A founder financial dashboard checklist
A good founder dashboard fits on one page and is updated on the same day each month. It does not need to be fancy. It needs reliable numbers behind it. Here are the measures founders most often include.
Cash and runway
Cash on hand at month-end, net burn (cash out minus cash in) and months of runway at the current burn. These come from bank balances and the cash flow statement.
Revenue and margin
Revenue for the month and trend, gross margin percentage and, where relevant, revenue by product or customer type. Margin needs direct costs to be categorized consistently.
A few operating measures
Pick two or three that drive your business, such as customer count, average order value or pipeline. Fewer, consistent measures beat a long list.
What to include
- Cash, burn and runway
- Revenue trend and gross margin
- Two or three operating measures
- Day each month it is updated
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need special software for a dashboard?
Not to start. A spreadsheet updated from closed books works. Tools help once the measures are settled.
Is this founder finance guide advice?
No. Sam's List writes these guides for education. They describe common questions and processes, not advice for your specific situation.
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