If you’re a small business owner, a sales manager, or someone who just wants to get a better handle on sales data, a monthly sales report is invaluable. It can help you track performance, identify trends, and make better decisions. Google Sheets is an excellent tool for this purpose. It’s free, accessible from anywhere, and packed with features.
Why Is It Important to Have a Monthly Sales Report?
A monthly sales report gives you a clear snapshot of your business’s performance month by month. It helps you see the big picture by tracking your progress and spotting trends that can guide your future decisions.
With this regular update, you can determine what’s working well and what might need a little tweaking in your sales approach. It also helps you better understand your customers and plan your inventory and marketing efforts more effectively.
Step 1: Setting Up Google Sheets
First, open Google Sheets. Then, click on the “+” button to create a new spreadsheet. Give your spreadsheet a name like Monthly Sales Tracker for proper organization.
Step 2: Organize Your Data
Clean and structured data is the backbone of any good report. Follow these steps to get started. Begin by collecting all relevant sales numbers. Export them from your CRM or enter them manually into a Google Sheet.
Then, set up your Google Sheets by creating columns for key details, such as:
- Date
- Order #
- Customer Name
- Product/Service
- Status
- Payment Method
- Local/International
- Quantity
- Total Price
- Revenue
- Salesperson
Enter your sales data under these headers. Each row will represent a single sale transaction.
Example:
Step 3: Add Dropdowns
You may use Google Sheets’ dropdown menu to automate recurring information, such as Order Status, Payment Method, Local/International, and Salesperson. To add the menu, select the column where you want to put it and click Insert > Dropdown. Then, enter the options you would like to use.
Step 4: Calculating Total Sales
In the “Total Price” column, you should calculate the value of each transaction. Click on the first cell under the “Total Price” header. Enter the formula:
=I5*D5
Drag the fill handle (a small square at the bottom-right corner of the cell) down to apply this formula to the rest of the column.
Step 5: Use Formulas to Automate Calculations
Google Sheets’ formulas can simplify your report. Here are some examples:
Sum up total sales: Use =SUM(range) to calculate the total sales for the month.
Count order status: Use =COUNTIF(range, criteria)
Step 6: Add Visuals for Better Understanding
Numbers can sometimes be hard to interpret at a glance. Visuals like charts and graphs make your report more engaging. To create a chart, highlight the data you want to visualize. Click on Insert > Chart. Choose the type of chart that best represents your data, such as a bar chart for sales by product or a line graph for monthly trends.
Step 7: Recreate the Template
You can recreate the template every month without removing all the formulas and charts that you added to the first sheet. To do that, right-click the name of the sheet and select “Duplicate.”
Step 8: Create a Dashboard
Once your sales trackers for the entire year are ready, you may add a dashboard to easily see the summary sales for each month.
To do this, select the “+” sign at the bottom part of the sheet and rename the new sheet with “Dashboard” for easy recognition.
Then, you may add tables, such as Monthly Sales and Top Sales Person, and, depending on your preferences, you may add more tables.
To automatically get the total sales for every month, use the formula
=’October 2024′!C8
Change “October 2024” with the sheet name where you will get the data for total sales.
You may also add charts and Pivot tables to summarize the data from your sales tracker.
Get the Free Monthly Sales Report Template
Get a copy of the free Monthly Sales Report Template. I’ve populated some cells as examples, but you can customize them as needed.
Final Thoughts
In the hustle and bustle of running a business, it’s easy to get lost in day-to-day operations, but don’t overlook the power of your sales data. Making time each month to dig into your sales report can be a game-changer. Think of it as a regular check-up for your business’s health. Use it not just for analysis but as a springboard for innovation and improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I calculate the percentage growth in sales month-over-month?
To calculate the percentage growth in sales month-over-month, use the formula:
[ \text{Percentage Growth} = \frac{(\text{Current Month Sales} – \text{Previous Month Sales})}{\text{Previous Month Sales}} \times 100 ]
This will give you the percentage increase or decrease in sales.
How do I determine the average order value (AOV) in a sales report?
To determine the average order value (AOV), use the formula:
[ \text{AOV} = \frac{\text{Total Revenue}}{\text{Number of Orders}} ]
This metric helps understand the average amount each customer spends per transaction.
How can pivot tables enhance my monthly sales report?
Select your data range and highlight the dataset you want to analyze. Click on Data in the menu, then select Pivot Table. Configure your pivot table. Use the Pivot table editor panel on the right to drag fields into Rows, Columns, Values, and Filters.
