Why weekly instead of monthly?
By the time a monthly statement arrives, a problem may be a month old. A quick weekly check catches trouble while you can still steer. The point is not perfect accounting, it is early warning you can act on.
What goes on the dashboard?
Keep it short enough that you will actually do it every week.
- Cash on hand today
- Money coming in this week and expected next week
- Money going out this week: payroll, bills, materials
- Sales or new jobs booked
- Unpaid invoices and what you owe
How do you actually use it?
Each week, fill in the numbers and look for the trend. Is cash climbing or sliding? Are receivables piling up? A dashboard is only useful if it leads to a small action, like making a collection call or holding off on a purchase.
What tools do you need?
A simple spreadsheet and your bank account are enough to start. You can graduate to software later, but do not wait for the perfect tool. The habit of looking every week matters more than how polished the dashboard is.