A Quick Guide to Calculating Turnover

When running a small business, calculating turnover is a vitally important skill. While it may sound confusing to first time business owners, it is in fact very simple.

Essentially, your turnover is the amount of money taken by your business over a particular period of time.

So if you are a personal trainer and you train 10 clients a week, five hours a week for £20 an hour, your business turnover is £1,000. (£20 x 10 clients x 5 hours) a week.

Knowing how much money your business turns over in a given period can be very important. Not only will you need it for tax purposes, but knowing your figures is crucial if you are seeking investment, be it privately or via a bank loan.

Many insurance companies will ask you for your annual turnover before giving you a business insurance quote too. Sometimes this may be referred to as your gross revenue or income, but essentially it means the same thing.

Fundamentally though, knowing your turnover gives you an idea of the performance of your business.

About Protectivity

Protectivity is a specialist in niche commercial, leisure and lifestyle insurance. We cover thousands of individuals and small to medium size businesses across the UK, offering a range of tailored insurance products, such as Hairdressing InsurancePersonal Training Insurance and Pet Business Insurance, that protect our customers against unforeseen events.

 

The difference between turnover and profit

Your turnover alone won’t necessarily tell you of your business’s health though. Working out your profit can provide a better pointer.

Again, different terms may be used when describing a business’s profit.

Gross profit is the amount of money you take in (the sales value of your goods or services), minus the costs associated with producing your offering. These costs can include physical materials needed to deliver your goods – leads if you are a professional dog walker, equipment if you are a gym – and the direct labour that needs to be employed to carry out the service.

Sometimes known as the ‘bottom line’, net profit is the residual income after all costs have been accounted for. As well as the costs of providing your service, these include overheads such as office rental costs, heating and lighting costs, for example.

Essentially it is all the money you bring in via sales, minus all of your outgoings.

While neither of these three are more important than the others, calculating turnover is the first step to understanding the performance of any business.

 

*Disclaimer – This blog has been created as general information and should not be taken as advice. Make sure you have the correct level of insurance for your requirements and always review policy documentation. Information is factually accurate at the time of publishing but may have become out of date. 

Recent Blogs

What is the National Minimum Wage for employers Image

Business

What is the National Minimum Wage for employers

The National Minimum Wage plays a crucial role in protecting workers’ pay while shaping employment costs for bu

What is an SME? Small business status explained Image

Business

What is an SME? Small business status explained

If you run an independent business in the UK, whether you’re a freelancer, sole trader, or running a small, lim

Self-Assessment Deadline 2026: When to get help with your tax return Image

Business

Self-Assessment Deadline 2026: When to get help with your tax return

If you’re self-employed, running an independent limited company, or earning income from property, self-assessme

Tax year dates & deadlines 2026 Image

Business

Tax year dates & deadlines 2026

Running an independent business in the UK means juggling clients, cash flow, compliance and tax deadlines are rar

7 Service Side Hustles to Start in 2026 Image

Business

7 Service Side Hustles to Start in 2026

Safer, demand-led ideas to maximise flexibility and earnings Starting a side hustle in 2026 doesn’t have to

When is Corporation Tax Due? Image

Business

When is Corporation Tax Due?

Understanding when corporation tax is due is one of the most common pain points for UK company directors, particu

Running a creative workshop Image

Business

Running a creative workshop

Running a creative workshop is a rewarding way to share your skills, inspire others, and build an additional in

How to grow your photography business? Image

Starting a business

How to grow your photography business?

Growing a photography business can feel overwhelming, especially in a competitive and fast-moving industry. Wheth

How to become a Life Coach in the UK Image

Therapists

How to become a Life Coach in the UK

Life coaching is one of the fastest-growing personal development professions in the UK. With more people seeking

Trade Skills Shortages – Looking ahead to 2026 Image

Trades

Trade Skills Shortages – Looking ahead to 2026

Why now is the ideal moment to start a career in the trades If you’ve been wondering whether a trade career

Simply find the insurance you need.