This issue brief will explore the concept of early care and education business metrics, including a discussion of why metrics matter, what metrics should be tracked, and how these data can be used. The information and lessons learned are based on information gleaned from modeling ECE budgets and the experience of industry leaders to date. However, this brief should be viewed as a first step in what is anticipated to be a much deeper look at a range of ECE costs, revenues, program models and administrative structures. (author abstract)