The Metrics feature is used to track KPIs and business metrics for clients. Metrics function like a spreadsheet that is directly integrated with clients’ transaction data.
Within Metrics:
Create and track custom variables: These variables will automatically update when your QuickBooks or Xero data does.
Graph variables and create visual representations of important data
Video overview
In the video below, Ben walks through the Metrics tab, showcasing the variables and visuals that can be set up within a client’s close.
Understanding Metrics
The Metrics tab has two main sections:
Variables
Variable sections are divided into tabs.
A tab is like a tab in a spreadsheet.
Tabs contain variables (rows of data).
Visuals
Create visual representations of any variable data.
These metrics are also able to be embedded into Management Reports.
Variables
Review existing transaction data and create new variables under Metrics > Variables.
Default tabs include the following data:
Profit and Loss
Balance Sheet
Statement of Cash Flows
Add new custom tabs as needed.
Adding variables
Variables in default tabs cannot be edited, but number or formula variables can be created in a custom tab.
Create a custom variable tab by selecting the plus (+) sign at the bottom left of the Metrics tab.
Create a custom variable by selecting "Insert Row," then choosing "Add Formula." Always save changes to variables before navigating away from an existing tab.
Number variables
Manually input values that don't exist in the ledger.
This is helpful for values like employee count or unit sales from a point of sale
Formula variables
Build a formula that references other variables.
A divider can help keep variables spaced out and organized.
Editing variables
Edit and remove existing variables by clicking the Settings button in the Type column.
From there, update the following information for the variable:
Type
Style
Indentation
Edit formula
Delete
To rename a variable row, click into the cell and update from there
Pro tips
Right click a variable to duplicate it, delete it, or insert a variable below it.
Clicking the row number (the leftmost column) highlights the row. Once highlighted, the row can be copied and pasted over other rows.
Visuals
Create visuals for any existing Metrics variables.
Double supports the following metric visual types:
Area chart
Bar chart
Stacked bar chart
Line chart
Donut chart
Pie chart
KPI card
Creating visuals
To get started creating custom visuals,
Navigate to the Visuals tab under Metrics
Select + Add Visual
From here, choose to customize visuals as needed. When ready, select Save to add the visual to the list.
Editing visuals
At the top righthand corner of each visual, users can choose from the following actions:
Edit visual
Delete visual
Drag/drop
Note: If the edit icon is missing from a visual, it's most likely because of Report Lock.
Visuals on management reports
These visual metrics graphs can be added to Management/Financial Reports as part of the reporting package.
Configure Key Metrics from the Executive Summary page
Go to the Executive Summary page
Select Configure page
Manage key metrics from there
Add Metrics to the monthly report & interactive financials
Metrics only need to be built once in the latest close. Opening the following month’s close will update the data accordingly.
Managing Metrics with Ask Double, the MCP server, and the API
Everything you can do with Metrics in the UI can now be done programmatically — through Ask Double, Double's MCP server, and the public API. This makes it easy to set up and maintain metrics at scale, for example rolling out a standard set of KPIs across many clients or copying an existing setup from one client to another.
These capabilities cover all three parts of Metrics — tabs, variables, and visuals. For each, you can read, create, edit, delete, and reorder.
Tabs
List all tabs for a client (name, ID, and order).
Create a tab. Each tab has a type — Custom, Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, or Statement of Cash Flows — and duplicate types are not allowed.
Rename a tab.
Delete a tab. Deleting a tab also deletes the visuals that belong to it. If the tab contains variables referenced by visuals on other tabs, the delete is blocked and the dependency is explained rather than failing silently.
Variables
List all variables for a client, including name, ID, type (formula or number), and current value for number variables. You can also filter by category (P&L, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow, or Custom).
Create a number variable with an initial value, or a formula variable with a formula expression.
Update a number variable's value — any visuals referencing it update to reflect the new value.
Update a formula variable's expression — the formula recalculates automatically.
Update a variable's row settings (type, style, indentation).
Delete a variable. If the variable is referenced by one or more visuals, the delete is blocked and the affected visuals are named.
Visuals
List all visuals for a client (name, ID, and type — e.g. graph or table).
Create a visual with a title, optional description, format, rounding, visual type, variables, and date range. New visuals appear at the top of the list.
Update a visual's name or configuration in place, without affecting other visuals on the tab.
Delete a visual; the remaining visuals keep their order.
Reorder visuals — the new sort order is reflected in the app.
Using Ask Double
Because these tools are available to Ask Double, you can manage metrics in plain language. For example:
"Copy the metrics variables and visuals from Client A to Client B." Ask Double reads everything from Client A and recreates it on Client B, without changing Client A.
"Copy the metrics tabs from Client A to Client B." Tabs are copied along with their visuals. Variable references are preserved by name where the variable already exists on Client B, or flagged if it doesn't.
"Delete all metrics tabs for Client X." Ask Double confirms what will be deleted before it proceeds.
If a name conflict comes up during a copy — for instance, Client B already has a variable or visual with the same name — Ask Double surfaces the conflict and asks whether to skip, overwrite, or rename before proceeding. It never overwrites silently.
Supported ledgers
The Metrics tools via Ask Double and the MCP/API are only available for QuickBooks Online and Xero clients.
Activity logging
Changes made to metrics through these tools are recorded in the Activity log, so you have a record of what changed and when.