{"id":14959,"date":"2026-09-01T08:00:15","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/?p=14959"},"modified":"2026-09-01T08:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T12:00:17","slug":"accrued-expenses-vs-accounts-payable","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accrued-expenses-vs-accounts-payable\/","title":{"rendered":"What are\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses and how do they differ from accounts payable?"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"entry-header has-dark-background-color entry-header--standard entry-header--has-illustration entry-header--has-illustration--standard\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__row row align-center\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-lg-7 col-xlg-6 entry-header__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"component component-single-header\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-header__misc text--subtitle text--uppercase text--small\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/category\/money-matters\/\" class=\"entry-header__link\">Money Matters<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-title-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"entry-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tWhat are accrued expenses and how do they differ from accounts payable?\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"entry-header__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\tAccrued expenses and accounts payable are both debts your business owes, but they are managed in distinctly different ways. Read on to learn how each affects your financial reporting and cash flow.\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"single-post-details container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"posted-on \">Published <time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-01T08:00:15-04:00\">September 1, 2026<\/time><\/span><span class=\"reading-time\"> min read<\/span>\n\t\t<button\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\tclass=\"social-share-button button button--icon button--secondary js-social-share-button\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-title=\"What are\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses and how do they differ from accounts payable?\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-url=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accrued-expenses-vs-accounts-payable\/\"\n\t\t\tdata-share-text=\"Please read this interesting article\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__share-label\">Share<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-label\" hidden>Copy Link<\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"social-share-button__copy-tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\" hidden>Copied<\/span>\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<\/header>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author has-dark-background-color alignfull\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"co-authors\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-author-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<a class=\"entry-author\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/author\/joechurchwoods\/\">\n\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"40\" height=\"40\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2026\/05\/Joe-Yard-2-crop-350x350.jpg\" class=\"entry-author__image\" alt=\"Joe Church Woods\" \/>\t\t\t\t<span class=\"entry-author__name\">Joe Church Woods<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0managing a business, keeping track of your finances can be a bit like juggling.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are a lot of concepts and processes to wrap your head around and stay on top of. Some of these can seem&nbsp;very similar&nbsp;but may, in fact, have quite distinctly different meanings and implications.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accrued expenses and accounts payable are examples of two financial terms that are helpful to understand.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both are liabilities, which means they&nbsp;represent&nbsp;money your business owes. But they play&nbsp;different roles&nbsp;in how your company&nbsp;operates&nbsp;and reports its financial health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we explain what accrued expenses are, how they differ from accounts payable, and why\u00a0each of these terms matter\u00a0to your business&#8217;s financial planning and cash flow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0a growing company taking the next step into more complex accounting or just trying to get a clearer picture of how your finance team handles your books, this guide can help.<\/p>\n\n\n<section id=\"key-takeaways\" class=\"wp-block-sage-key-takeaways\"><div class=\"sage-key-takeaways__inner\"><h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-h-3-font-size\">Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Accrued expenses\u00a0are costs your business has incurred but not yet paid or been invoiced for\u2014like wages or interest\u2014recorded within each accounting period.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Accounts payable\u00a0represents\u00a0money owed to suppliers for goods or services already received, with payment due within a defined period, typically 30 to 90 days.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The key differences\u00a0lie in timing and recognition. AP is triggered by an invoice, while\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses are recorded regardless of whether an invoice has arrived.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Both affect cash flow differently; AP creates short-term obligations, while\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses can build up over time and strain liquidity if not closely\u00a0monitored.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-here-s-what-we-cover\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here\u2019s what we cover:<\/h3>\n\n\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><div class=\"wp-block-yoast-seo-table-of-contents yoast-table-of-contents\"><ul><li><a href=\"#h-what-are-accrued-expenses\" data-level=\"2\">What are accrued expenses?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-what-is-accounts-payable\" data-level=\"2\">What is accounts payable?<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-accrued-expenses-vs-accounts-payable\" data-level=\"2\">Accrued expenses vs. accounts payable<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-track-your-liabilities-with-pinpoint-accuracy\" data-level=\"2\">Track your liabilities with pinpoint accuracy<\/a><\/li><li><a href=\"#h-final-thoughts\" data-level=\"2\">Final thoughts<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-are-accrued-expenses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are accrued expenses?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accrued expenses, also known as\u00a0accrued\u00a0liabilities, are expenses your business has already incurred but not yet paid for. They can build up over time and are considered &#8220;current liabilities,&#8221; as\u00a0you&#8217;d\u00a0typically need to pay them within a year\u2014but\u00a0possibly within\u00a0a much shorter period.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These expenses are often linked to ongoing costs your business needs to account for consistently, such as salaries, taxes, and interest on business loans.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Or they might be goods and services that&nbsp;you&#8217;ve&nbsp;received but not yet been invoiced for by the supplier.