Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden Your Business Dashboard: 5 Must-Know Financial Numbers to Lead Like a CEO – Ep. 221
Psst…Your numbers are talking to you—are you listening? Here's a reminder that business is emotional, and it's easy to fall into decision-making based on gut feelings. But when you know your numbers, you take back control.
In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., dives into the 5 essential financial numbers every business owner needs to know. This isn't just about spreadsheets; it's about stepping into your power as a CEO, removing emotional guesswork, and building a healthy, sustainable business.
5 Key Metrics for Your Business:
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Know Your Rolling 12-Month Revenue: One month of income doesn't tell the full story, instead look at the full year to see growth trends and forecast with confidence.
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Track Rolling 12-Month Profit: Revenue may be impressive, but it's your profit that reveals if you're actually building a healthy business.
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Calculate Average Monthly Expenses: Knowing your baseline costs prepares you for the unexpected and helps you build a proper emergency fund.
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Monitor Average Monthly Profit: This is your opportunity fund—it's what you use to pay yourself, invest back into your business, and plan for growth.
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Review Year-to-Date Owner's Draws & Debt Payments: These aren't reflected in profit but have a huge impact on your cash. Track them to know where your money really goes.
⭐ Pro Tip for Kickstart Clients: If you're already a Kickstart Accounting, Inc. client, your monthly KSA financial Snapshot includes all 5 of these key metrics—no digging required! Pull up your Snapshot and follow along with this episode!
Topics Discussed:
Why These 5 Essential Business Numbers Matter (00:28 – 03:32)
The Power of a Rolling 12-Month View (01:49 - 05:13)
The Truth About Profitability & Building a Financial Safety Net (05:13 – 06:26)
Finding Out Where Your Cash Is Going (06:49 – 08:11)
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