diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pipeline_routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pipeline_routes.py
index 3bc926f..9e1f354 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pipeline_routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pipeline_routes.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from quart import Blueprint, flash, redirect, render_template, request, url_for
 
 from ..auth.routes import role_required
-from ..core import csrf_protect
+from ..core import count_where, csrf_protect
 
 logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -298,11 +298,8 @@ async def _inject_sidebar_data():
     """Load unread inbox count for the admin sidebar badge."""
     from quart import g
 
-    from ..core import fetch_one
-
     try:
-        row = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM inbound_emails WHERE is_read = 0")
-        g.admin_unread_count = row["cnt"] if row else 0
+        g.admin_unread_count = await count_where("inbound_emails WHERE is_read = 0")
     except Exception:
         g.admin_unread_count = 0
 
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pseo_routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pseo_routes.py
index 183684d..f35ec26 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pseo_routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/admin/pseo_routes.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ from ..content.health import (
     get_template_freshness,
     get_template_stats,
 )
-from ..core import csrf_protect, fetch_all, fetch_one
+from ..core import count_where, csrf_protect, fetch_all, fetch_one
 
 bp = Blueprint(
     "pseo",
@@ -41,8 +41,7 @@ async def _inject_sidebar_data():
     from quart import g
 
     try:
-        row = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM inbound_emails WHERE is_read = 0")
-        g.admin_unread_count = row["cnt"] if row else 0
+        g.admin_unread_count = await count_where("inbound_emails WHERE is_read = 0")
     except Exception:
         g.admin_unread_count = 0
 
@@ -80,8 +79,7 @@ async def pseo_dashboard():
     total_published = sum(r["stats"]["published"] for r in template_rows)
     stale_count = sum(1 for f in freshness if f["status"] == "stale")
 
-    noindex_row = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM articles WHERE noindex = 1")
-    noindex_count = noindex_row["cnt"] if noindex_row else 0
+    noindex_count = await count_where("articles WHERE noindex = 1")
 
     # Recent generation jobs — enough for the dashboard summary.
     jobs = await fetch_all(
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/dashboard/routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/dashboard/routes.py
index 6afb375..e446a8f 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/dashboard/routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/dashboard/routes.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 from quart import Blueprint, flash, g, redirect, render_template, request, url_for
 
 from ..auth.routes import login_required, update_user
-from ..core import csrf_protect, fetch_one, soft_delete, utcnow_iso
+from ..core import count_where, csrf_protect, fetch_one, soft_delete, utcnow_iso
 from ..i18n import get_translations
 
 bp = Blueprint(
@@ -18,17 +18,13 @@ bp = Blueprint(
 
 
 async def get_user_stats(user_id: int) -> dict:
-    scenarios = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM scenarios WHERE user_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL",
-        (user_id,),
-    )
-    leads = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as count FROM lead_requests WHERE user_id = ?",
-        (user_id,),
-    )
     return {
-        "scenarios": scenarios["count"] if scenarios else 0,
-        "leads": leads["count"] if leads else 0,
+        "scenarios": await count_where(
+            "scenarios WHERE user_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", (user_id,)
+        ),
+        "leads": await count_where(
+            "lead_requests WHERE user_id = ?", (user_id,)
+        ),
     }
 
 
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/directory/routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/directory/routes.py
index a7f46cd..c1b450f 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/directory/routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/directory/routes.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from quart import Blueprint, g, make_response, redirect, render_template, request, url_for
 
-from ..core import csrf_protect, execute, fetch_all, fetch_one, utcnow_iso
+from ..core import count_where, csrf_protect, execute, fetch_all, fetch_one, utcnow_iso
 from ..i18n import COUNTRY_LABELS, get_translations
 
 bp = Blueprint(
@@ -79,11 +79,7 @@ async def _build_directory_query(q, country, category, region, page, per_page=24
 
     where = " AND ".join(wheres) if wheres else "1=1"
 
