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Explain to an owner why profit and cash moved differently

  • For Small business owners
  • You practice Saying who it's for
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're the bookkeeper explaining October to Joan, who owns a small shop and isn't an accountant. Write a prompt for plain text with these lines in order: "Net income:", "Customers owe us more:", "Inventory bought:", "Loan principal paid:", "Owner draw:", "Change in cash:" (showing the addition), then "In plain words:" with one sentence under 25 words. Use the figures given; a number that reduces cash is shown with a minus sign. Under 90 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Skipping the owner draw. The AI explains profit versus cash with receivables and inventory only, so the total is off by $2,000. Try: List every line: "Owner draw" with its minus sign.
  • Sign errors. The AI shows increases in receivables as positive numbers. Try: Say: "Anything that reduces cash gets a minus sign."
  • No cross-check. The AI computes -$8,000 but never ties it to the bank balances. Try: Add: "Check that the result matches the bank balances."
  • Markdown extras. The AI adds bold labels, headings and a closing note. Try: Say: "Plain text, no bold. Output only the lines asked for."
  • Trusting the AI to count words. AI is bad at counting and runs past word limits. Try: Ask for fewer words than the real cap and keep each line short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the labels
  • Asks for minus signs
  • Asks for the addition
  • Checks the bank balance
  • Caps length

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