Introducing the Simple Numbers 100

CRI Simple Numbers is partnering with 21 Hats to bring you analysis of the economy that business owners actually confront, bridging the gap between Wall Street headlines and Main Street reality.

By Brandon Gray

If you’ve glanced at the headlines lately, you’ve probably noticed they don’t always tell the same story. One day it’s “Unemployment Rises,” the next it’s “Dow Jones Hits All-Time High.”

For entrepreneurs, that kind of mixed messaging doesn’t help much. What you really want to know is: How are companies like mine performing? And that’s where CRI Simple Numbers steps in. Under the leadership of Greg Crabtree – author of “Simple Numbers, Strait Talk, Big Profits” and “Simple Numbers 2.0: Rules for Smart Scaling,” CRI Simple Numbers works with our clients to simplify financials and increase profitability. Along the way we are also able to provide insights into what the highest performers are doing right.

For nearly a decade, we’ve been tracking the financial performance of 100 entrepreneurial companies through our Simple Numbers 100 Company Model. This model reveals real-world trends in sales, margins, operating expenses, labor efficiency, capital, and more — all pulled from businesses run by real owners, not corporate giants. Because our clients span multiple industries and regions across the U.S., our data paints a true picture of what’s happening on Main Street. Updated monthly, the model allows us to analyze performance by company size and industry — providing insight into where the entrepreneurial economy is headed next.

Now, we’re excited to partner with 21 Hats to bring these insights directly to you. Each month, we’ll share updates from the Simple Numbers 100 — along with analysis that highlights trends, challenges, and opportunities for growth. This means you’ll have real data to compare your performance, make smarter strategic decisions, and stay ahead of the curve.

Stay tuned — the first Simple Numbers 100 insights are coming soon!

Brandon Gray is a partner with CRI Simple Numbers.