"How is this month doing compared to last month?" is one of the first questions anyone asks when looking at a profit and loss statement. But the comparison has a catch if the current period is not over yet: putting a full previous month against a current month that is only half done distorts the picture. 1Tool solves this by limiting the comparison period to the exact day.
Any period you like, compared automatically
In 1Tool you can open the profit and loss statement for any period you choose, and it is automatically compared with the preceding period of the same length. If you select the last 30 days, for example, the system automatically compares them with the 30 days before – without you having to define the comparison period yourself.
Why the comparison is limited to the exact day
If the selected period runs up to today, i.e. into a month or period that is still in progress, 1Tool automatically limits the comparison period to the days that have actually "elapsed". An example: if only 15 days of the current month have passed, only the figures for the first 15 days of the comparison month are used – not the entire month. This keeps the comparison fair, because an incomplete period is never measured against one that is already closed.
Use of revenue, cost breakdown and top movements
Beyond the pure comparison of figures, the profit and loss view in 1Tool includes a use-of-revenue display showing what the revenue was spent on, as well as a cost breakdown by category. A "Top movements" widget also highlights the biggest changes compared with the prior period, so anomalies are not lost in a long list of line items but stand out immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Which period does 1Tool compare the profit and loss statement with?
1Tool automatically compares the selected period with the preceding period of the same length, so you never have to define the comparison period manually.
What happens if the selected period is not over yet?
If the selected period runs up to today, 1Tool automatically limits the comparison period to the days that have actually elapsed – so that, for example, a full previous month is not compared with a current month that is only half over.
What additional analyses does the profit and loss view in 1Tool offer?
Alongside the period comparison, you get a use-of-revenue display, a cost breakdown and a "Top movements" widget that highlights the biggest changes.
How often do you currently compare periods that cannot really be compared fairly?