Guides
Business guides
Clear explanations of the calculations behind the tools: how margin differs from markup, what a break-even point really means, and how to invoice without creating problems for yourself later.
Understanding VAT and Tax-inclusive Pricing
Add tax to a net price and remove it from a gross price correctly, and see why subtracting the rate from a gross figure is always the wrong move.
Read the guideProfit Margin vs Markup: What's the Difference?
Margin and markup describe the same profit from different starting points. Confusing them is one of the most expensive pricing mistakes a small business can make.
Read the guideHow to Prepare a Business Quotation
Write quotations that win the work without giving away scope: how to define what is included, set validity, list assumptions and handle acceptance.
Read the guideHow to Create a Professional Invoice
The fields every invoice needs, how to number and date them so they get paid, and the common mistakes that cause avoidable chasing and disputes.
Read the guideHow to Calculate a Selling Price
Learn how to set a selling price with cost-plus and target-margin pricing, why the two methods disagree, and how to test the number before you quote a customer.
Read the guideHow to Calculate Return on Investment
Use the ROI formula to compare what you put into a project with what comes back, and understand what the percentage leaves out when you decide.
Read the guideHow to Calculate Business Profit
Understand gross and net profit, how they differ from revenue, and how to calculate both from your own figures, with a month-by-month worked example.
Read the guideHow to Calculate a Freelance Hourly Rate
Set an hourly rate from the income you need rather than what others charge, allowing for expenses, unbillable hours and a contingency buffer.
Read the guideHow Business Discounts Affect Profit
See exactly how much profit a discount removes, how much extra volume it takes to recover, and the cases where discounting is a sound decision.
Read the guideHow to Calculate a Business Break-even Point
Work out the sales volume at which your business stops losing money, using the contribution method, with a worked example in units and in revenue.
Read the guidePut the theory to work
Every guide links to the calculator or generator it explains.