"That sounds way too complicated!" I hear you cry. It needn't be. Chances are most of basic analysis you need can already be done by your computer.

For example, almost every business these days captures basic information about their sales in their bookkeeping software. With a couple of clicks, you can generate a simple report which will tell you what percentage of total sales has come from each customer and/or each product or service you sell. (If you don't know how, ask your bookkeeper or accountant).

Armed with this simple information you might revisit your approach to marketing (how can we attract more of bigger customers?), to customer service (are we looking after right people?), to product/service range (is effort needed to manage small products worth it?), and so on.

This sort of simple analysis is best learnt by doing. With practice, you will start to ask yourself "what information could help me with this decision?" and get quicker at finding that information.

You will gain a better understanding, and more control, of your business. You will shun perception in favour of facts. And you will have fewer expensive surprises.

(Discover how to find your business' deepest secrets using simple analysis. Visit: http://www.businesssimplification.com.au/actions/analysis.htm)

© David Brewster, August 2002 http://www.BusinessSimplification.com.au; mailto:feedback@businesssimplification.com.au