Finance in Plain Language

A blog for entrepreneurs who want to stay in control of their business finances. Here you'll find clear explanations of financial management, real-life case studies, practical insights, relevant news, and step-by-step guides.

Case Studies

Manufacturing

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Garment Atelier: Where the Profit Hides in Every Custom Order

You sew a lot, but the profit is invisible? Learn to count the real cost per garment (fabric + labour hours + overhead), price custom orders profitably, read seamstress utilisation, and stop treating prepayments as profit. A breakdown on real numbers.

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Electronics Store: Huge Turnover, Tiny Profit — Where the Money Really Goes

Turnover of nearly two million a month, yet only pennies left at the end? A real story of an electronics store owner: thin margins on flagships, warranty and returns eating profit, models ageing on the shelf and cash frozen in stock. Broken down on real numbers.

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Artisan Cheese Dairy: Batch Cost, Aging and Cash Frozen in the Cellar

Cheese ages for six months, but the farmer must be paid on Monday. How an artisan dairy learned to count cost per batch, yield loss, spoilage and cash frozen in the cellar — and stopped feeling rich and broke at the same time.

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Dance Studio: Profit Per Group and Hall Utilisation, Not Per Full Schedule

The schedule is packed, but after rent and instructor pay almost nothing is left? A dance studio owner's story: how to count margin per group, hall utilisation by time-slot, subscriptions vs drop-ins, no-shows and the summer dip. On real numbers.

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Pet Store: Margin by Category, Not by Turnover — a Case Study

The shelves are packed, the till rings all day — yet you borrow to order the next batch of food. A pet store owner breaks down margin by category, spoilage, cash frozen in stock and subscription revenue. On real numbers.

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Courier Delivery Service: Profit Per Order, Not Per Turnover

More and more orders, yet zero left at month-end? A real case on how to count profit per order, pay couriers, track fuel and vehicle wear, route density, peaks and client post-payment.

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Independent Bookstore: Where the Money Hides Between Consignment, Returns and Slow Stock

Shelves packed, yet barely enough for the rent? On the real case of an independent bookstore we unpack why thin fixed margins, consignment and slow turnover freeze your cash — and how the owner got her finances in order without selling a single extra book.

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Bridal Salon: Dress Rental vs Sale and the Money Hidden in Seasonality

A collection worth millions and an empty card? A bridal salon case on real numbers: rental vs sale, profit per gown over its life, cleaning and alterations, seasonality, and deposits that aren't your money.

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Car Rental: Fleet Utilisation and Depreciation, Not Just the Number of Cars

A full yard of cars but no money for the new season? Learn to count fleet utilisation, the real cost per car — depreciation, insurance, maintenance, financing — seasonal swings and deposits. A breakdown on real numbers.

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