Ch 3 Size of a business Flashcards
What are the different methods of measuring the business’ size?
- Number of employees
- Sales turnover
- Capital employed
- Market capitalisation
- Market share
Define sales turnover
Total value of sales made by a business in a given time period
Define capital employed
Total value of all long term finance invested in the business
Define market capitalisation
Total value of a company’s issued shares
= current share price x number of shares issued
Define market share
- Sales of the business as a proportion of total market sales
- (total sales of business/ total sales of industry) x 100
Advantages of using number of employees
- The simplest measure
- Easy to understand
- Can make comparisons with other businesses
Disadvantages of using number of employees
Automation => not accurate
Advantages of using sales turnover
- Compare firms within the industry
- Easy to understand
Disadvantages of capital employed
Cannot compare between firms of different industries due to different equipment needs
Disadvantages of market capitalisation
Share prices tend to fluctuate => this form of measure is not stable/accurate
Advantages of using market share
- Easy to calculate
- Compare firms within the industry
- Easy to understand and analyse
Disadvantages of using market share
- Can’t compare firms of different industries
- Market can be a niche market
Advantages of small businesses
- Can be managed or controlled
- Able to adapt quickly to meet changing customers needs
- Offer personal services to customers
- More interactive with employees => motivated workforce
Disadvantages of small businesses
- Limited access to sources of finance
- Owners have to carry a large burden of responsibility because can’t afford managers
- Not diversified -> greater risks of negative impact of external change
- Greater risks of being taken over
Weaknesses of family businesses
- Unqualified family members in jobs
- Family issues get in the way
- Family rivalries
- Keeping control is prioritised over business expansion
- Lack of management development