Business Calculations Simplified (Financial Literacy).

David Zidel facilitates a 2-day course on Basic Business Calculations; this course is aimed at everyone in a company who deals with numbers, from secretaries to middle management to heads of departments, and do not feel completely at ease when asked to analyse a set of figures.


David has chosen seven areas in which to illustrate how easy business calculations are, and how to perform each calculation.

1. Business Graphs and Charts
The reasons for using graphs are discussed, with an explanation of the three main types of business graphs. Misleading graphs are explained what they are and how they mislead the reader.

2. Percentages and Ratios
An explanation of ratios and percentages is provided. The conversion between decimals and percentages is explained. The reader is shown how to perform numerous calculations, including Mark-up as a percentage of costs, the percentage increase and the discount percentage and many other calculations.

3. The Stock Exchange Share Prices
The reader is shown how to understand the share price page in the newspaper. Basic concepts, such as, P:E ratio, bull and bear markets are explained. The reader is then taught to calculate the growth in shares and how to construct and evaluate a share portfolio.

4. Introduction to Statistics
This section explains in simple terms what the mean (average), median, and mode are, and how to calculate them for both grouped and ungrouped data.

5. Breakeven Analysis
This section illustrates the elements of breakeven analysis. Readers are shown how to calculate the breakeven point both numerically and graphically. The reader will learn how to calculate the margin of safety after calculating the breakeven point.

6. Project Evaluation Methods
This section shows various methods that can be used to evaluate the financial viability of a project. Ranging from payback periods to discounted cash flows.

7. Management Account Analysis
This chapter focuses on highlighting the differences between managerial and financial accounting. It highlights the basic elements of financial accounting and provides a list of the financial ratios in common usage. It also shows a 4-level method to use in the analysis of Financial and Managerial accounts.

The feedback from these courses has been fantastic. The encouragement from the students and David's growing awareness with each course of the great need for this information within companies is what prompted him to write the book.

Some of the comments on the course are included here:

• "Excellent teacher, learnt a fortune"
• "Interesting course, Gave me a chance to use forgotten skills"
• "I was never very good at Maths in school, this helped tremendously"
• 'Excellent course"
• "You took my maths fear away thanks"
• "He even has the ability to cater for people who are completely negative to figures"
• "I wish I had done this course years ago"
• 'Everyone in my company should do this course"
• "I'm sure this will help me perform better at work"
• "At last, I will be able to analyse the figures at work, and be confident that they are correct"