Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden

Most business owners are so focused on the day-to-day that the bigger picture never gets looked at. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden walks through exactly how to run a quarterly financial review — and why it's one of the most important things you can do as a CEO. Instead of reacting to slow weeks or tough months, a quarterly review gives you the structure to zoom out, find the real patterns in your business, and decide where you're going next. You will learn what to review each quarter, from revenue and operating expenses to cash flow, compensation, and net income, and how to use that information to lead your business with intention. If you have ever felt like you're running your business without a clear financial direction, this episode will give you a repeatable process to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key takeaways: 00:00 Reacting vs. reviewing your numbers 01:24 How to run a quarterly financial review 02:28 What your revenue is actually telling you 03:38 How operating expenses reveal your priorities 04:46 Profit vs. revenue — what healthy profit looks like 06:24 Cash flow and protecting your business 07:42 How to review compensation 08:22 Setting your next 90-day priorities Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 Under 15% Profit? Your Business Is at Risk 👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now

Most business owners know they should be looking at their numbers. But the real question is: which numbers, and when? In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden explains the simple financial rhythm every business owner should follow to stay in control of their business finances. Instead of trying to analyze everything all the time, Danielle breaks down how to structure your financial reviews so they actually support better decisions. You will learn what numbers to review weekly, monthly, and quarterly and how each review plays a different role in running a stable and profitable business. If you have ever felt overwhelmed by your financial reports or unsure what you should actually be looking at, this episode will help you simplify the process and lead your business with more clarity and confidence. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why business owners feel overwhelmed by their numbers 00:26 The real problem: no financial rhythm 01:16 Weekly financial review: protecting cash 02:57 Monthly review: stepping into CEO leadership 03:32 The 3 most important financial metrics 04:30 Looking for financial patterns in your business 04:54 Quarterly review: strategy and stability 05:20 Cash reserves, taxes, and paying yourself 06:06 The most important takeaway from this episode Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now 👉 Revenue Is Up. So Why Does Cash Feel Tight?

Profitability doesn't require a dramatic business overhaul. It requires the right levers, pulled consistently. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting Inc., walks small business owners through 7 actionable profit levers drawn from her years in the CFO seat for large organizations, now translated for where you are today. You'll walk away knowing exactly what to look at in your numbers, which one thing to adjust first, and how 1% changes across pricing, volume, expenses, cost of goods sold, labor, receivables, and payables can compound into meaningful profit growth. This episode is part of a series on building a financially sound business. If you've been asking "I know I need to work on my numbers, but where do I start?" this is your answer. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Introduction: You don't need a massive overhaul 00:45 Why small, consistent changes compound faster than big swings 01:25 The concept of 1% improvements from Scaling Up 02:41 Lever 1: Pricing — what a 1% increase actually looks like 04:10 Lever 2: Volume — it's not just about new clients 04:52 Lever 3: Operating Expenses — ask a better question 06:05 Lever 4: Cost of Goods Sold — the rule of three quotes 07:48 Lever 5: Accounts Receivable — bill early, bill often 08:40 Lever 6: Accounts Payable — strategic use of payment terms 09:26 Lever 7: Direct Labor — utilization vs. slashing pay 11:05 Outro: Choose one lever and build from there 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 Under 15% Profit? Your Business Is at Risk 👉 Revenue Is Up. So Why Does Cash Feel Tight?

Are cash flow problems making growth feel risky? If your revenue is climbing but profit keeps disappearing, this episode will show you exactly what to fix first. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden breaks down the 65-20-15 framework — the exact system Kickstart Accounting uses with CFO clients to help small business owners scale without draining cash or funding growth with debt. If you've been avoiding your numbers or making financial decisions based on stress instead of strategy, this is your starting point for building real financial clarity as a CEO. You'll learn: Why cash flow problems persist even when revenue is growing How to use the 65-20-15 framework to protect profit while scaling The bookkeeping mistakes that make this framework impossible to apply What to do when your current revenue can't fund growth yet How to stop guessing with money and start thinking like a CEO Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 00:15 Why growth without a framework drains profit 01:35 Bucket 1: Operating Expenses (65%) 02:25 Bucket 2: Savings (20%) 03:25 Bucket 3: Intentional Growth (15%) 04:10 How to apply the 65-20-15 framework to your income statement today 06:55 What to do when your revenue can't fund growth yet 07:10 Outro Resources: ✨CFO Services | https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/the-cfo-solution/ ✨Check Your Books | https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/ ✨Book a Call | https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/book-a-call/ Connect with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.: ✨Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/Kickstartaccounting ✨YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@businessbythebooks ✨Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc

There's one number every business owner needs to know… and it might surprise you. Net profit isn't just what's left at the end of the year—it's the heartbeat of a sustainable, healthy business. Today on Business by the Books, we're diving deep into why 15% net profit is the sweet spot, how too much or too little profit can signal imbalance, and what small business owners can do to protect and grow their money. You'll learn: Why net profit matters more than revenue How "too much" profit can actually hurt your business The owner behaviors that impact profit most: hiring, time management, and money mindset How to protect your profit before investing, paying yourself, or saying yes to new opportunities Why tracking net profit monthly is essential for long-term sustainability 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 The one number you need to track 03:14 The dangers of low profit margins 05:30 Why 15% is the sweet spot 07:13 How small businesses can improve profit 08:01 Outro 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 The 3-Year Growth Plan Most Business Owners Never Build 👉 Money Mindset - Run Your Finances Like The 1%