How to Build a Simple Weekly Financial Dashboard
Are you running your trade business off gut feel?
If the phone’s ringing, the team’s busy, and jobs are getting done, it’s easy to assume everything must be fine… but busy doesn’t always mean profitable.
In this episode, Amanda breaks down how to create a simple weekly financial dashboard so you always know where your business stands — without needing complicated spreadsheets or accountant-level reporting.
This is about having a few key numbers you check each week so you can make better decisions, reduce financial stress, and stop flying blind.
In this episode:
· Why busy doesn’t always mean profitable
· The danger of relying on gut feel
· The five key numbers every trades business should review weekly
· Why your bank balance can be misleading
· How accounts receivable impacts cashflow
· Why unpaid supplier bills matter
· The importance of tracking work in progress
· Why invoicing speed directly affects your cashflow
· How a simple dashboard helps reduce stress and improve decision making
The five numbers to track each week:
✔ Current bank balance
✔ Accounts receivable (who owes you money)
✔ Supplier bills due
✔ Work in progress (jobs completed but not invoiced)
✔ Revenue invoiced this week
Optional bonus:
✔ A simple cashflow forecast so you know what’s coming in and going out
Action step:
This week, create your own simple financial dashboard.
Start by writing down these five numbers and reviewing them at the same time every week.
It doesn’t need to be fancy.
It just needs to give you visibility.
Because when you know your numbers, you make better business decisions.
Work With Virtual Coastie
Fergus Power Hour
Need help understanding your numbers or setting up better systems in Fergus or Xero? A Power Hour is a practical working session where we help you get clarity fast.
Monthly Admin & Bookkeeping Support
If you’re drowning in admin, invoicing, debtors, supplier bills, or bookkeeping, our team can help take the pressure off.
Fergus Setup & Implementation
Get Fergus working properly for your trade business with practical setup, workflows, and systems that actually make life easier.
Learn more at www.virtualcoastie.co.nz
Hey Tradies! Podcast
Helping Tradies run better businesses
Running a trade business isn’t just about being good on the tools — it’s about systems, numbers, decisions, and leadership.
Hey Tradies! Podcast is for Tradies who want to run a better business without drowning in admin, working every night, or guessing where the money’s going.
Each short, practical episode dives into the business side of trade life — from job management, cash flow, quoting, and getting paid, to systems, leadership, and real-world lessons from other tradies and industry experts.
You’ll hear straight-talk advice, honest opinions, and conversations designed to get you thinking differently about how you run your business — whether you’re just getting started or already leading a growing team.
No fluff. No corporate jargon. Just practical business thinking to help you build a trade business that actually works.
🎧 New episodes released weekly.