Audit vs. Review vs. Compilation: Understanding Your Financial Statement Options

When a lender, investor, or grantor asks for “audited financials,” many business owners assume there is only one kind of CPA-prepared report. There are actually three — compilation, review, and audit — and each one serves a different purpose, costs a different amount, and gives outsiders a different level of confidence in your numbers. Choosing the right one helps you satisfy stakeholders without overspending on assurance you do not need.

How Audit, Review, and Compilation Compare

The difference between these three services comes down to how much work the CPA performs and how much confidence the final report carries. Here is a side-by-side view.

Actual timing and cost depend on the quality of your records, transaction volume, and the complexity of your operations.

What Each Service Involves

Compilation

A compilation is the most basic service. The CPA takes the financial data from your accounting system and presents it in standard financial statement format — balance sheet, income statement, and so on. They check for obvious errors in presentation, but they do not verify that the numbers themselves are accurate or complete. The final report is essentially your numbers, professionally formatted. No opinion, no assurance.

Compilations work well for businesses that need clean financial statements for internal planning or to meet a straightforward banking requirement where the lender is not asking for independent verification.

Review

A review adds a layer of scrutiny. The CPA looks at supporting records such as bank statements, asks management about accounting practices and key decisions, and runs analytical procedures — comparing current figures to prior periods, budgets, or industry norms to see if anything looks off. If something does not add up, the CPA digs deeper.

The resulting report carries what accountants call “limited assurance.” In plain terms, the CPA is saying: “Based on the work we performed, nothing came to our attention suggesting these statements need significant corrections.” That is less than the full verification of an audit, but it gives lenders and investors meaningfully more confidence than a compilation.

Audit

An audit is the most thorough service available. The CPA plans the engagement around your business risks, tests a sample of transactions, confirms balances directly with your bank and key customers or vendors, evaluates your internal accounting controls, and documents evidence supporting their conclusions.

The final report carries the highest level of confidence: a positive opinion stating that your financial statements “present fairly” your financial position. This is what major lenders, regulators, grantors, and investors typically require when significant dollars or public accountability are involved.

Real-World Scenarios: What Would You Need?

The right service level depends less on what you prefer and more on what your stakeholders require and how much is at stake. Here are situations we see regularly.

You run a small business with a straightforward bank line of credit

Your lender wants to see financial statements each year but has not specified a particular service level. A compilation is likely sufficient. It gives the bank professionally formatted statements at the lowest cost, and if your lending relationship is strong and the loan amount is modest, most community banks will accept it.

You own a franchise and your franchisor requires reviewed financials

Franchise agreements often specify the level of financial reporting expected from franchisees. If your agreement calls for reviewed statements, that is a hard requirement — a compilation will not satisfy it. A review gives the franchisor enough confidence in your reported results without the full cost of an audit.

You are a construction company seeking a larger bonding line

Surety companies typically require reviewed or audited financial statements, and the threshold usually depends on the size of the bonding you need. As your projects grow larger and your bonding requirements increase, expect the surety to require an audit. The auditor’s evaluation of your internal controls and direct confirmation of receivables and payables gives the surety the confidence it needs to back bigger bonds.

You operate a healthcare practice or dealership with outside investors

Minority investors and equity partners generally want at least reviewed financials, and majority investors or institutional capital sources often require audits. The more money at stake and the less hands-on involvement an investor has, the more assurance they need that the numbers are reliable.

You are a manufacturer or distributor pursuing significant debt financing

Large commercial loans, SBA loans above certain thresholds, and asset-based lending facilities almost always require audited financial statements. The lender needs independent verification of inventory, receivables, and payables — exactly the kind of testing an audit provides. If you are planning to pursue meaningful financing in the next 12 to 18 months, start the audit conversation early so your records are ready.

You run a hotel, restaurant, or hospitality business with multiple entities

The more entities, locations, and intercompany transactions involved, the more stakeholders value the rigor of an audit. Even if no single lender or investor explicitly requires one, the complexity of consolidated reporting often makes an audit the most practical way to keep all parties confident in the numbers.

Special Considerations for Nonprofits

Nonprofit organizations often do not get to choose based on preference alone. Funding terms frequently dictate the requirement.

• Federal Single Audit threshold: If your organization spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year, a Single Audit is generally required under the federal Uniform Guidance. This is a specialized audit with additional compliance testing on top of the standard financial statement audit.
• Colorado-specific rules: Depending on how much your organization raises through charitable solicitation, Colorado may require an audit or review as part of your registration with the Secretary of State.
• Individual grant agreements: Even when the dollar amounts are smaller, individual grantors — foundations, government agencies, or corporate funders — may specify exactly what level of assurance they expect, and the deadlines for delivering it.

If you receive government funding or significant grants, read the compliance language early. It often determines not only the service level but also the timing and scope of the engagement.

How to Decide: A Simple Framework

Start with these questions, in order.

1. Is the decision already made for you? Check your loan covenants, investor agreements, grant terms, franchise agreements, bonding requirements, and any applicable regulations. If any of these specify a service level, that is your answer.
2. Who will rely on these statements, and what is at stake? The greater the financial exposure and the less direct involvement the stakeholder has in your operations, the higher the assurance level they will expect.
3. How complex are your operations? Multiple entities, significant inventory, complex revenue streams, or intercompany transactions all increase the value of a more rigorous engagement.
4. Where is your business headed? If you plan to pursue larger financing, bring on investors, accept government grants, or grow through acquisition in the next one to two years, it may make sense to move to a higher service level now rather than scrambling later.

Many businesses start with a compilation when they are small and reporting primarily for internal purposes, then move to a review or audit as they grow and their stakeholder requirements change. That progression is normal and expected.

Contact WhippleWood CPAs

Deciding between a compilation, review, and audit does not have to be complicated. The right answer usually becomes clear once you understand what your stakeholders actually require and what is at stake. If you are unsure which level of financial statement service fits your situation — or if your needs are changing — contact WhippleWood CPAs. We work with Colorado businesses and nonprofits across energy, construction, healthcare, hospitality, manufacturing, and other industries to match the right service to the right situation.