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Excel University Lesson 508: Building Your First Business Dashboard

Master data-driven management by tracking key client acquisition and retention metrics in Excel and Power BI.

Created byJeff Lenningworkspace_premiumBest Instructor
AdvancedUpdated Sep 21, 2026

What You'll Learn

  • check_circleApply the Assess, Browse, Create, Design framework to dashboard development
  • check_circleConstruct relational data models using CRM, accounting, and survey datasets
  • check_circleDevelop time series, deviation, and distribution charts for business monitoring
  • check_circleImplement cross-page slicer synchronization in Power BI
  • check_circleOptimize dashboard layouts for mobile application viewing

About This Course

This course provides a practical framework for small business owners to monitor key performance indicators by integrating data from CRM, accounting, and survey systems. It covers the end-to-end process of building a functional dashboard, starting with data assessment and cleaning in Power Query, followed by modeling relationships and creating visual reports. The curriculum demonstrates how to track client acquisition through lead, appointment, and proposal metrics, alongside client retention via billable hours and satisfaction surveys. Learners will implement these solutions using both Excel and Power BI, including advanced techniques like syncing slicers and deploying mobile-optimized reports.

Topics Covered

  • CRM and accounting data integration
  • Data modeling and relationship management
  • Time series analysis for lead tracking
  • Billable hours and target deviation
  • Client survey distribution and ranking
  • Power BI slicer synchronization
  • Mobile-optimized report deployment
  • Custom visual marketplace integration

Course Content

3 activities • 3 videos • duration: 57m

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Lecture2 videos • 1 quiz • 47 min
  • videocamCase Study 8 - Excel
    Duration 34:11
  • videocamCase Study 8 - Power BI
    Duration 13:13
  • quizLecture Quiz
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Additional Resources1 videos • 10 min
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Final Assessment1 quiz

Your Instructor

Jeff Lenning

CPA and Microsoft Certified Trainer

menu_book36 courses
star1,180 reviews

In his live CPE training sessions, Jeff Lenning CPA has shown thousands of CPAs and accounting professionals across the country how to use Excel to streamline their work and become more efficient. Several publications have featured his Excel articles, including the Journal of Accountancy and California CPA Magazine. After graduating from the University of Southern California, Jeff began his career in the audit practice at Arthur Andersen’s Orange County office. He was a senior financial analyst at Gateway computers and the accounting manager at Interpore Cross International. In 2000, he founded Click Consulting Inc., a technology-consulting firm that specializes in Excel training, consulting, development, and personal coaching. He is a past president of the CalCPA OCLB Chapter, the former chair of the California CPA State Technology Committee, co-chair of the California CPA OCLB Chapter Technology Committee, a board member of the California CPA OCLB Chapter, on the California Society of CPAs Council, and an instructor for the AICPA and the California CPA Education Foundation. A Microsoft Office Certified Excel Expert, he is a nationally recognized speaker and trainer. He was recently recognized with the California CPA Education Foundation's Award for Instructor Excellence.

Credit Information

Is this course eligible for my CPD requirements as a Canadian CPA?

Provincial regulators of CPAs in Canada do not require that independent providers of CPD be approved to offer courses. Instead, individual CPAs are responsible for assessing whether a CPD activity meets their requirements, and may take activities from any source provided those requirements are met.

Every course offered on LearnFormula is delivered by a qualified subject matter expert or learning organization, and advances learning objectives that are relevant to the responsibilities or professional competencies of Canadian CPAs. All activities on LearnFormula are quantifiable in terms of hours, and are also verifiable, in that users receive documented evidence of their attendance via a certificate of completion after finishing a course (and this certificate is stored by LearnFormula indefinitely). Nearly 100,000 Canadian CPAs successfully satisfy their CPD requirements via LearnFormula on an annual basis.

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Frequently Asked Questions

We are a registered provider with 300+ associations and regulatory bodies worldwide. We operate across 27 global markets including Canada, the US, Australia, and the UK. Every course page clearly displays its specific accreditations. Upon completion, you receive a professional certificate that can be validated online. Our certificates include all necessary accreditation details, credit hours, and completion dates, and are formatted specifically to meet the submission requirements of most global regulatory bodies.

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