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, the wages your employees earn this month may not be paid until the 1st of the following month. These wages should be recorded as&nbsp;accrued&nbsp;expenses in the current period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Otherwise, when you get to the end of your&nbsp;financial year, the wages you owe your staff for the last 30 days will be left off your financial statement for those 12 months.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It&#8217;s&nbsp;important that&nbsp;accrued&nbsp;expenses are properly recorded as liabilities in your books as soon as&nbsp;they&#8217;re&nbsp;incurred.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll\u00a0need to track and account for these expenses within each accounting period to get\u00a0an accurate\u00a0view of your finances at any given time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-what-is-accounts-payable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is accounts payable?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable (AP) is also a current liability,\u00a0representing\u00a0money your business owes to suppliers or vendors for goods and services received but not yet paid for.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accounts-payable-asset-or-liability\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accounts payable<\/a> and\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses can be short-term debts, AP is due within a defined period specified on an invoice, such as 30, 45, 60, or 90 days.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This allows your company to take possession of goods or services&nbsp;immediately&nbsp;but defer payment for a period defined by your supplier&#8217;s payment terms.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It functions similarly to a line of credit, where your company gets to use the products or services from the supplier without having to pay upfront.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, suppose your business orders raw materials from a supplier, who issues an invoice with payment terms of 30 days.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The amount owed will be recorded as accounts payable in your books. Your business can use the materials&nbsp;immediately, but you have up to 30 days to pay for them.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The advantage here is that your business can generate revenue from the goods before paying for them, which helps with cash flow management.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might also be able to negotiate longer payment terms with suppliers for better liquidity. This can be particularly useful if\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0waiting for customers to pay for products or services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-accrued-expenses-vs-accounts-payable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accrued expenses vs. accounts payable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking at\u00a0accrued\u00a0liabilities vs accounts payable, the key differences lie in how they are recognized, their timing, and their impact on your business&#8217;s cash flow.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s\u00a0break this down in more detail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-balance-sheet-recognition-timing\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Balance sheet recognition\/timing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The timing of recognition is one of the primary differences between\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses and accounts payable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accounts payable<\/strong>\u00a0is recognized when you receive the invoice for goods, services, or materials that are\u00a0purchased\u00a0on credit. For example, if you buy inventory on credit,\u00a0you&#8217;d\u00a0record it in accounts payable once you receive the invoice from your supplier. The expense\u00a0isn&#8217;t\u00a0paid yet but\u00a0it&#8217;s\u00a0due at some point soon, typically within 30 to 90 days.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accrued expenses\u00a0<\/strong>are recorded by the end of an accounting period, regardless of when the actual invoice is received. So,\u00a0you&#8217;re\u00a0accounting for costs such as employee wages, utilities, and interest that have been incurred during the accounting period but\u00a0won&#8217;t\u00a0be paid until a later date. This is often done to match expenses with the revenues they helped generate in the same period, ensuring your financial statements are\u00a0accurate\u00a0and reflect true profitability.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Let&#8217;s&nbsp;look at an example for each:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accounts payable:<\/strong>\u00a0if you receive a shipment of materials from a vendor with a 30-day payment term, you record the expense in accounts payable once you get the invoice, even though you\u00a0haven&#8217;t\u00a0paid it yet. The liability\u00a0remains\u00a0until the payment is made.\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Accrued expense:\u00a0<\/strong>this could be any utilities, goods, or services your business has received or used in a month but\u00a0hasn&#8217;t\u00a0been billed for yet. It could also be\u00a0accrued\u00a0interest on loans where the payment\u00a0isn&#8217;t\u00a0due yet. These types of costs accumulate during the accounting period, meaning you need to recognize them even though the actual payment\u00a0won&#8217;t\u00a0happen until later.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-cash-flow-impact\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash flow impact<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses and accounts payable have implications on your cash flow, but they\u00a0impact\u00a0it differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-accounts-payable\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accounts payable<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is typically a short-term obligation. The payments are due within a relatively\u00a0short time\u00a0frame, usually between <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/net-30-payment-terms\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">30 and 90 days<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since accounts payable&nbsp;represents&nbsp;the amount owed to suppliers for goods or services already received, it directly&nbsp;impacts&nbsp;your short-term cash flow.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your business will need to make sure&nbsp;there&#8217;s&nbsp;enough cash to settle accounts payable when they become due.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, AP debt does provide some breathing room, allowing you to use the purchased goods to generate revenue before the payment is due.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"h-accrued-expenses\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accrued expenses<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They typically\u00a0represent\u00a0costs that accumulate over a longer period and need to be paid once the accounting period ends.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The challenge with&nbsp;accrued&nbsp;expenses is that they can sometimes build up, especially if they&nbsp;aren&#8217;t&nbsp;closely&nbsp;monitored.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Say your business&nbsp;accrues&nbsp;a significant amount of wages or taxes but&nbsp;doesn&#8217;t&nbsp;have the cash flow to pay them when they come due. This could cause a strain on your liquidity.