Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden

Your gut says things are fine. Your numbers say something different. That tension is real, and it shows up in almost every business. This episode covers what your numbers are actually communicating when instinct and data don't line up. Danielle walks through how to use the Healthy Percentage Worksheet as a guardrail rather than a rule, and how the Start, Stop, Continue framework helps you turn that information into a real decision. If you've ever felt confident in your business and then been caught off guard by the financials, this gives you a concrete way to move forward. You will learn how to read what your numbers are actually telling you, when to trust your instincts as a CEO, and how to use that clarity to make better decisions for your business. If you have ever looked at your financials and felt confused, or felt confident in your business only to be caught off guard by your numbers, this episode will help you find clarity and step more fully into your role as a CEO. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you lead with both data and vision: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 When Gut and Numbers Don't Agree 00:20 Business Is Art and Math 00:42 What a Fitness Tracker Taught Me 01:12 What We Hear on Financial Review Calls 02:28 Healthy Percentage Worksheet: Guardrail, Not a Rule 03:42 The Start, Stop, Continue Framework 05:06 Leading With Data and Vision as a CEO 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?

Have you ever received feedback from a client and felt your stomach drop? That's not weakness — it's a signal your foundation needs work. When your values aren't defined, every opinion feels bigger than it is. A client comment, a bad month, a shift in the market — all of it feels personal. With that foundation in place, feedback becomes a tool instead of a trigger. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden shares what 11 years of building Kickstart Accounting has taught her about core values. You will learn how to identify the core values that actually run your business, why values are an operating standard and not a branding exercise, and how to use them as a filter the next time something feels uncomfortable. If you have ever found yourself reacting to feedback instead of leading through it, this episode will give you the clarity to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why client feedback feels destabilizing 00:20 What unclear values cost your leadership 01:06 Why Danielle left corporate finance 02:14 How Kickstart's five core values show up daily 03:20 The biggest mistake CEOs make with core values 03:36 Why values can't shift when someone questions you 04:50 How team development reflects healthy leadership 05:19 The CEO filter for defining your values 06:00 Building a firm that stands on values 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: 👉 The Quarterly Financial Review Every CEO Should Be Running 👉 The 3 Financial Checkpoints Every CEO Should Follow

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%

There comes a point where what worked before stops working… Watching the numbers. Reacting to problems. Making decisions as they come up. Real growth requires a different role. The CEO role. Today on Business by the Books, I'm breaking down the shift from managing what has already happened to leading what comes next with the help of specialized CFO services. This episode is for the owner who is ready to think bigger, plan long term, and step into the visionary role. You'll learn: The difference between bookkeeping and CFO support Why vision without structure creates chaos The 5-step planning framework from 10-year vision to quarterly milestones The key metrics CEOs track to stay focused and on plan Why you shouldn't carry your business alone 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here Key Takeaways: (00:00) Intro (1:23) Bookkeeping vs. CFO support (02:00) The framework you need (02:30) Your 10-year goals (02:51) Your 3-year direction (03:29) Your 1-year budget (04:51) The importance of accountability and support (6:12) 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 5 things I'd do this year if I wanted to ruin my business 👉 4 Balance Sheet Red Flags - The Risk of not Understanding your Balance Sheet

Are you working harder than ever but still feel stuck? Your money mindset might be holding you back. You see, the difference between a struggling business and a successful one isn't income. It's how the CEO thinks about money. Today on Business by the Books, we're breaking down the mindset shifts I see over and over again in the top 1% of business owners we work with. We're talking about what separates reactive financial behavior from strategic decision-making. You'll learn: Why playing it safe with your money is holding you back How successful owners put their money to work The mindset shifts that will push you into the 1% 🎧 Episode 262 of Business By The Books Key Takeaways: 00:00 Intro 01:29 Stop Using Your Business as a Tax Shelter 02:29 Treat Your Business as an Asset 03:25 Invest In Personal Growth 03:50 Buy Back Your Time 04:26 Build Real Liquidity 05:40 Play the Long Game 07:13 Out Additional Resources: 📈Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow Kickstart on Instagram Listen next: 👉 The 5 things I'd do this year if I wanted to ruin my business 👉 4 Balance Sheet Red Flags - The Risk of not Understanding your Balance Sheet

Most businesses don't fail overnight. They're slowly dismantled by habits that feel reasonable in the moment. In this episode, I break down five patterns that quietly sabotage growth, from pivoting too quickly and avoiding your numbers to isolating yourself and letting old money stories drive decisions. These habits don't always feel risky, but over time they create blind spots, emotional decision-making, and stalled progress. If you want to lead your business with more clarity and confidence this year, this episode will help you see what needs to change and what to leave behind. 🎧 Episode 261 of Business By The Books Key Takeaways: Pivoting too fast stalls results (00:47) Avoiding numbers leads to reactive decisions (02:23) Isolation creates blind spots (05:56) Old money stories quietly run the business (10:23) Additional Resources: 📈Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow Kickstart on Instagram Listen next: 👉 4 Balance Sheet Red Flags - The Risk of not Understanding your Balance Sheet 👉 11 Lessons in 11 Years