Financial metrics mean nothing if franchise owners can’t see the story behind them. That’s why clear, visual comparisons of key metrics like Labor %, COGS, and Net Margin are essential for multi-location success.
“We used to wait until quarter-end to understand performance. Now our locations can see labor trends in real time. It’s a game changer.”
– QuickBooks User
Why Visual Comparisons Matter
When you display labor cost, COGS, and margins visually, franchisees quickly grasp:
- Which locations are overspending
- Which products or categories are dragging down profits
- How performance compares across months or franchises
Essential Visuals to Include
- Labor % by Location: Bar chart showing monthly labor cost as % of sales
- COGS Breakdown: Stacked column chart comparing materials, supplies, and inventory by location
- Net Margin Trends: Line chart of margin over time with benchmarks
Pro Tip: Use color-coded thresholds (red/yellow/green) to visually indicate performance health.
Below is an example pulled from our sample franchise report. It compares Labor %, COGS %, and Net Margin across three locations. This visual format makes it easy for owners and operators to spot inefficiencies and benchmark performance.
| Location | Labor % | COGS % | Net Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown | 29% | 34% | 13% |
| Plaza | 32% | 36% | 10% |
| Eastside | 26% | 31% | 16% |
How Reach Reporting Makes This Easy
Reach connects directly to your accounting data, so you can:
- Auto-update visuals with real-time financials
- Use templates pre-built for franchises
- Segment data by location, category, or custom tags
Explore more in our related post: The Metrics Franchise Owners Actually Care About.
Download the Franchise Sample Report
See how we visually present COGS, Labor %, and Net Margin in a real franchise report.
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People Also Asked
Q: Why visualize Labor %, COGS, and margins?
A: Visuals help franchisees instantly identify which areas are underperforming or trending in the wrong direction without needing to interpret raw numbers.
Q: What’s the best way to compare locations?
A: Use a combination of stacked columns, color-coded charts, and benchmark lines. Avoid using only data tables, which don’t show patterns easily.
Explore More from This Series
- Part 1: Financial Reporting for Franchise Businesses
- Part 2: How to Educate Franchise Owners on Their Financial Reports
- Part 3: Visualizing Labor%, COGS, and Net Margins by Location
- Part 4: Why Visuals Matter: Breaking Down Franchise Financial Metrics
- Part 5: Franchise KPI Guide: Top Metrics to Monitor Monthly
- Part 6: Franchise Budgeting and Forecasting Best Practices
- Bonus Article 1: How to Create a Consolidated Franchise Report That Makes Sense
- Bonus Article 2: Build Multi-Location Franchise Financial Reports
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