01/06/2026
Most accountants give you:
Turnover.
Deductions.
Tax liability.
Useful for HMRC but not much use for running your business.
Here are the 3 numbers you actually need:
Gross margin: What's left after the cost of each sale. Tells you if your pricing works.
Cashflow forecast: What's coming in and going out over the next 90 days. Tells you if you can pay the bills next month.
Break-even: The amount you need to earn each month just to keep the lights on. Everything above it is profit.
The first three are what every accountant gives you. The other three help you grow.
Knowing one set keeps you compliant. Knowing both is how you actually run a business.