Short on time? Here’s the whole article in four lines.
- AI is a patient helper for spreadsheets: writing formulas, explaining what they do, and cleaning up messy data.
- It’s great for “what if” thinking, like testing a price increase or comparing two budgets.
- Always check the math. AI can make calculation mistakes, especially in long chats.
- For taxes, legal, and investment decisions, talk to a professional. Use AI to prepare your questions.
| Task | Try this prompt |
|---|---|
| Write a formula | “In Google Sheets, I have prices in column B and quantities in column C. Write a formula for the total in column D.” |
| Explain a formula | “What does this formula do, in plain English? [paste formula]” |
| Make a simple budget | “Make a monthly budget template for a [home bakery] with income, ingredients, packaging, and marketing.” |
| Test a price change | “I sell [candles] for [$24]. Materials cost [$7]. If I raise the price to [$28] and sell 10% fewer, do I make more or less?” |
| Understand your numbers | “Here’s my sales by month: [paste]. What patterns do you notice? What questions should I ask?” |
| Clean up data | “Here’s a messy list of customer names and emails. Put it in two clean columns and remove duplicates.” |
AI can help you think through pricing without guessing:
The final price is your call. You know your customers and your market.
See When AI Gets It Wrong: Hallucinations and Fact-Checking for more.
AI can help you prepare: “What questions should I ask my accountant about [hiring my first employee]?” This is general information, not financial advice.
Teresa makes handmade soap and had never touched a spreadsheet formula. She described her setup to AI and got formulas to total each order and track monthly profit.
When she wondered about raising prices, she asked AI to compare her profit at three price points. Seeing it laid out made the decision easy. She checked the totals with her calculator, then raised her price by $2. Her sales held steady.
