Growth without visibility is just noise. That’s why serious founders rely on one powerful tool: the Monthly MIS Report.
An MIS (Management Information System) report gives you a 360° view of your startup’s financial and operational health — so you can make smarter, faster decisions.
In this edition, let’s break down exactly what should go into it.
Why Every Startup Needs an MIS Report
-
See where the money is going
-
Track performance vs. budget
-
Control costs before they snowball
-
Get investor-ready anytime
-
Build accountability with real numbers
What to Include in Your Monthly MIS
Here’s the structure we use for most early-stage clients at CFO Emeritus:
1. P&L Snapshot (Month + YTD)
-
Revenue (with breakup by source/product/region)
-
Direct costs (COGS)
-
Gross profit
-
Operating expenses (detailed)
-
EBITDA / Net profit
✅ Keep it simple, but consistent every month
2. Cash Flow Summary
-
Opening balance
-
Cash inflows (collections, loans, capital)
-
Cash outflows (expenses, salaries, taxes, repayments)
-
Closing balance
-
Cash runway
✅ Helps manage burn, runway, and plan for upcoming crunch
3. Budget vs. Actual Analysis
-
Compare this month’s actuals against your forecast
-
Highlight major variances (with reasons)
✅ Gives clarity on over/under performance
4. Key Metrics & Ratios
-
Burn Rate
-
CAC, LTV, Contribution Margin
-
Monthly Active Users / Revenue per User (if SaaS or D2C)
-
Customer churn or retention
-
Collections cycle / debtor days
✅ Investors LOVE this section if you keep it clean and visual
5. Action Points / Commentary
-
Quick takeaways from the founder/finance lead
-
Any pending actions (e.g., cost reviews, overdue invoices, approvals)
✅ Turns raw data into actual decisions
📩 Just drop a message or email office@cfoemeritus.com.
🎯 Final Thought
An MIS report isn’t a “big company thing.” It’s a clarity thing — and clarity scales businesses faster than hustle.
At CFO Emeritus, we help startups build customized MIS dashboards that drive real decisions, not just reporting.
PS: Next week’s edition → “The Finance Stack Every Founder Needs (from Day 1 to Series A)” Subscribe now.!