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.

51 terms filed under S, showing 1–10 (page 1 of 6).

S

SaaS

Also called Software as a service, Cloud software, Subscription software

Software you rent and access over the internet rather than buy and install.

Safeguarding adults

Protecting adults with care and support needs from abuse and neglect.

Salary sacrifice

Giving up salary in exchange for a benefit. Saves tax and National Insurance on some things.

Sales forecast

Predicting what will close and when. The number the whole business plans on.

Sales ledger

The record of what customers owe you.

Sales pipeline

Also called Pipeline, Sales funnel, Forecast

Everything you are working on, arranged by how close it is to closing. Only as honest as the person maintaining it.

Sanctions screening

Checking you are not dealing with someone you are prohibited from dealing with.

Scaling

Growing revenue faster than cost. Different from simply getting bigger.

Scenario planning

Working out what you would do under several futures rather than predicting one.

Scope creep

The project quietly growing. The commonest reason work loses money.

Something missing?

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