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KPI one-pager
A small KPI set is better than a noisy dashboard. These five metrics support founder-level decisions without overcomplicating reporting.
KPI 1: Cash on hand
- What it is: Your current available cash balance.
- What it signals: Safety, flexibility, and the ability to absorb surprises.
- Watch for: Cash that looks fine but is committed to payroll, taxes, or payables.
KPI 2: Runway
- What it is: How long cash lasts at your current burn rate.
- What it signals: Decision urgency — hiring, spend, and growth timing.
- Watch for: Runway calculated from unreliable monthly numbers.
KPI 3: Gross margin
- What it is: Revenue minus direct costs, as a percentage.
- What it signals: The health of pricing and delivery.
- Watch for: Margin drift caused by inconsistent categorization or missing costs.
KPI 4: Net profit margin
- What it is: Profit after operating expenses, as a percentage of revenue.
- What it signals: Whether growth is creating profit.
- Watch for: Profit that disappears when reconciliations and balance sheet items are cleaned up.
KPI 5: Accounts receivable health
- What it is: How quickly you collect what you’ve billed and how old receivables are.
- What it signals: Cash reliability and operating discipline.
- Watch for: Revenue that looks strong while cash stays tight because collections lag.
If KPIs feel confusing, the issue is usually the close — not the math.
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