B2 Vocabulary: Business & Finance

Practice key vocabulary from the world of business and corporate finance with these two activities. Read the texts, complete the questions, and check your answers!

Activity 1: Planning for Business Growth

Reading: Carlos’s Coffee Shop

Carlos owns a small coffee shop in his town. At the start of each month, he prepares a budget to plan how much money he can spend on rent, supplies, and staff. He writes down every expense so he can control his business finances.

In the first months, the shop had weak cash flow because consumer demand was low. Not many customers visited the café, so the business did not earn enough money. Over time, the shop became more popular, and Carlos began to make a profit.

Each customer receives a receipt after paying. This helps Carlos keep clear records of daily sales. Some of his coffee beans come from other countries, so the exchange rate affects how much he pays for supplies.

To improve the business, Carlos is looking for investment. He plans to sell shares to local business people. These investors will become stakeholders because they have an interest in how the business performs. Carlos also follows the stock market to understand how companies grow and how investments work.

Multiple-Choice Questions

1. What word describes Carlos’s plan for monthly spending?

2. What is rent and staff payment an example of?

3. What caused the business to have weak cash flow at the beginning?

4. What term means the money moving in and out of the business?

5. What word describes customers wanting to buy coffee?

6. What does Carlos earn when the business makes more money than it spends?

7. What do customers receive after paying?

8. What affects the price of imported coffee beans?

9. What word means money put into the business to help it grow?

10. What do people buy when Carlos sells part of his business?

11. What do we call people who have an interest in the business’s success?

Activity 2: Fill in the Gaps

Complete the text using the words from the box. Use each word once.

Word Bank: Budget Cash Flow Consumer Demand Exchange Rate Expense Investment Profit Receipt Shares Stock Market Stakeholder

Maria runs a small online shop. At the beginning of each month, she prepares a to plan how much money she can spend. She records every , such as packaging and delivery costs, to avoid spending too much.

At first, the business had poor because sales were low. This happened because was not very strong. After improving her marketing, sales increased and the business began to make a .

Each customer receives a after buying a product. Maria buys some materials from another country, so the affects how much she pays.

To grow the business, Maria is looking for . She plans to sell to people who want to support the company. These people will become a , as they have an interest in the business. Maria also follows the to learn how companies and investors work.