IGCSE Business Studies Revision Guide: Marketing and Finance

Marketing and finance are core topics in IGCSE Business Studies. This comprehensive revision guide covers the marketing mix, market research, sources of finance, and financial statements, providing everything you need to master these essential business topics.

Marketing

Marketing Mix (4Ps)

• Product: features, branding, packaging
• Price: pricing strategies, factors affecting price
• Place: distribution channels, location
• Promotion: advertising, sales promotion, public relations

Market Research

• Primary research: surveys, interviews, observations
• Secondary research: reports, internet, government data
• Sampling methods: random, stratified, quota
• Uses: identify customer needs, test products, set prices

Marketing Strategy

• Market segmentation: demographic, geographic, psychographic
• Target market identification
• Marketing objectives
• Marketing budget

Finance

Sources of Finance

• Internal: retained profit, sale of assets
• External: bank loans, overdrafts, shares, debentures
• Short-term vs long-term
• Factors affecting choice: cost, control, risk

Cash Flow

• Cash flow forecast
• Inflows and outflows
• Cash flow problems
• Solutions: reduce costs, increase sales, delay payments

Financial Statements

• Income statement: revenue, costs, profit
• Balance sheet: assets, liabilities, capital
• Profit and loss account
• Uses: decision-making, performance evaluation

Break-Even Analysis

• Break-even point: total costs = total revenue
• Break-even formula: fixed costs / (selling price - variable cost)
• Uses: pricing decisions, profit planning
• Limitations: assumptions, static analysis

Exam Tips

1. Use Case Studies

• Learn detailed examples
• Apply concepts to cases
• Know specific facts
• Link theory to practice

2. Understand Calculations

• Practice break-even
• Cash flow calculations
• Financial ratios
• Show working

3. Apply Concepts

• Don’t just memorize
• Understand why
• Apply to new situations
• Link related topics

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Use this revision guide as part of your comprehensive exam preparation. Combine with past paper practice and expert tutoring for best results.