Overview
This page helps you fix the most common situations where Profit/Loss looks “wrong”. In most cases it’s not a bug—it’s a missing entry, a wrong status, or something linked to the wrong project.
Profit/Loss is calculated from Paid client payments, timesheet cost, and external expenses. If any of those are missing, linked incorrectly, or left in the wrong status, the final number won’t match what you expect.
Real-life example: Profit/Loss suddenly drops at the end of the month. The reason is often late timesheets (cost appears all at once) or payments that were received but never marked Paid.
How it works
- Start with statuses: client payments marked Unpaid won’t count as revenue.
- Then check links: wrong project links are the fastest way to distort numbers.
- Then check timesheets: missing or mis-assigned time causes delayed or inaccurate cost.
- Finally check permissions: if you can’t see Profit/Loss, it may be a role issue—not a data issue.
Step-by-step guide
Problem: Profit looks too low
Open Client Costs for the project and confirm payments that were received are marked Paid.
Problem: Profit looks too high
Check whether external expenses were entered and whether timesheets have been logged for the period.
Problem: One project looks bad and another looks too good
Look for entries linked to the wrong project (client payments, external expenses, or timesheet lines).
Problem: I can’t see Profit/Loss numbers or the graph
Ask for the Profit / Loss → Administrator role. The graph and Profit/Loss fields are commonly restricted.
Fields table
| Field Name | Description | Example |
|---|---|---|
Payment status (Paid/Unpaid) |
Controls whether a client payment counts as revenue. |
Payment received but left Unpaid → profit looks low |
Project link |
Determines which project gets the payment/expense/time. |
Expense linked to wrong project → two projects look wrong |
Timesheet entries |
Drive employee time cost. |
No timesheets logged → profit looks too high |
Role permissions |
Controls visibility of Profit/Loss fields and reports. |
User role can’t see the graph → not a bug |
Field name explanations
Payment status (Paid/Unpaid)
Most “wrong profit” situations come from this. If the money arrived, mark it Paid so revenue is counted.
Project link
Always double-check the project on every line. One wrong link can distort your reports immediately.
Timesheet entries
Timesheets must be logged to the correct project. Missing time often shows up later as a sudden profit drop.
Role permissions
If you don’t see Profit/Loss, it may be intentional. Ask for access instead of assuming something is broken.
Tips
- Check statuses first: it’s the fastest fix and often explains the number immediately.
- Use clear descriptions: they make it easier to audit and correct mistakes later.
- Fix the source: if timesheets are wrong, correct the timesheet entry (not just the project view).
Common mistakes
- Mixing “invoice sent” with “money received”: only received payments should be marked Paid.
- Entering a cost without a project: the number won’t help you if it isn’t tied to the right project.
- Assuming missing Profit/Loss is a bug: it is often a permission setting.