8 KPIs measure business profitability

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July 19, 2024

In the pest control industry, success is tied to efficient operations, satisfied customers and a productive workforce. Key performance indicators (KPIs) provide valuable insights into these areas, helping businesses identify opportunities for improvement and drive profitability.

The following KPIs are extremely important in driving profitability and good cash flow management.

Days sales outstanding (DSO) measures the average number of days it takes to collect payment from customers. A lower DSO indicates efficient invoicing and collection processes, improving cash flow and reducing the risk of bad debt. This KPI is used mostly for commercial accounts in the pest control industry, as most firms have shifted to charging the credit card on file on the first of the month for residential customers.

Illustration: Nuthawut Somsuk / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Illustration: Nuthawut Somsuk / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Average revenue per employee (RPE) measures how much revenue, on average, each employee brings in for the company. A higher RPE suggests a productive workforce and efficient use of labor resources, contributing to overall profitability.

Average revenue per technician measures the RPE on your technical side. It helps assess technician productivity, identify top performers and uncover potential training needs.

Average revenue per customer measures the average revenue a single customer generates over a specific period. You can increase this metric through upselling, cross-selling or offering premium services.

Ratio of office staff to production staff examines the balance between office staff (administrative, inside sales, etc.) and production staff (technicians, on-the-road sales staff). Maintaining an optimal ratio ensures efficient support for production activities without incurring unnecessary overhead costs.

Customer skip percentage measures how often customers miss appointments. It is expressed as a percentage of work orders to be completed at the beginning of the month to work order completions during the month. Reducing this percentage can improve scheduling efficiency and maximize technician utilization.

Customer cancellation percentage measures how often customers cancel service. Minimizing cancellations will lead to better resource allocation, lower sales cost as a percentage of revenue, and higher profitability.

Technician utilization measures the percentage of time technicians spend on location vs. behind the windshield. Optimizing this metric through efficient scheduling and dispatching can significantly boost profitability.

Leveraging KPIs for actionable insights

By monitoring and analyzing these KPIs, you can gain valuable insights into your operations. For example, a high DSO might prompt a review of invoicing practices or incentivize early payment discounts. Low RPE could indicate a need for additional training, process improvements or a need to reduce staff.

Tracking the ratio of office staff to production staff ensures a balanced workforce that supports core service delivery. Addressing high skip or cancellation rates might involve better communication or rescheduling options.

Optimizing technician utilization can be achieved through route optimization software, real-time tracking and efficient scheduling.

By incorporating these KPIs into your performance framework, you can make data-driven decisions that improve operational efficiency, enhance customer satisfaction and ultimately drive profitability. Regular monitoring, analysis and actions based on these metrics will lead to a well-run and profitable business.

About the Author

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Dan Gordon, CPA, owns PCO Bookkeepers & M&A Specialists, an accounting and exit planning firm that caters to pest management professionals throughout the United States. He can be reached at dan@pcobookkeepers.com.

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