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The key is to ensure&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;accounting for these expenses as they&nbsp;accrue. That way, you can prepare for the larger lump-sum payments that may arise at the end of the accounting period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In short, while accounts payable has a short-term cash flow impact,\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses may affect your business\u00a0more long\u00a0term, especially if they accumulate over several periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-track-your-liabilities-with-pinpoint-accuracy\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Track your liabilities with pinpoint accuracy<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You must track both\u00a0accrued\u00a0and accounts payable expenses closely to avoid cash flow issues and stay prepared for upcoming payments.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The last thing you want is to be caught off guard when a&nbsp;large accrued&nbsp;expense comes&nbsp;due, or&nbsp;find yourself scrambling to pay your suppliers&#8217; invoices on time.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Investing in automated <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/accounting-software\/accounts-payable\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accounts payable software<\/a> can be an effective way to manage all your current liabilities and\u00a0maintain\u00a0your business&#8217;s financial health.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These solutions can streamline your financial processes, seamlessly forecast cash flow, track liabilities, and help you stay on top of invoicing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">They can&nbsp;provide&nbsp;a comprehensive view of your financial position, with&nbsp;accurate, real-time data and easy-to-use dashboards.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With the right insights,&nbsp;you&#8217;ll&nbsp;be able to make better informed, proactive decisions about your business&#8217;s liquidity and financial planning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Automating the tracking and forecasting process also reduces the risks of human error and helps keep your books in tip-top shape.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is especially helpful as your business grows, freeing you to focus on other strategic priorities while ensuring your finances are well-managed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-final-thoughts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Final thoughts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Understanding the difference between\u00a0accrued\u00a0expenses and accounts payable is important for managing your business&#8217;s finances effectively.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">While both&nbsp;represent&nbsp;liabilities your company owes, they differ in terms of timing, recognition, and cash flow impact.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accounts payable typically involves short-term obligations due within a specific period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Accrued expenses, on the other hand, are ongoing costs accumulated over time and need to be recognized within each accounting period.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ll&nbsp;want to make sure&nbsp;you&#8217;re&nbsp;tracking all your liabilities precisely for a smooth cash flow and to avoid financial surprises.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using automated AP tools will help streamline this process, giving you better control over your company&#8217;s liquidity and financial planning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"single-cta\">\n\t<div class=\"single-cta__positioner on-scroll-highlight__target\">\n\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__wrapper has-dark-background-color\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"single-cta__title h3\">Subscribe to the Sage Advice Newsletter<\/h2>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"single-cta__description\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"cta-content__title\">Get a roundup of our best business advice in your inbox every month.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"#gate-8949a954-88b2-43bb-8b8a-77c53eb34350\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"single-cta__button button button--primary\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t>Subscribe<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"single-cta__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1073797282-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 33vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<section class=\"more-topics alignfull has-grey-light-background-color wp-block-sage-post-topics\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"more-topics__title h2\">Browse more topics from this article<\/h3>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12 col-lg-8\">\n\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"post-tags__list\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/accounting-101\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAccounting 101\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/bookkeeping\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbookkeeping\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/business-finances\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tbusiness finances\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/cash-flow\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tcash flow\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/small-business\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tsmall business\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"post-tags__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/tag\/staying-competitive\/\" class=\"post-tags__link button button--secondary\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tstaying competitive\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n<div class=\"alignfull wp-block-sage-related-posts\">\n\t<section class=\"related-posts card-grid has-dark-background-color\">\n\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--featured h1\">Explore more wisdom<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-0 post-14941 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-bookkeeping tag-business-continuity tag-cash-flow tag-expenses tag-profit-and-loss tag-small-business tag-staying-competitive business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business card-post--is-clickable\"\n>\n\t<div class=\"card-post__media-wrapper\">\n\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-960890176-1440x810.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-960890176-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-960890176-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-960890176-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"card-post__content\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__label\">Recommended<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-09-01T06:25:27-04:00\">September 1, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">12 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__title-link\"\n\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/how-to-create-a-cash-flow-forecast\/\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\tHow to create a cash flow forecast\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"card-post__description\">\n\t\t\t\tCash flow forecasting is like having a crystal ball. It helps you plan incoming and outgoing cash so you can make an educated guess on your cash position each month. Let\u2019s see how it\u2019s done.