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Show gross margin by plan with the corrected hosting cost

  • For FP&A and financial analysts
  • You practice Asking for a format you can use
  • Time about 5 minutes
  • Level Intermediate

About this exercise

You're comparing plan profitability for the product lead. Write a prompt for a markdown table with columns Plan, Customers, Margin per customer, Margin % and Monthly margin, with the math in the last column like "500 x $21 = $10,500", followed by a last line starting "Blended:" showing total monthly margin divided by total monthly revenue as a whole percent. Use the invoice-based hosting costs. Margin per customer is price minus hosting cost; Margin % is margin per customer divided by price. Under 130 words.

Common mistakes when you ask AI for this

  • Using the dashboard cost. The AI keeps $150 for Team and gets 50%. Try: Say: "Use the invoice-based cost: Team is $180."
  • Missing the multiplication. The AI shows monthly margin without the math. Try: Add: "Show customers x margin per customer."
  • Wrong blended math. The AI averages the three percentages. Try: Add: "Blended = total margin / total revenue."
  • 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 part short.

What a strong prompt includes

  • Names the columns
  • Uses the invoice cost
  • Defines blended
  • Asks for the math
  • Caps length

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