---
title: Example profit and loss (P&L) statement
description: Download a free example profit and loss statement to help you prepare your startup listing
---

[Skip to content](https://help.acquire.com/example-profit-and-loss-pl-statement#main-content)

English

Show submenu for translations

![acquire.blog.png\]](https://help.acquire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/acquire.blog.png?height=40&name=acquire.blog.png)

Open main navigation

Close main navigation

- English
  
  Show submenu for translations
- acquire.com

 acquire.com

 How can we help?

- There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

1. [Resources](https://help.acquire.com/resources?hsLang=en)

# Example profit and loss (P&L) statement

## Download a free example P&L statement

### What is a P&L?

A profit and loss (P&L) statement shows your businesses income and expenses in a given period. In this example, it's a monthly P&L for three years. 

Buyers will typically ask you to share a three-year P&L during acquisition talks. While your connected metrics tell the same story, buyers often like to see a spreadsheet copy too. 

### Why is a P&L important in acquisitions?

The P&L is an important acquisition document because it tells buyers, at-a-glance:

- whether your business is profitable,
- what you're spending your income on, and
- where your income comes from.

It won't be the only financial document they'll ask for, but it's the one that will turn their heads and get them interested in pursuing an acquisition – especially if they're a [financial buyer](https://blog.acquire.com/strategic-buyer-vs-financial-buyer-whats-the-difference/).

Business Listings that have proper documentation, and a clear and presentable Profit and Loss statement are far more likely to get acquired than if they do not.

### Download free P&L example

Our [P&L builder](https://help.acquire.com/how-to-use-the-pl-builder?hsLang=en) will create a digital P&L and attach it to your listing. All you need to do is connect your [web](https://help.acquire.com/how-do-i-connect-web-traffic-via-google-analytics-1?hsLang=en), [customer](https://help.acquire.com/how-do-i-connect-my-customer-metrics-stripe-paypal-braintree-app-stores-etc-via-chartmogul?hsLang=en), and [financial](https://help.acquire.com/how-do-i-connect-my-financial-metrics-quickbooks-sandbox-xero-via-codat?hsLang=en)metrics. 

View the example below, and if you want to use it for your business, make a copy and update the numbers. 

- [Download example P&L](https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1XcO1xY_CuBrr6ZUc3a8HH24_mNlh_9cg/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=110687241084918511344&rtpof=true&sd=true)

### Still need help?

Please [search the help center again](https://help.acquire.com?hsLang=en) or contact us at [support@acquire.com](mailto:support@acquire.com).

- [Buying](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting started](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#getting-started)
    - [Financing](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#financing)
    - [Finding a startup](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#finding-a-startup)
    - [Evaluating startups](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#evaluating-startups)
    - [Making an offer](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#making-an-offer)
    - [Due diligence](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#due-diligence)
    - [Escrow & closing](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#escrow-closing)
    - [After acquisition](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#after-acquisition)
    - [FAQs](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#faqs)
    - [Formalizing your offer](https://help.acquire.com/buying?hsLang=en#formalizing-your-offer)
- [Selling](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Getting started](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#getting-started)
    - [Listing](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#listing)
    - [Insights](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#insights)
    - [Evaluating buyers](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#evaluating-buyers)
    - [Fielding offers](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#fielding-offers)
    - [Due diligence](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#due-diligence)
    - [Escrow & closing](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#escrow-closing)
    - [After acquisition](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#after-acquisition)
    - [FAQs](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#faqs)
    - [Acquisition Tips](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#acquisition-tips)
    - [APA](https://help.acquire.com/selling?hsLang=en#apa)
- [Account](https://help.acquire.com/account?hsLang=en)
- [Resources](https://help.acquire.com/resources?hsLang=en)
- [Mini Courses](https://help.acquire.com/mini-courses?hsLang=en#main-content)

    - [Negotiations](https://help.acquire.com/mini-courses?hsLang=en#negotiations)
    - [Preparation](https://help.acquire.com/mini-courses?hsLang=en#preparation)

[![Chill listening crop-3](https://help.acquire.com/hs-fs/hubfs/acquire-logo-cobalt_3@3x.png?width=115&height=24&name=acquire-logo-cobalt_3@3x.png "Chill listening crop-3")](https://www.acquire.com)

Copyright © 2026, Acquire.com