Finance · 4 min read
Did you sell more or earn more?
Selling more doesn’t always mean earning more. Three numbers worth checking every week.
September 15, 2026
A month with more sales can end with less cash in the register. It happens when costs go up, when you sell more of what leaves little margin, or when receivables grow.
1. Margin by product
Look at how much each product leaves after its cost. The best sellers aren’t always the ones that contribute the most.
2. Real cost of what you sold
With up-to-date inventory and average cost, the cost of goods sold stops being an estimate.
3. What you’re owed
A sale on credit is revenue in the report, but not in the bank. Review receivables by age.
What to do this week
- Identify your five highest-margin products.
- Check whether any of them sell with discounts that put them at a loss.
- Call the three customers with the oldest balances.