The journal

Plain-English writing on SME finance.

Short reads on cash, pricing, planning, hiring, and getting your numbers ready for investors. No jargon, no filler.

Cash flow · 18 Apr 2026 · 6 min read

The three numbers every SME owner should know in their sleep

If you can't answer these three financial questions in five seconds, you don't have a handle on the business yet. Here's what they are, why they matter, and how to calculate them — no finance degree required.

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More from the journal

Pricing

Your biggest customer might be your worst margin. Here's how to check in one weekend.

Most SMEs have one gross margin on paper and five in real life. A straightforward spreadsheet exercise will tell you which customers and products actually make you money — and which ones you're subsidising.

4 Apr 2026 · 9 min read

Hiring

Before you hire: the one model that tells you if you can actually afford it

A salary is only a third of the real cost of a new hire. National insurance, pension, equipment and ramp-up time add up fast. Here's the simple model I build for clients before they sign a job offer.

22 Mar 2026 · 5 min read

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