Your Guide to Reports & Analytics

Running a business is about more than just the craft; it's also about understanding your numbers. How is your shop performing? What were your busiest months? Answering these questions can feel difficult, but that's where reports come in. We've designed a simple but powerful reporting tool to help you see the big picture, so you can make smarter decisions for your business.

This guide will walk you through the main report in Tailoraza: the Monthly Sales Report. We'll show you how to use it and, more importantly, how to understand the story your sales numbers are telling.

The Monthly Sales Report: Your Financial Snapshot

The Monthly Sales Report is exactly what it sounds like: a summary of all the sales you've made in a given month. Think of it as a financial snapshot of your shop's performance over a specific period. It's the simplest and most effective way to track your revenue and understand the rhythm of your business throughout the year.

Why is this so important? By looking at your sales month by month, you can:

  • Track Your Growth: Are you making more money this month than the last? How does this June compare to last June? This report is the key to seeing your progress over time.
  • Identify Seasonal Trends: Every business has its high and low seasons. Maybe you're busiest during wedding season in the spring, or perhaps you get a lot of orders for winter coats in the fall. This report will make those patterns crystal clear.
  • Plan for the Future: When you know your busy and slow periods, you can plan ahead. You can hire extra help for the busy season, or plan marketing campaigns to bring in more customers during the slow months.
  • Set Realistic Goals: Want to increase your sales by 10% next quarter? By looking at your past performance, you can set financial goals that are ambitious but achievable.

How to Use the Monthly Sales Report

We've kept the report page clean and simple, so you can find the information you need without any fuss. Here's a quick walkthrough.

Step 1: Select the Month You Want to See

When you first open the reports page, it will automatically show you the sales data for the current month. If you want to look at a different month, it's easy. At the top of the page, you'll see a month selector. Simply click on it, choose the month and year you're interested in, and click the "Search" button. The page will then update to show you the sales data for the month you selected.

Step 2: Understanding the Sales Table

Once you've selected a month, you'll see a table listing every single order you received during that period. This gives you a detailed, line-by-line look at your sales. Here's a breakdown of each column:

  • Invoice No: This is the unique tracking number for each order. If you need to find more details about a specific sale, you can use this number to look up the full order on the main "Orders" page.
  • Customer: This column shows the name of the customer who made the purchase. Over time, this can help you see who your most frequent customers are.
  • Order Time: This shows the exact date and time the order was placed. This helps you see not just which months are busy, but also which days of the week or times of the day you get the most orders.
  • Total Amount: This column shows the total value of the services and items for each order (the subtotal). By adding up this column, you can get your total revenue for the month. Note that this amount does not include any refundable deposits for rental items, as those are not considered revenue.

Putting Your Report to Work: From Data to Decisions

A report is only useful if you do something with the information. This Monthly Sales Report is more than just a list of numbers; it's a tool to help you make real-world business decisions. Here are a few ideas on how to use it.

Analyze Your Cash Flow

By looking at your total sales for each month, you can get a clear picture of your cash flow. For example, if you notice that your sales are consistently lower in January and February, you can make sure you have enough cash saved from the busier holiday season to cover your expenses during those slower months. This kind of planning can be the difference between a stressful winter and a relaxed one.

Plan Your Marketing Efforts

Let's say you look at your reports and discover that August is always your slowest month. Now you have a goal: boost August sales! You could run a special "Back to School" promotion for alterations, or offer a discount on custom suits. By targeting your marketing efforts during the times you know are slow, you can smooth out your revenue curve and create a more stable income stream throughout the year.

Manage Your Staffing and Resources

If your reports show that you are overwhelmed with orders every April and May, you might consider hiring a temporary assistant or seamstress during those months next year. On the other hand, if you see a consistent lull in the summer, that might be the perfect time to schedule your own vacation or work on a new collection without feeling rushed.

The Monthly Sales Report is a simple tool, but it provides the essential information you need to understand the health and rhythm of your business. We encourage you to check it regularly, play around with different months, and start looking for the stories hidden in your sales data. A little bit of analysis can go a long way in helping you build a more successful and sustainable tailoring business.