This document will guide you through the report creation process, going step by step through the pages that are used to customize your report content and enter your company's data.
Create a report
Once you select the Create a report button you are taken to the "Create a report" page. Here you can specify criteria that will customize the content of your report.
Revenue range
You can select the Revenue range values of either the $30 thousand to $5 million or the $5 million to $20 million range. The selection of the $5 million to $20 million range is limited to the Canadian level and incorporated businesses only.
Provinces/Territory/Canada
From the drop-down menu, you can select the province or territory of your business to refine the focus of your report. Note that by selecting particular provinces and territories, the sample size will be smaller and can impact the availability of data for your industry. By default, "Canada" is selected. For Revenue range selections of “$5 Million-$20 million”, “Canada” will be the only available geographic area selection criteria.
Incorporation status
From the drop-down menu, you can select to view data for "Incorporated businesses", "Unincorporated businesses" or "All businesses". This option can help you to find more accurate comparison groups for your business. You will find all your selected variables in your report. If no data is available, the variable will be populated with N/A. By default "All businesses" is selected. For Revenue range selections of “$5 Million-$20 million”, “Incorporated businesses” will be the only available Incorporation status selection criteria.
Distribution by
For the "Distribution by" criteria, you can select to have data presented by Total revenue or Profit marge in your report. By default "Profit margin" is selected.
Value in
You can select the values to be displayed as a percentage or in thousands of dollars. By default "Percentage" is selected.
Industry options
In the Industry options, you can select "Search for an industry" or "Browse for an industry". By default "Search for an industry" is selected.
Search for an industry
If you select "Search for an industry", you must type in your industry NAICS code or keywords for the industry you are interested in. Then click the "Search" button and scroll through the list of industry sectors. Select the industry which reflects the main activity of your business, then click on the "Create report" button.
Browse for an industry
If you select "Browse for an industry", you must select an industry category from the drop-down list and press the "Search" button. Select the industry that you think matches closest to the main activity of your business and click "Create report".
Report
A customized report is generated based on your selections of the criteria options. To make changes to your report, you can either click on the "Change criteria" button or use the back arrow. If you selected "Change criteria", your selections will be kept.
All reports feature information for the whole industry. You'll have bottom quartiles, lower middle, upper middle and top quartile on your report, which can allow you to compare your business to a segment of the industry that features businesses that are more similar to yours.
Quartile information
The quartiles divide all of the small and medium-sized businesses that operate within the selected industry into four groups (quartiles) of the same size based on levels of revenue or profit margin generated.
All of the businesses in the selected industry are ranked according to annual revenue or profit marge generated.
The Bottom quartile consists of the 25% of businesses with the lowest reported operating revenue or profit margin.
The Lower middle consists of the 25% of businesses with reported operating revenue above the cut-off for the Bottom quartile and below the median revenue or profit margin level.
The Upper middle consists of the 25% of businesses with reported operating revenue or profit margin above the median revenue or profit margin level and below the cut-off for the Top quartile.
The Top quartile consists of the 25% of businesses with the highest reported operating revenue or profit margin.
Add your data to the report
Clicking the "Add your data to the report" link will take you to the "Revenue and Expense Item" page, allowing you to enter your company's revenue and expenses in the report. Click on "Continue" to get the "Balance sheet items" page to add to your company's data. Note: Please enter all values in thousands of dollars, rounded to the nearest tenth. Click the "Add my data to the report" button to generate the report with your company's financial details included. Your company data will appear in the first column of the report under the "Your data" column heading.
Once your data has been added to the industry data, your options are as follows:
1. Click on the “Export report to Excel” link;
2. Click on the “Change criteria” button;
3. Click on the “Return to Financial Performance Data” link; or
4. Click on the “Help” link
If you choose not to add your company's data, your options are as follows:
1. Click on the "Export your report to Excel" link;
2. Click on the "Change criteria" button;
3. Click on the "Return to Financial Performance Data" link; or
4. Click on the "Help" link.
Detailed information on the financial sections
Revenue and Expenses Section
This section of the report contains revenue and expense items that can be found in an income statement. This section appears in all reports regardless of the "Incorporated status" selected. You will find all your selected variables on your report. If no data is available, the variable will be populated with N/A. Values are presented in thousands of dollars or as a percentage depending on your value selection. Definitions for revenue and expense items appearing in the report can be obtained by clicking on their link.
Balance sheet section
This section of the report contains asset, liability and equity items that can be found in a balance sheet. This section also appears on the report regardless of the "Incorporated status" selected. You will find all your selected variables on your report. If no data is available, the variable will be populated with N/A. Values are presented in thousands of dollars or as a percentage depending on your value selection. Definitions for balance sheet and income statement items appearing in the report can be obtained by clicking on their link.
Financial ratios section
This section of the report contains a variety of ratios that are calculated using variables from other report sections. This section also appears on the report regardless of the "Incorporated status" selected. You will find all your selected variables on your report. If no data is available, the variable will be populated with N/A. Definitions for Financial ratios appearing in the report can be obtained by clicking on their link.
Profitable vs Non-profitable businesses section
This section of the report contains total revenues, expenses and net profit/loss broken down between profitable and non-profitable businesses. You will find all your selected variables on your report. If no data is available, the variable will be populated with N/A. This section also provides the percentage of profitable small businesses in the selected industry.