The 3 Numbers Every Creative Business Owner Should Track Weekly
Nope, Not Another Spreadsheet!
Let’s be honest. If you’re a creative business owner, numbers might not be your first language. You lead with vision, not spreadsheets.
But avoiding your finances? That’s like setting out on a road trip with no map and hoping for the best. You might coast for a while, but eventually, the gas runs out.
If you want to stay in control, grow with intention, and yes, ACTUALLY pay yourself, here are three metrics worth checking in on every week!
#1. Net Profit
(Translation: “Did I Work For Free Again?”)
This one stings sometimes but it’s essential.
You might feel busy and booked, but if your profit is razor-thin (or nonexistent), you’re essentially running an expensive hobby.
Pro Tip: Take your total revenue and subtract your expenses. That leftover number? That’s your real income. If it’s not where you want it to be, don’t see it as a failure. Think of it as a signal- your business is trying to tell you something.
#2. Cash Flow
(Also known as: (“Can I Afford Guac This Week?”
Here’s the reality: you can have a $10K month and still feel strapped if that money is stuck in unpaid invoices, subscriptions, or forgotten tools you’re no longer using.
Cash flow is what tells you whether you can actually use the money you've earned, or if it’s all just digital Monopoly money until your payments land.
Pro tip: Check what came in versus what went out. If things feel tight, look for expenses you can pause or cut, and make sure to follow up on any outstanding invoices.
#3 Revenue Growth
(Or as we like to call it: “Did I Make Money This Week?”)
Think of this as your scoreboard.
If you booked a client, launched a product, or sold that design template you posted on a whim—this number shows whether it moved the needle or just racked up likes.
Pro tip: Compare this week’s revenue to last week’s. If it’s trending up, amazing. If it’s slipping, it might be time to adjust your launch strategy or rethink your offers.
Ready to get clarity on your numbers and stop guessing your way through finances?
Let’s chat we make the money side feel doable, even for creatives.