Find out where your business is really heading
A written review of up to five years of your accounts. What is working, what is not, where the cash is going and what to do about it, in plain English.
When you need one
- A business that has grown but feels tighter. Sales are up and cash is not. The review shows where it went.
- Margins that have slipped. You know profit is lower than it was. The review shows which costs moved, and by how much.
- A loan, a sale or a new investor. Know your own numbers before someone else reads them.
- Accounts that get filed but never explained. You get the trends, the ratios and the next steps, not just the filing.
What's in the document
- A written report of about 10 pages
- Five-year trends in revenue, margins, costs and cash
- Profit and loss, cash flow and balance sheet, with working capital and borrowing
- Key ratios compared with indicative ranges for your sector
- A short look at your market and competitors
- Your main strengths and weaknesses, and 3 to 5 clear recommendations with the numbers behind each
- Answers to up to 10 written follow-up questions, sent within 7 days of delivery
What it costs
30% off at the Christmas price until 31 January 2027, then from £1,200.
Every quote is fixed in writing before I start, after a short brief. You pay nothing up front. When the report is ready I invoice, payable within 7 days, and send the final PDF once it's paid.
What takes it above the "from" price: Accounts older than five years, more than one trading company, group accounts, or detailed management information such as site-by-site or product-by-product figures.
How it works
A free 10-minute call if you want one, or straight to the brief by email. You send up to five years of accounts and a short note, I send a fixed quote within 24 hours, then the written report within five working days of receiving everything. After delivery you can send up to 10 written questions.
Three complete business reviews
Full reports for three made-up businesses, every page included. The businesses and figures are fictional. The format, depth and tone are what you would receive.
Three-café group
Sales up 20% a year, but EBITDA margin down from 13% to 8% and cash thin. 10 pages · PDF 177 KB
Open the sample →
Precision engineering firm
Profitable every year, but cash fell from £271k to £11k as stock and debtors grew. 10 pages · PDF 175 KB
Open the sample →
Management consultancy
Revenue up 71% but EBITDA up only 34%, with debtor days rising. 10 pages · PDF 175 KB
Open the sample →What I look at first
I spent six years reading other people's numbers for a living. These are the things I check first in five years of accounts.
Cash against profit
Profit that does not turn into cash is the first thing to explain.
Margin by year, not the average
An average hides the year it went wrong.
Debtor and stock days
Each extra day ties up cash. The review puts a figure on it.
Debt against what the business earns
Net debt to EBITDA and interest cover, year by year.
Dividends and tax against cash
Taking out more than the business generates shows up in the cash line.
What to change first
Five actions in order of value, with the figures behind each.
About this service
Do I need to send management accounts?
No. Up to five years of annual accounts is enough. Management figures help if you have them.
Is there a call?
No. It is a written report. After delivery you can send up to 10 written questions in one email and I reply in writing.
Will you tell me if the numbers look bad?
Yes. The review says plainly where the business is weak and what it is costing you.
Is this a valuation, tax advice or an audit?
No. It is a review with recommendations. It is not a valuation, a forecast, tax advice or assurance.
How is this different from a forecast or a business plan?
A forecast or plan looks forward. The review looks back first, at five years of what actually happened, then says what to change.
Can I see an example?
Yes. Three complete sample reviews for made-up businesses are on this page.
Do you offer a charity rate?
Yes. Registered charities (including CIOs) and community interest companies pay half my standard fee all year round, so £600 for this service. Same work and the same Excel model. Just give me your charity or company number when you ask for a quote.
More questions, including fees, confidentiality and timing, in the main FAQ.