How to Read Your P&L in Five Minutes a Month
The owner's guide to the one report that matters
Every month, ask your P&L four questions:
**1. Did revenue go up or down — and why?** Compare to last month AND the same month last year (seasonality is real).
**2. What's my gross margin doing?** Revenue minus direct costs. If it's shrinking, your pricing or supplier costs need attention before anything else.
**3. Which expense line grew fastest?** Software subscriptions are the usual suspect — audit them quarterly.
**4. What's my net profit as a % of revenue?** Healthy small businesses typically run 10–20%. Below 5%, let's talk.
Our clients get these four answers written out in plain English with every monthly report — that's the point of a bookkeeper who actually reads your numbers.