Your own scorecard.
WHAT TO INCLUDE
Five to eight figures covering income, profitability, cash, demand and retention.
A SENSIBLE STARTING SET
Revenue Gross margin percentage Net profit Cash position Enquiries received Conversion rate New customers Lapsed customers
WHAT TO ADD
One or two specific to your business.
WHAT TO SHOW FOR EACH
This period Last period Same period last year Target, if one exists
WHY THE YEAR COMPARISON
Seasonality makes month-to-month comparison misleading.
WHERE TO KEEP IT
One page, updated monthly.
WHAT TO ADD BESIDE THE FIGURES
A line explaining anything that moved.
WHAT NOT TO DO
Expand it every month until nobody reads it.
WHAT TO REVIEW ANNUALLY
Whether each figure still earns its place.
WHAT MAKES IT WORK
Reviewing it on a set date, and deciding something each time.