Creator ROI Dashboard: Track Spend, Revenue & Profit Trends
Creator ROI Dashboard
Monthly Inputs
Tools & Platform Costs
| Tool | Category | Monthly | Recurring | Action |
|---|
Revenue Summary
| Source | Category | Amount | Action |
|---|
Time Value
Used to estimate time cost (COGS) per product/service.
Products & Services ROI
| Category | Product / Service | Revenue | Tool | Marketing | Time (hrs) | $ / hr | Time COGS | Total Cost | Profit | Margin | Action |
|---|
Monthly History & Trends
| Month | Spend | Revenue | Profit | ROI % | Followers | Plays/Streams | Notes |
|---|
Break-even Estimate (unlocks after 3 months)
Add at least 3 months in History to see an estimate.
ROI Dashboard FAQ
What is a creator ROI dashboard?
A creator ROI dashboard is a simple system that helps you track what you put into your creator business each month (tools, time, and promotion) and what you get back (revenue and growth). It gives you a clear view of whether you’re moving toward profit, staying flat, or losing money.
The goal is not perfect accounting. The goal is better decisions about what to focus on.
How do I price my time for time-as-COGS?
Pick an hourly value that reflects what your time is worth right now. If you’re not sure, start with a simple number you can live with (example: $20–$30/hour) and adjust later.
- If you’re building a side project: use a lower, realistic rate.
- If you’re replacing work income: use a rate closer to what you’d want to earn.
- If your work is highly skilled (editing, mixing, design): use a higher rate.
The point is consistency. Even a rough time value reveals what’s truly “expensive” to maintain.
Should I track ROI by product or by channel?
Start with product/service ROI because it tells you what is worth building and maintaining. Once that’s clear, add channel tracking (YouTube, Facebook, email, affiliates) if you want to see where your customers are coming from.
A simple rule: if you can’t confidently answer “Which product makes the most profit?” start with product ROI first.
How many months of data do I need to see trends?
You can start learning from just one month, but trends become meaningful once you have at least 3 months of consistent entries.
- 1 month: a snapshot (useful, but limited).
- 3 months: basic trends start to show.
- 6 months: patterns get clearer and forecasting becomes more reliable.
Consistency matters more than perfection. Rough numbers are better than missing months.
What counts as COGS for digital products?
COGS (cost of goods sold) for digital products is anything directly tied to creating, delivering, and supporting that product. Even if the file itself is “free to duplicate,” running it is not always free.
- Time: writing, formatting, updates, customer support.
- Tools used to create it: design software, AI tools, editing tools.
- Delivery costs: file hosting, email platform costs tied to delivery.
- Marketing directly tied to that product: ads or promo spend for that item.
If a cost happens whether the product exists or not, it’s usually overhead. If it happens because the product exists, it’s usually COGS.