This isn't really finance though; it's accounting. Accountants don't even cost $150k a year, and a CPA can explain to you the difference between the terms and w

This isn't really finance though; it's accounting. Accountants don't even cost $150k a year, and a CPA can explain to you the difference between the terms and what is legal / illegal (or at the very least a non-GAAP measure). If your startup is past the garage stage, you should probably have a corporate accountant on retainer so you have an "expert" with whom to discuss these terms. They're not super-expensive.