勘定合って銭足らず

かんじょうあってぜにたらず

a profit on paper doesn't always mean a profit in the bank; what works in theory doesn't always work in practice

Also written 勘定あって銭足らず

Meaning

exp
a profit on paper doesn't always mean a profit in the bank; what works in theory doesn't always work in practice

Example sentences

彼のビジネスプランは立派だけど、勘定あって銭足らず、という気もするけどね。

His business plan looks good on paper but I get the feeling it would never work in practice.