Spreadsheet risk checklist
A spreadsheet that quietly became critical is a risk. Use this to find out how exposed you are, and whether it's time to replace it.
This is a free checklist from WL Solutions to help you make a clearer decision before you spend time or money, no signup and nothing to buy.
Signs a spreadsheet has outgrown its job
- The business would stop if this file were lost or corrupted
- Only one person truly understands how it works
- Several people edit it, sometimes at the same time
- It's shared by email, so nobody knows which copy is current
- It holds data other systems should own instead
Where the hidden risk lives
- Formulas nobody has checked in months or years
- Manual steps that must run in the right order to be correct
- No record of who changed what, or when
- Sensitive data sitting in a file with no real access control
- A single typo that can quietly change every number downstream
Deciding what to do
- Keep it if it's small, stable, and low-stakes: not every sheet needs replacing
- Add a backup and a single source of truth before anything else
- Consider whether existing software already does this job
- Move to a real tool when the risk outweighs the convenience
- Capture the logic out of the file so it isn't trapped in one head
Related capabilities
Spreadsheet modernization
A spreadsheet that quietly became a core system is a common, fixable problem.
Learn moreExcel automation
A spreadsheet that runs your business is a sign of resourceful people, and usually a sign the spreadsheet has outgrown itself.
Learn moreCustom software
Custom software is the right call more often than big vendors admit, and less often than developers claim.
Learn moreSpreadsheet risk checklist: common questions
Is this checklist free to use?
Yes. Every resource on this site is free. There is no signup, no download wall, and nothing to buy.
Who is WL Solutions?
WL Solutions builds custom software, automations, and integrations for small businesses across Dallas-Fort Worth and East Texas. We fix the process first, then build only what earns its keep.
Can WL Solutions help apply this to my business?
Yes. Email admin@wlsolutionstx.com with the problem you are trying to solve. We scope it at no charge and tell you honestly whether it is worth doing, us or not.
Got something that bugs you?
Tell us the problem that's eating your time. Email us and we'll tell you straight if it's worth fixing, and point you to the best next step, us or not.