22 May Turn Your QuickBooks Data into Better Business Decisions
In this edition of EdTalks, I’d like to review some of the ways that business owners can glean valuable business intelligence out of their QuickBooks financial data. If you use QuickBooks Online (QBO) to run your business, you already have powerful financial data at your fingertips. But reports alone don’t drive improvement—understanding what the numbers mean is what helps you make smarter decisions.
Want better visibility into the numbers driving your business? Connect with Siegel Solutions to learn how we can help you turn QuickBooks data into meaningful insights.
By looking at a few simple financial metrics, you can spot cash flow issues, improve profitability, and run a more efficient operation. Below are some easy ways to turn your QuickBooks data into meaningful insights.
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE TURNOVER
I love turnover ratios; they tell a story. By making a tweak to the turnover ratio you can see a Days Outstanding measure which can be very revealing. This example measures how quickly your customers pay you:
Formula: Net Credit Sales ÷ Average Accounts Receivable
Example: If you generate $1,200,000 in sales and carry an average A/R balance of $180,000, your turnover is 6.67 times per year (1,200,000 ÷ 180,000 = 6.67).
That means it takes about 55 days to get paid (365 ÷ 6.67 = 54.7), called Days Sales Outstanding (DSO).
Why it matters: If your terms are Net 30 but you’re collecting in 55 days, your cash flow is slower than expected. Consider tightening payment terms or using online payment tools.
QuickBooks Tip: Use the Accounts Receivable Aging Summary to identify slow-paying customers and target collections efforts.
INVENTORY TURNOVER
This measures how quickly you sell your inventory.
Formula: Cost of Goods Sold ÷ Average Inventory
Example: With $800,000 in COGS and $150,000 in average inventory, your inventory turnover is 5.33 times per year (800,000 ÷ 150,000 = 5.33).
That means inventory sits on your shelves in your warehouse about 68 days before selling (365 ÷ 5.33 = 68.5), called Days Inventory Outstanding (DIO).
Why it matters: Slow turnover can tie up cash and indicate overstocking or obsolete products.
QuickBooks Tip: Review the Inventory Valuation Report in QBO to identify slow-moving items. Look at inventory turnover for specific products or product lines.
GROSS PROFIT MARGIN
This shows how much money you have available to cover overhead and yield a profit after covering product or service costs.
Formula: (Revenue – Cost of Goods Sold) ÷ Revenue
Example: If you earn $1,200,000 in revenue and $800,000 in costs, your margin is 33% ((1,200,000 – 800,000) ÷ 1,200,000 = 33%).
Why it matters: Declining margins may indicate rising costs or pricing issues.
CURRENT RATIO
This measures your short-term financial health.
Formula: Current Assets ÷ Current Liabilities
A ratio above 1.0 generally means you can cover your short-term obligations.
Why it matters: A ratio below 1.0 and/or downward trends indicate potential cash flow concerns.
HOW TO USE THESE INSIGHTS
Numbers alone don’t tell the story — interpretation does. You need to look at not the raw numbers themselves, but in the context of annual or monthly trends, benchmarking to industry averages or competitors, internal targets, seasonal cycles, and other influencing factors impacting your business.
- Compare results month-to-month to spot trends
- Watch for early warning signs of cash flow problems
- Focus on areas that can improve profitability
- Use QuickBooks reports like A/R Aging and Inventory Valuation to dig deeper
FINAL THOUGHT
QuickBooks is more than a bookkeeping tool—it’s a decision-making tool. By reviewing these simple metrics regularly, you can better manage cash flow, control costs, and grow your business with confidence.
Contact Siegel Solutions to help you with preparing a monthly KPI (key performance indicator) dashboard with the insights and timely analysis to:
- Improve cash flow
- Optimize operations
- Make data-driven decisions
If you are ready to build a clearer KPI dashboard and make more informed decisions with your QuickBooks data, visit our contact page to get in touch!



















