Business A to Z

Every trade has words it uses without explaining. In business the cost of not knowing one is real: some of them are ordinary jargon and some of them are a decision that can take a house.

Please note: This page explains what a term means. It is general information, not legal, financial, tax or investment advice, and it does not know anything about your business. Before you sign, file or commit to anything, check it with an accountant, a solicitor, or the official guidance we link to.

Studying business? We write GCSE revision songs, and there is one for business studies. Listen to the revision playlist.

11 terms filed under G, showing 1–10 (page 1 of 2).

G

Gantt chart and critical path

A timeline of tasks, and the sequence that determines the finish date.

GDPR

Also called UK GDPR, Data protection, Data Protection Act 2018

The law governing how you handle information about people. It applies to every business with a customer list.

Gearing

How much of the business is funded by debt rather than by its owners.

Gift Aid

Reclaiming basic rate tax on donations. Worth 25% and frequently unclaimed.

Going concern

The assumption that the business will still be trading in twelve months. Accounts are prepared on it.

Grant

Also called Grant funding, Innovate UK

Money you do not repay and do not give equity for. Competitive, slow, and rarely for what you actually want to spend it on.

Grant funding in practice

Actually winning a grant: the parts of the process that decide it.

Grievance and disciplinary

Also called Disciplinary procedure, Grievance procedure, ACAS Code

The formal processes for a complaint by an employee and for a problem with one. Following them properly is most of the defence.

Gross and net

Before and after deductions. Two of the most overloaded words in business.

Gross margin by product

Which lines actually make money. Usually a surprise.

Something missing?

If there is a word you have been nodding along to, tell us and we will write it up. This library exists because of the questions people were too polite to ask.

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