Weekly sales and expense snapshot

What the weekly sales and expense snapshot does

A weekly check beats a monthly surprise. Enter your sales and expenses for each week and the snapshot works out the profit and the margin for the week, and totals the sales, the expenses and the profit so far, with a chart of weekly profit, so you see quickly whether the business is on track.

Who it is for

Small shops, stalls, freelancers and service businesses who want a quick weekly view of how they are doing.

How to use the workbook

1. Enter the week number.
2. Type the total sales and the total expenses for the week.
3. Read the profit and the margin.
4. Look at the chart to see the trend.
5. Save a copy under a new name for each month or year, so earlier records stay as they were.

What is inside

• Weekly sales, expenses and profit
• Profit margin for each week
• Totals to date at the top
• Room for 52 weeks
• Chart of weekly profit

The workbook has these sheets: Instructions, Weeks. The main table has the columns Week; Sales; Expenses; Profit; Margin. Yellow cells are for you to fill in and grey cells calculate by themselves, so leave the grey cells alone. The example rows show how it works; type over them with your own entries.

Tips for getting it right

• Do it on the same day every week.
• Include every expense, even small ones.
• Look for the weeks that are different and ask why.
• Use the totals to set next month's targets.

Why keep this record

Running a business on memory works until it grows. Writing the numbers down turns opinions into facts you can compare month to month, and shows early which products, customers or costs deserve attention. Even a simple workbook, used every week, usually beats a sophisticated one that is opened once a year.

Questions people ask

Do I need to know Excel formulas? No. Type into the yellow cells and the rest is worked out for you. The formulas are visible if you want to see how a figure is reached.

Can I add rows or change the layout? You can add your own columns to the right and your own notes. If you insert rows inside a table, copy the grey formula cells down so the new rows calculate too.

Will it work on my phone or in Google Sheets? Yes for viewing and typing, but dropdown lists and the charts look best in desktop Excel or LibreOffice.

Keeping it safe and up to date

A plan is only as good as the numbers you put in. Start with honest estimates, update the workbook as real figures arrive, and compare the two so your next estimate is better. Save a dated copy each month so you can see how your thinking changed.

Read how to build a cash flow forecast for the wider picture. See more business templates or ask us for a custom one.

The workbook works in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. It is a tool to help you work out and record figures, not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not affiliated with the Kenya Revenue Authority. If something does not work as described, contact us and we will put it right.

Related guides, calculators and templates

• Guide: How to build a 12-month cash flow forecast for a small business
• Guide: How to price your products and services: markup, margin and break-even
• Guide: Turnover tax for small businesses in Kenya: rate, limits and when to use it
• Another template: 12-month cash flow forecast
• Another template: Annual operating budget by department
• Another template: Break-even and pricing calculator

Need something different? Request a custom template, browse all guides or see every Excel template.