# Understand your profit and loss and see where money's leaking

> It explains each big change, like supplies up 30 percent, in one plain sentence and says whether to worry.

Paste this month's and last month's profit and loss reports. You get a plain-English read on what changed, the three biggest money leaks and questions to ask your bookkeeper.

- Page: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/plain-english-profit-and-loss-check/
- Category: Make smarter decisions
- Made for: Small business owners, Consultants
- Works in: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
- Time: About 5 minutes
- Effort: Just copy and paste
- Note: It explains your numbers. It's not tax or accounting advice.

## The prompt

Fill in the parts in [square brackets], or leave them and the AI will ask you for them.

```text
Here are my profit and loss reports for [TWO PERIODS, e.g. September and August] for [YOUR BUSINESS, e.g. a small gym]:
[PASTE OR ATTACH REPORTS]

I'm not an accountant, so use plain words. Please:
1. Explain in five sentences how the business did and what changed
2. Show every line that moved by more than [CHANGE THRESHOLD, e.g. 10% or $500], with a likely reason and whether it's worth worrying about
3. Point out the three biggest places money is leaking, with one practical idea for each
4. List the questions I should ask my bookkeeper or accountant
5. Flag anything that looks like a mistake or a one-off

Don't give tax advice. Stick to explaining the numbers and what I might look into.
```

## Step by step

1. Export this month's and last month's P&L from your accounting software.
2. Paste or attach both and fill in the prompt.
3. Read the big changes and the leaks first.
4. Take the questions to your bookkeeper or accountant.

## What you'll get

A plain-English summary of what changed, the biggest leaks with ideas, and questions for your bookkeeper.

## Good to know

**Which AI tools does this work in?** It works in ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini. On this page, ChatGPT and Claude open with your prompt already typed in. It explains your numbers. It's not tax or accounting advice.

**How long does it take?** About 5 minutes. It's rated "Just copy and paste". There are 4 steps, listed above.

**What do I need before I start?** Just your details for 4 blanks: two periods, your business, paste or attach reports and change threshold. You can skip any, and your AI will ask for them.

**What will I get back?** A plain-English summary of what changed, the biggest leaks with ideas, and questions for your bookkeeper.

Idea spotted on YouTube, shared by AWeber (The Shift AI Show): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8tCig3bA5E. The prompt is The Solo Creators' own version.

## Go further

Ready-made skills in the Solo Creators AI Studio (https://thesolocreators.com/studio/) that fit this: Board of Advisors (Convene seven AI advisors who debate your decision, vote, and hand back a stress-tested verdict); Fact Checker (Every quote, number, date, and link in your draft checked against its real source, with the fixes handed back as tracked changes you accept or reject).

From AI Use Cases and Prompts by The Solo Creators: https://thesolocreators.com/prompts/. Free to use; please link back to the page when you share it.