---
title: "CFO Series: Beyond the numbers | Part 3 of 8"
description: Three numbers every business owner should check each month, and why the right numbers matter more than more reports.
---

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# CFO Series: Beyond the numbers | Part 3 of 8

![Georgina](https://7528315.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hub/7528315/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mV0_d-cms-elevate-theme_hubspot/elevate/images/avatar-placeholder.jpg?width=48&height=48&name=avatar-placeholder.jpg)

 Georgina

October 7, 2026

### **Three numbers every business owner should know**

If you only looked at three numbers each month, which would they be?

There's no shortage of reports you *could* look at. But when time is tight (and when isn't it?), these are the three we believe matter most.

**1. Cash available**

How much cash do you have available today? This tells you what your business can comfortably cover right now, from wages to supplier bills.

**2. Gross profit margin**

Revenue is important, but how much are you actually making after the direct costs of delivering your product or service? Understanding your margin helps you price correctly and protect profitability.

*A small tip:* to work it out, take your revenue, subtract your direct costs, then divide the result by your revenue. Track it monthly and watch the trend, not just the number. (Part 7 of the series goes deeper on why margins matter so much.)

**3. Your 90-day cash flow forecast**

Do you know what your cash position will look like in three months' time? Looking ahead helps you plan for BAS, payroll, super, supplier payments and growth opportunities before they become challenges.

**You don't need more reports, just the right ones**

Business owners don't need hundreds of reports. They need the right numbers, at the right time, to make confident decisions.

That's exactly what our CFOs help businesses do every day, turning financial reporting into something you can actually use rather than something you file away.

**Quick answers**

**What financial numbers should a small business owner track?**

At a minimum: your available cash, your gross profit margin and a short-term cash flow forecast. Together they show where you are, how well you're performing and what's coming.

**What is a good gross profit margin?**

It depends heavily on your industry. Comparing against your own history and relevant industry benchmarks will tell you more than chasing a single 'good' number.

**Over to you:** What number do you check first when you open your business dashboard?

If you'd like help making sense of your numbers, contact the Square Penny team on 1300 472 412 or visit squarepenny.com.au.

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## Keep reading

### [CFO Series: Beyond the Numbers | Part 8 of 8](https://hubspot.squarepenny.com.au/blog/cfo-series-beyond-the-numbers-part-8-of-8)

### [CFO Series: Beyond the Numbers | Part 7 of 8](https://hubspot.squarepenny.com.au/blog/cfo-series-beyond-the-numbers-part-7-of-8)

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