\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row related-posts__non-featured\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-12\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"related-posts__heading related-posts__heading--more h4\">More on this Topic<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-1 post-14929 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-accountants category-money-matters category-people-leadership tag-accounting-101 tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-business-management tag-cash-flow tag-cfo tag-data-analysis tag-electronic-payments tag-financial-insights business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business business_type-accountants\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/outstanding-cheques-bank-reconciliation\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1271694534-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1271694534-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1271694534-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-1271694534-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-17T07:00:54-04:00\">August 17, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tWhat are outstanding cheques in bank reconciliation?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-2 post-14917 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-cash-flow tag-data-analysis tag-financial-insights business_type-small-business business_type-medium-business business_type-accountants industry-financial-services\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/cash-on-cash-return\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0905-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0905-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0905-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2024\/10\/BrandShoot-LND_June2024_Financial-Services_0905-1214x810.jpg 1214w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-17T06:19:31-04:00\">August 17, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">13 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tCash on cash return: Definition, formula, and example\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-3 post-7205 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-audit tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-small-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/how-to-do-a-bank-reconciliation\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/07\/Parfumarija_SageOne_GL_121114-223-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"small business customer looks at financial data in a perfume shop with a vase with yellow fowers\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/07\/Parfumarija_SageOne_GL_121114-223-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/07\/Parfumarija_SageOne_GL_121114-223-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2017\/07\/Parfumarija_SageOne_GL_121114-223.jpg 999w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T09:51:15-04:00\">August 14, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">10 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tHow to do a bank reconciliation\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col col-6 col-lg-3 card-grid__item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<article\n\t\tclass=\"card-post related-post related-post-4 post-14862 post type-post status-publish format-standard has-post-thumbnail hentry category-money-matters tag-accounting-101 tag-bookkeeping tag-business-finances tag-cash-flow tag-expenses tag-small-business business_type-small-business\"\n>\n\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\tclass=\"card-post__link\"\n\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/accounts-payable-asset-or-liability\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t<figure class=\"card-post__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"684\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-808410210-684x384.jpg\" class=\"card-post__image\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-808410210-684x384.jpg 684w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-808410210-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-808410210-1440x810.jpg 1440w\" sizes=\"auto, (min-width: 48em) 250px, (min-width: 30em) 100vw, 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"card-post__meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"posted-on \"><time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2026-08-14T06:19:20-04:00\">August 14, 2026<\/time><\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"card-post__meta-text\"><span class=\"reading-time\">7 min read<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<p class=\"card-post__title h5\">\n\t\t\tIs accounts payable an asset or a liability?\t\t<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Accrued expenses and accounts payable are both debts your business owes, but they are managed in distinctly different ways. Read on to learn how each affects your financial reporting and cash flow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1847,"featured_media":8023,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_is_cornerstone":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_opengraph-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-title":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-description":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image":"","_yoast_wpseo_twitter-image-id":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_page_type":"","_yoast_wpseo_schema_article_type":"","_sage_video":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskeywords":"[{\"keyword\":\"accrued liabilities vs accounts payable\",\"score\":56},{\"keyword\":\"accrued expenses vs accounts payable\",\"score\":56},{\"keyword\":\"difference between accrued expenses and accounts payable\",\"score\":81}]","_yoast_wpseo_keywordsynonyms":"[\"\",\"\",\"\",\"\"]","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"7","post_featured_image_hide":false,"sage_hide_published_date":false,"sage_hide_read_time":false,"sage_hide_share_buttons":false,"_pwl_sage_podcast_buzzsprout_src":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[162,165,266,271,267,208],"business_type":[3],"lilypad":[],"context":[],"industry":[],"persona":[73,83],"imagine_tag":[35,67],"coauthors":[460],"class_list":["post-14959","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-money-matters","tag-accounting-101","tag-bookkeeping","tag-business-finances","tag-cash-flow","tag-small-business","tag-staying-competitive","business_type-small-business"],"sage_meta":{"region":"en-ca","author_name":"Joe Church Woods","featured_image":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/12\/2022\/04\/GettyImages-939019528.jpg","imagine_tags":{"35":"accounting software","67":"Small business"}},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"Sage Advice Canada English","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14959","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/1847"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14959"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14966,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14959\/revisions\/14966"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/8023"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"business_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/business_type?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"lilypad","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/lilypad?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"context","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/context?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"persona","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/persona?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"imagine_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/imagine_tag?post=14959"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sage.com\/en-ca\/blog\/api\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=14959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}