Give every KPI a job
Start with a decision you make regularly, then select the smallest set of metrics that informs it. A weekly sales review needs different evidence from a monthly cost review. For each KPI, write down its definition, unit, source, owner and refresh cadence. If nobody knows what action a number could change, reconsider giving it prime dashboard space.
MetricBoard provides calculated financial, sales and customer widgets alongside manual custom KPIs. Use the built-in figures for measures supported by the row schema. Use custom snapshots for reviewed values such as active subscriptions or a current cash balance, with a date included in the label when useful.
Understand calculated values versus snapshots
Calculated widgets respond to the date filter and imported period data. Manual custom widgets store the number you enter; they do not run formulas, connect to another system or infer historical values. This distinction prevents a current snapshot from being mistaken for a filtered period total.
Choose Number, USD or Percent when adding a custom KPI. For a percent snapshot, enter the displayed percentage itself: enter 12.5 for 12.5%, not 0.125. Delete and recreate a custom widget when its value needs updating. Keep important historical snapshots in a separate source file because the dashboard is not a versioned database.
Prepare a predictable CSV
Use the downloadable template to preserve the required column names: date, revenue, expenses, sales, target, customers, visits and conversions. Dates must follow YYYY-MM-DD. Monetary values must be non-negative plain numbers with no more than two decimal places; count fields must be non-negative whole numbers. Converted visits cannot exceed visits.
The importer accepts UTF-8 comma-separated files, including quoted fields, up to 1 MB and 5,000 data rows. It rejects duplicate dates within one file and reports invalid input before changing the workspace. Do not include names, payment details or customer identifiers. Only aggregate period values belong in this schema.
Merge intentionally and inspect the result
An imported date replaces the existing row for that date; a new date adds a row. This makes corrections straightforward, but it is not an append-only audit trail. Export the current CSV before importing a significant revision. A file containing daily rows can still overlap with an existing monthly row even when their dates differ, so check the reporting cadence yourself.
After import, select All dates and compare the monthly table with your source totals. Then apply the range needed for your review. An apparently empty dashboard may simply have a date filter outside your data. Check revenue, expenses, sales counts and conversion denominators before interpreting growth.
Arrange the workspace for a conversation
Put the decision-driving metrics first and supporting diagnostics after them. On larger screens you can drag a widget by its header. Move earlier and Move later buttons provide the same ordering control with a keyboard or touch device. The layout reflows on small screens while preserving that reading order.
A stable order helps people compare reviews over time. Avoid rearranging every widget simply to make a new report feel different. If the business question changes, explain the new emphasis and retain a prior export. Visual consistency is useful when it supports understanding, not when it preserves an irrelevant metric.
Choose the right export and storage habit
Export all data creates a CSV of every saved period, regardless of the current filter. Export dashboard creates a standalone HTML snapshot of the active view, including manual KPIs and the selected chart. The snapshot is readable without this website but does not contain a live builder. Keep both when you need presentation and reproducibility.
There is no paid tier, subscription checkout, bank connector or team synchronisation in this static build. Local storage is convenient but can be erased by browser settings or accessed through a shared profile. Export regularly, avoid simultaneous editing in multiple tabs and clear the workspace before handing a shared device to someone else.