You finish a job, get paid, and feel good — until tax time, and you realize you have no idea where the money went. This lesson changes that. You'll know exactly what to track and why.
In this lesson
💰 Income vs revenue
🧾 What counts as an expense
📈 Profit margin basics
✅ Quick quiz
Module progress
Lesson 1 of 40% complete
Why it matters for you
You already know how to do the work. Running a profitable trade business means understanding the numbers behind it — not because you're an accountant, but because it's your money.
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The Three Numbers
Lesson 1 · Step 1 of 2
📊 Sample Trade Business — Monthly Snapshot
Revenue
$8,400
Expenses
$5,100
Profit
$3,300
What each number means
💰
Revenue — what clients pay you
Every invoice you send. Total money in before anything is deducted. Not yours to keep yet.
🧾
Expenses — what the job costs you
Materials, fuel, tools, insurance, your van payment. If you spent it to do the work, it's an expense.
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Profit — what you actually earn
Revenue minus expenses. This is the number that tells you if your business is working. Aim for 30–40% margin on trade work.
← Back
Quick Check · Q1 of 1
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You charged a client $2,000 for a paint job. Materials cost $600, fuel was $80. What's your profit on this job?
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Lesson complete!
Revenue, expenses, profit — you now know the three numbers every trade business runs on.