-    count_row = await fetch_one(
-        f"SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM suppliers s WHERE {where}",
-        tuple(params),
-    )
-    total = count_row["cnt"] if count_row else 0
+    total = await count_where(f"suppliers s WHERE {where}", tuple(params))
 
     offset = (page - 1) * per_page
     # Tier-based ordering: sticky first, then pro > growth > free, then name
@@ -159,16 +155,16 @@ async def index():
         "SELECT category, COUNT(*) as cnt FROM suppliers GROUP BY category ORDER BY cnt DESC"
     )
 
-    total_suppliers = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM suppliers")
-    total_countries = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT country_code) as cnt FROM suppliers")
+    total_suppliers = await count_where("suppliers")
+    total_countries = await count_where("(SELECT DISTINCT country_code FROM suppliers)")
 
     return await render_template(
         "directory.html",
         **ctx,
         country_counts=country_counts,
         category_counts=category_counts,
-        total_suppliers=total_suppliers["cnt"] if total_suppliers else 0,
-        total_countries=total_countries["cnt"] if total_countries else 0,
+        total_suppliers=total_suppliers,
+        total_countries=total_countries,
     )
 
 
@@ -204,11 +200,9 @@ async def supplier_detail(slug: str):
     # Enquiry count (Basic+)
     enquiry_count = 0
     if supplier.get("tier") in ("basic", "growth", "pro"):
-        row = await fetch_one(
-            "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM supplier_enquiries WHERE supplier_id = ?",
-            (supplier["id"],),
+        enquiry_count = await count_where(
+            "supplier_enquiries WHERE supplier_id = ?", (supplier["id"],)
         )
-        enquiry_count = row["cnt"] if row else 0
 
     lang = g.get("lang", "en")
     cat_labels, country_labels, region_labels = get_directory_labels(lang)
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/planner/routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/planner/routes.py
index 50ed5ef..a236205 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/planner/routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/planner/routes.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from quart import Blueprint, Response, g, jsonify, render_template, request
 from ..auth.routes import login_required
 from ..core import (
     config,
+    count_where,
     csrf_protect,
     execute,
     feature_gate,
@@ -50,11 +51,9 @@ COUNTRY_PRESETS = {
 
 
 async def count_scenarios(user_id: int) -> int:
-    row = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM scenarios WHERE user_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL",
-        (user_id,),
+    return await count_where(
+        "scenarios WHERE user_id = ? AND deleted_at IS NULL", (user_id,)
     )
-    return row["cnt"] if row else 0
 
 
 async def get_default_scenario(user_id: int) -> dict | None:
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/public/routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/public/routes.py
index 94b9eb4..43d945f 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/public/routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/public/routes.py
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ from pathlib import Path
 
 from quart import Blueprint, g, render_template, request, session
 
-from ..core import check_rate_limit, csrf_protect, execute, fetch_all, fetch_one
+from ..core import check_rate_limit, count_where, csrf_protect, execute, fetch_all, fetch_one
 from ..i18n import get_translations
 
 bp = Blueprint(
@@ -17,13 +17,9 @@ bp = Blueprint(
 
 async def _supplier_counts():
     """Fetch aggregate supplier stats for landing/marketing pages."""
-    total = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM suppliers")
-    countries = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(DISTINCT country_code) as cnt FROM suppliers"
-    )
     return (
-        total["cnt"] if total else 0,
-        countries["cnt"] if countries else 0,
+        await count_where("suppliers"),
+        await count_where("(SELECT DISTINCT country_code FROM suppliers)"),
     )
 
 
@@ -75,15 +71,15 @@ async def suppliers():
     total_suppliers, total_countries = await _supplier_counts()
 
     # Live stats
-    calc_requests = await fetch_one("SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM scenarios WHERE deleted_at IS NULL")
+    calc_requests = await count_where("scenarios WHERE deleted_at IS NULL")
     avg_budget = await fetch_one(
         "SELECT AVG(budget_estimate) as avg FROM lead_requests WHERE budget_estimate > 0 AND lead_type = 'quote'"
     )
-    active_suppliers = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM suppliers WHERE tier IN ('growth', 'pro') AND claimed_by IS NOT NULL"
+    active_suppliers = await count_where(
+        "suppliers WHERE tier IN ('growth', 'pro') AND claimed_by IS NOT NULL"
     )
-    monthly_leads = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM lead_requests WHERE lead_type = 'quote' AND created_at >= date('now', '-30 days')"
+    monthly_leads = await count_where(
+        "lead_requests WHERE lead_type = 'quote' AND created_at >= date('now', '-30 days')"
     )
 
