortization, and depletion.
  3. Reverse the effect of gains and/or losses from investing activities.

How do you calculate operating activities using the indirect method?

Under the indirect method, cash flow from operating activities is calculated by first taking the net income from a company’s income statement. Because a company’s income statement is prepared on an accrual basis, revenue is only recognized when it is earned and not when it is received.

What is indirect method in cash flow?

The indirect method presents the statement of cash flows beginning with net income or loss, with subsequent additions to or deductions from that amount for non-cash revenue and expense items, resulting in cash flow from operating activities.

What are cash flows from investing activities?

Cash flow from investing activities is the cash that has been generated (or spent) on non-current assets that are intended to produce a profit in the future. Types of activities that this may include are capital expenditures, lending money, and sale of investment securities.

How are indirect operating activities included in statement of cash flows?

The indirect operating activities section always starts out with the net income for the period followed by non-cash expenses, gains, and losses that need to be added back to or subtracted from net income. These non-cash activities typically include: The non-cash expenses and losses must be added back in and the gains must be subtracted.

How is operating cash flow different from net income?

In other words, changes in asset and liability accounts that affect cash balances throughout the year are added to or subtracted from net income at the end of the period to arrive at the operating cash flow. The operating activities section is the only difference between the direct and indirect methods.

How is direct method used in statement of cash flows?

The direct method lists all receipts and payments of cash from individual sources to compute operating cash flows. This is not only difficult to create; it also requires a completely separate reconciliation that looks very similar to the indirect method to prove the operating activities section is accurate.

How to prepare Statement of cash flows for propensity company?

Propensity issued common stock in exchange for $45,000 cash. In the following sections, specific entries are explained to demonstrate the items that support the preparation of the operating activities section of the Statement of Cash Flows (Indirect Method) for the Propensity Company example financial statements.