Part 1 · 3 minutes
Getting oriented
Learn how headings, columns and time periods fit together so the report stops looking like a random list of numbers.
Sample lesson: reading a real profit & loss
In this 20-minute sample lesson you'll watch a coach walk through a simplified profit & loss statement from an Australian service business and highlight the signals that matter to a leader.
The goal is not to turn you into an accountant. Instead, you'll see how to scan a report, spot issues early and turn the numbers into clear decisions for your team.
Lesson at a glance
- Length
- Approx. 20 minutes
- Level
- Beginner to intermediate
- Best for
- Founders, general managers, practice leaders
- You'll practice
- Scanning revenue, costs and profit with a leadership lens
The sample uses a fictional but realistic Australian business, so you can focus on the logic without worrying about confidential data.
After watching, you can download a simplified worksheet and try the same steps with your own reports.
Watch the walkthrough
Imagine the video below is the lesson player inside our platform. In the real program you can pause, add notes and revisit sections as often as you like.
In your actual account, this lesson is part of the Foundations Track and sits early in the program so that later sessions on cash flow and growth have a clear base to build from.
What the coach walks through
- 1 Orientation: how the profit & loss is structured and where to look first.
- 2 Revenue: reading top-line trends and asking simple but powerful questions.
- 3 Costs: separating direct costs from overheads and spotting drift over time.
- 4 Profit: understanding what the final line really says about performance.
- 5 Action points: turning observations into two or three concrete decisions.
Inside the sample lesson
The lesson is broken into short segments so you can pause, take notes and try the steps using your own reports from Xero, MYOB or your accountant.
Part 2 · 6 minutes
Revenue signals
See how to compare periods, understand mix changes and spot early signs that growth is either accelerating or slowing.
Part 3 · 7 minutes
Cost patterns
Walk through direct costs, payroll and overheads and learn which expense lines deserve your attention first.
Part 4 · 4 minutes
Decisions & next steps
Convert what you saw into a short list of decisions and questions to raise with your accountant or leadership team.
Try the framework with your own numbers
Alongside the video you receive a simple worksheet that mirrors the questions asked in the lesson. It is designed to sit next to your actual profit & loss while you work through it.
You can use this worksheet with reports from your accounting platform or a PDF your accountant sends each month. The language is deliberately straightforward so you can share it with your team.
- Prompts to compare this month or quarter with the previous period.
- Space to note which revenue streams are growing, flat or shrinking.
- Questions that help you decide whether costs still match your strategy.
Three reflection questions
-
What surprised you most?
Did any line or trend look different from what you expected before opening the report? -
Which number deserves a conversation?
Identify one area you want to discuss with your accountant or leadership team. -
What will you check again next month?
Choose two or three metrics to track consistently so patterns become obvious.
Want more than one lesson?
This sample is one small piece of the full Foundations Track, which also covers balance sheets, cash flow and simple ratios.
If you like the style of this lesson, take a look at our plans and upcoming cohorts.
Where this lesson sits in the bigger picture
The sample sits in week one of the Foundations Track. Later sessions build on it by connecting profit to cash, strategy and growth decisions.
Foundations Track
A structured path through core financial statements and basic analysis tools.
The sample lesson gives you a feel for the tone, pacing and level of detail.
Cash flow & growth links
Later modules connect what you see on the profit & loss to cash in the bank and decisions about hiring or investment.
Reading one statement confidently unlocks all of that work.
Leadership conversations
We encourage you to bring what you learn back to your leadership team.
Many clients watch this sample with peers, then enrol as a group so they can move through the program together.