     # Lead feed preview — 3 recent verified hot/warm leads, anonymized
@@ -100,10 +96,10 @@ async def suppliers():
         "suppliers.html",
         total_suppliers=total_suppliers,
         total_countries=total_countries,
-        calc_requests=calc_requests["cnt"] if calc_requests else 0,
+        calc_requests=calc_requests,
         avg_budget=int(avg_budget["avg"]) if avg_budget and avg_budget["avg"] else 0,
-        active_suppliers=active_suppliers["cnt"] if active_suppliers else 0,
-        monthly_leads=monthly_leads["cnt"] if monthly_leads else 0,
+        active_suppliers=active_suppliers,
+        monthly_leads=monthly_leads,
         preview_leads=preview_leads,
     )
 
diff --git a/web/src/padelnomics/suppliers/routes.py b/web/src/padelnomics/suppliers/routes.py
index 2d51faf..afbd394 100644
--- a/web/src/padelnomics/suppliers/routes.py
+++ b/web/src/padelnomics/suppliers/routes.py
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ from werkzeug.utils import secure_filename
 from ..core import (
     capture_waitlist_email,
     config,
+    count_where,
     csrf_protect,
     execute,
     feature_gate,
@@ -776,9 +777,8 @@ async def dashboard_overview():
     supplier = g.supplier
 
     # Leads unlocked count
-    unlocked = await fetch_one(
-        "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM lead_forwards WHERE supplier_id = ?",
-        (supplier["id"],),
+    leads_unlocked = await count_where(
+        "lead_forwards WHERE supplier_id = ?", (supplier["id"],)
     )
 
     # New leads matching supplier's area since last login
@@ -787,22 +787,20 @@ async def dashboard_overview():
     new_leads_count = 0
     if service_area:
         placeholders = ",".join("?" * len(service_area))
-        row = await fetch_one(
-            f"""SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM lead_requests
+        new_leads_count = await count_where(
+            f"""lead_requests
                 WHERE lead_type = 'quote' AND status = 'new' AND verified_at IS NOT NULL
                 AND country IN ({placeholders})
                 AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM lead_forwards WHERE lead_id = lead_requests.id AND supplier_id = ?)""",
             (*service_area, supplier["id"]),
         )
-        new_leads_count = row["cnt"] if row else 0
     else:
-        row = await fetch_one(
-            """SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM lead_requests
+        new_leads_count = await count_where(
+            """lead_requests
                WHERE lead_type = 'quote' AND status = 'new' AND verified_at IS NOT NULL
                AND NOT EXISTS (SELECT 1 FROM lead_forwards WHERE lead_id = lead_requests.id AND supplier_id = ?)""",
             (supplier["id"],),
         )
-        new_leads_count = row["cnt"] if row else 0
 
     # Recent activity (last 10 events from credit_ledger + lead_forwards)
     recent_activity = await fetch_all(
@@ -825,16 +823,14 @@ async def dashboard_overview():
     # Enquiry count for Basic tier
     enquiry_count = 0
     if supplier.get("tier") == "basic":
-        eq_row = await fetch_one(
-            "SELECT COUNT(*) as cnt FROM supplier_enquiries WHERE supplier_id = ?",
-            (supplier["id"],),
+        enquiry_count = await count_where(
+            "supplier_enquiries WHERE supplier_id = ?", (supplier["id"],)
         )
-        enquiry_count = eq_row["cnt"] if eq_row else 0
 
     return await render_template(
         "suppliers/partials/dashboard_overview.html",
         supplier=supplier,
-        leads_unlocked=unlocked["cnt"] if unlocked else 0,
+        leads_unlocked=leads_unlocked,
         new_leads_count=new_leads_count,
         recent_activity=recent_activity,
         active_boosts=active_boosts,