3 metrics for coaches and freelancers to monitor this year
One of my favorite things about working with coaches and freelancers is how quickly insight turns into action.
You don’t have layers of management or endless approvals. When the numbers start telling a clearer story, you can adjust - this month, not next year.
As we head into a new year, here are three metrics I encourage every coach and freelancer to review and track if they want real visibility into their business (not just a bank balance that “feels fine”).
1. Revenue Consistency
Most people know what they made last year. Fewer know how predictable that revenue was.
Track:
• Monthly revenue by client or offer
• Percentage of recurring vs one-off work
• Your average “baseline” month (what comes in even when you’re not launching or hustling)
Why it matters:
Consistency is what creates breathing room. It tells you how risky your cash flow really is - and how much pressure is on future you to keep selling.
2. Burn Rate (your true monthly cost to operate)
This is the metric that surprises people the most.
Burn rate answers one simple question:
How much does it cost to run your business each month before you pay yourself a dollar?
Include:
• Software + subscriptions
• Contractors or support
• Education, marketing, and tools
• Anything required to deliver your service
Why it matters:
A healthy bank balance can be misleading if your monthly burn is high. Burn rate gives context to cash and helps you plan instead of react.
3. Profit after paying yourself
Revenue is vanity. Cash flow is relief. Profit is sustainability.
Track:
• What’s left after expenses
• What’s left after owner pay
• Profit margin
Why it matters:
If the business can’t support you, it’s not actually working. This metric tells you whether your model is viable long-term or quietly exhausting you.
The goal isn’t to stare at numbers all day.
The goal is to let the right numbers answer better questions:
• Can I take time off without stress?
• Is this offer worth the energy?
• What needs to change before I grow?
When coaches and freelancers understand these three metrics, the business stops feeling vague.
If you want, I can help you turn these into a simple monthly check-in you’ll actually use.