13 Essential Financial Performance Metrics Every Business Should Track

By Harry ChuMay 13, 202511 min read
13 Essential Financial Performance Metrics Every Business Should Track
  1. Return on Equity (ROE)
  1. Working Capital
  1. Quick Ratio
  1. Return on Assets (ROA)
  1. Inventory Turnover
  1. Accounts Receivable Turnover
  1. Accounts Payable Turnover
  1. Debt-to-Equity Ratio
  1. Interest Coverage Ratio
  • Net Profit Margin: Tracks profitability. Use it as a KPI to ensure you meet profit targets.
  • Return on Assets (ROA): Measures asset efficiency. As a KPI, it shows if you’re using resources well.
  • Operating Cash Flow: Monitors cash health. Use it to confirm you have enough cash for operations.
  • Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) and Customer Lifetime Value (CLV): In eCommerce, these metrics are vital KPIs. They help you balance marketing spend with long-term revenue.
  • Profitability goals: Track Net Profit Margin and Gross Profit Margin to see if you’re making the profits you need.
  • Cash‐flow stability: Monitor Operating Cash Flow and Quick Ratio to ensure you can cover bills and invest in growth.
  • Efficiency goals: Use Return on Assets (ROA) and Inventory Turnover to check how well you use resources.
  • Set benchmarks: Compare each metric to industry averages or your own past performance.
  • Identify gaps: If a metric falls short, drill into the underlying numbers (e.g., high COGS reducing gross margin).
  • Trend analysis: Track metrics over time to spot improving or declining patterns rather than relying on a single snapshot.
  1. Optimize Ad Spend
    • Compare ROAS (return on ad spend) to CAC. Cut underperforming channels.
  2. Adjust Pricing
    • Use Gross Profit Margin data to set prices that cover costs and leave room for profit.
  3. Manage Inventory
    • Slow-moving items: run promotions to boost Inventory Turnover.
    • Fast-moving items: ensure adequate stock to avoid stockouts.
  4. Improve Customer Retention
    • Track CLV trends. Launch loyalty programs if CLV falls below target.
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Harry Chu

Founder of TrueProfit & eCommerce Profitability Expert

Harry Chu is the Founder of TrueProfit, a net profit tracking solution designed to help Shopify merchants gain real-time insights into their actual profits. With 11+ years of experience in eCommerce and technology, his expertise in profit analytics, cost tracking, and data-driven decision-making has made him a trusted voice for thousands of Shopify merchants.

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