01 / The owner’s KPI scorecard
What deserves
your attention?
A report should help you run the business. Use this scorecard to agree on the numbers that matter, see where performance is changing and decide who needs to do what next.
A weekly review that leads somewhere.
Before adding a number to the scorecard, ask: “If this changes, what would we do differently?” Start with up to five measures you can explain and act on. Add more when they answer a question the others cannot.
- Define the measure. Write down the calculation, data source and reporting period. Agree on details that could change the answer, such as whether sales include refunds or a lead count includes existing customers.
- Choose a trigger. Decide what would make you investigate. Base that trigger on your costs, customer commitments and past results. An industry average alone will not tell you what your business can afford.
- Review consistently. Compare the same reporting periods and use the same calculation each week. Record what changed in the business. Label missing data clearly so an incomplete week does not become a false alarm.
- Finish with a decision. Write down the action, who is responsible and when you will check the result. “Watch it closely” needs a more specific next step.
For example: If an online store sells more but keeps less from each order, look at discounts, product costs, delivery costs and refunds alongside sales. Then check when the cash arrives. The worked example below shows how sales and contribution can move in different directions.
Use the PDF on screen or print it for your next review. Save a copy after filling it out and reopen it to make sure your entries are there. The worksheet is yours to keep; there is nothing to submit.