Key Analytics Every Self-Performing Subcontractor Should Monitor Weekly

Running a successful subcontracting business requires more than just skilled crews and quality work; it demands constant visibility into your company's financial and operational health. Yet many self-performing subcontractors still rely on outdated monthly reports or gut feelings to gauge project performance, discovering problems only after they've eroded profits.

The most successful subcontractors monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) weekly, catching issues early when corrective action is still possible and affordable. Modern construction management platforms like Sub360 provide real-time dashboards that turn raw project data into actionable insights automatically. Here are the essential KPIs every self-performing subcontractor should track.

1. Labor Productivity

Labor productivity measures how efficiently your crews convert time into completed work. It's the foundation of profitability for self-performing subcontractors. Calculate it by comparing actual hours worked against budgeted hours for work completed.

If you budgeted 100 hours to install 1,000 square feet but your crew used 120 hours, your productivity is below target. Weekly productivity monitoring reveals trends before they destroy budgets. A crew that's 10% less productive than estimated might seem manageable, but over a three-month project, that variance compounds into significant cost overruns.

2. Cost-to-Complete

Cost-to-complete projects your total project costs based on current spending rates and remaining work. It answers the critical question: "Based on how this project is actually performing, what will it ultimately cost?"

Many subcontractors focus exclusively on costs-to-date, which only shows what's been spent, not what will be spent. If you've spent $50,000 completing 40% of a project, simple math suggests you'll spend $125,000 total, well above a $100,000 budget. This early warning enables proactive cost control before losses become irreversible.

3. Earned Value

Earned value measures the value of work actually completed against the budget for that work. It's one of the most powerful project health indicators because it accounts for both cost and schedule performance simultaneously.

If your project is budgeted at $200,000 and you're 50% complete, you've earned $100,000 of value, regardless of what you've actually spent. Compare earned value against actual costs to determine if you're making or losing money. Compare it against planned progress to see if you're ahead or behind schedule.

Earned value analysis reveals problems other metrics miss. A project might be under budget but earning value too slowly, indicating schedule problems that will eventually drive up costs.

4. Work-in-Progress (WIP)

Work-in-progress tracks the value of work completed but not yet billed. It's critical for cash flow management and reveals whether you're keeping up with billing or leaving money on the table.

High WIP indicates you're completing work faster than you're billing, which ties up capital and strains cash flow. Monitor WIP weekly to identify projects where completed work hasn't been billed and ensure invoices are submitted promptly.

5. Backlog

Backlog represents the total value of work under contract but not yet completed. It's your pipeline—the revenue waiting to be earned. A healthy backlog provides business stability and predictable revenue.

Monitor both total backlog and backlog burn rate—how quickly you're converting backlog into revenue. If you're burning backlog faster than you're winning new work, you face a future revenue gap. Weekly backlog analysis informs critical decisions about hiring, capacity, and business development.

Real-Time Dashboards Transform Decision-Making

The power of these KPIs lies in consistent weekly monitoring. When you track labor productivity, cost-to-complete, earned value, WIP, and backlog every week, patterns emerge. You spot problems early and make data-driven decisions with confidence.

Sub360 provides real-time dashboards that aggregate this data automatically, eliminating manual reporting work while delivering instant visibility. The subcontractors who monitor these analytics weekly don't just survive, they thrive with more accurate bids, profitable project management, and strategic growth.

If you'd like to learn more about how Sub360's real-time analytics dashboards can give your team better visibility and control, contact us today.