Money Basics for Your Small Business: Records, Profit and Separating Your Money

You can sell a lot and still not know if you are making money. A few simple habits give you that answer and keep your business stable.

Write everything down

• Every sale: date, item, amount and customer.
• Every cost: stock, transport, data, packaging and fees.
• Money you are owed and money you owe.

A notebook works. A phone note or a basic spreadsheet works too. The habit matters more than the tool.

Know your profit

Profit is what is left after you subtract your costs from what you sold. Check it weekly. If profit is small, your prices are too low or your costs are too high.

Separate business and personal money

Use a different wallet, Mobile Money number or account for the business. When the two mix, you cannot tell whether the business is doing well, and it is easy to spend the stock money.

Pay yourself on purpose

Decide an amount or a share you take for yourself each week or month. Leave the rest in the business to restock and grow.

Plan for slow weeks

Every business has quiet periods. Put a small amount aside from good weeks so slow weeks do not force you to stop.

Review monthly

Once a month, look at sales, costs and profit, and write one thing to improve. Over a year this routine changes everything.

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