5 numbers every business owner should know off by heart

You don't need to love spreadsheets to run a good business. But there are a handful of numbers that, once you know them, change how you make decisions. Here are five worth carrying around in your head.

1. Your gross margin

What's left from a sale after the direct cost of delivering it. It tells you whether your pricing actually works before any overheads.

2. Your monthly running costs

The rent, wages, software and everything else you pay whether you sell anything or not. Know this and you know your break-even.

3. Cash in the bank, today

Profit is an opinion; cash is a fact. The number in the account is the one that keeps you trading.

4. What you're owed

Money sitting in unpaid invoices is your money, working for someone else. Chasing it is one of the fastest ways to improve cash flow.

5. Your next tax bill

A rough idea of what's coming means it's never a nasty surprise. We make sure our clients always know this one in advance.

The takeaway: a business owner who knows their numbers makes calmer, braver decisions. We translate the figures into plain English so you always know where you stand.