The 6 Numbers Every Contractor Should Check Every Week
Six numbers, fifteen minutes, once a week — enough to catch a bad stretch before it hardens into a bad year.
Most contractors find out how their business is doing when the accountant sends the numbers weeks after the fact — long after they could have done anything about a bad stretch. The owners who stay ahead check a short list of numbers every single week. Here are the six worth watching. The "aim for" figures below are targets many strong teams work toward (osNOVA guidance), not universal industry facts — your right numbers depend on your trade and market.
The weekly dashboard
| Number | What it tells you | Aim for |
|---|---|---|
| Revenue by department | Where your business is really coming from | Steady or growing week over week |
| Average ticket | Value created per job | Trending up as pricing & options improve |
| Close rate | Estimates that become sold jobs | Target of 40%+ on qualified in-home visits |
| Booking rate | Calls that become appointments | Target of 80%+ of qualified calls |
| Membership growth | Future recurring revenue | Net positive every month |
| Net margin | What's left after all costs | Healthy and stable for your trade |
📷 Add image: A sample KPI dashboard with these six numbers as tiles. Alt text: "a sample home-service KPI dashboard showing the six weekly numbers laid out as labeled tiles with their current values".
1. Revenue by department
If you run more than one service line, track them separately. Knowing what each brings in tells you where your business is really coming from, and where a soft patch is starting before it drags down your whole month.
2. Average ticket
This is your total revenue divided by your number of jobs. When it drops, you are likely underpricing or missing chances to offer options. When it climbs, your pricing and sales are working.
3. Close rate
Of the estimates you give, how many turn into sold jobs? A low or falling close rate points to a sales or follow-up problem you can fix.
4. Booking rate
Of the calls that come in, how many become booked appointments? This measures how well your front desk converts the leads your marketing paid for. A small improvement here flows straight to revenue.
5. Membership growth
If you run a maintenance plan, track how your member count is trending. A growing base is future revenue you can count on, and one of the clearest signs your business is getting more stable.
6. Net margin
After every cost is paid, what is actually left? Margin is the number that separates busy from profitable. Watching it regularly keeps you honest about whether the work you take on is actually paying you.
Make it a weekly habit
Numbers only help if you look at them on a rhythm. Set a standing weekly meeting — even fifteen minutes — to review these six with your team. A quick, consistent look keeps everyone pointed at the same goals.
From gut feel to clear sight
Running a business on gut feel works until it suddenly does not. These six numbers turn vague hunches into clear signals, so you can act early. Start with the two or three you can pull today, and build from there.
Frequently Asked Questions
What KPIs should a home-service business track?
At a minimum: revenue by department, average ticket, close rate, booking rate, membership growth, and net margin. These six cover sales, operations, and profit.
How often should I review my numbers?
Weekly. A short standing meeting catches problems while they are small, instead of finding them in a quarterly statement.
I don't have fancy software — can I still do this?
Yes. A simple spreadsheet updated weekly is enough to start. The habit matters more than the tool.
Related guides: How to Fix Cash Flow When You're Profitable but Broke · How to Find the Profit Leaks Hiding in Your Business · How to Build a Business That Runs Without You
Want a hand putting this in place?
Turning these six numbers into a live dashboard you actually review every week is something osNOVA sets up with contractors directly. If you'd rather have it pulling your real data from day one, let's talk.
Recommended osNOVA Method plays: KPI Dashboards & Numbers Cadence.
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