The study looked at how the amount of money a small or medium-sized business has tied up in its day-to-day operations affects its profits. They found that there is an ideal amount of money to have in these operations to maximize profits. Having too much or too little can actually decrease profits. The study focused on 160 small businesses listed on the Alternative Investment Market from 2005 to 2010. The results suggest that small businesses should aim for this optimal amount of money in their operations to make the most profit.