

Strategy Meets Finance
Steve Coughran
Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts.Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat.On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions.Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Dec 10, 2025 • 14min
The Future of Business Strategy in the Age of AI | Ep 201
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Steve breaks down why old-school strategy models don’t fully work in an AI world anymore. He explains how the real value drivers have shifted to human capital and intellectual assets, why most companies confuse planning with strategy, and how to actually pick and attack the right strategic problem in your business._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Dec 8, 2025 • 30min
Scaling a $50M Plumbing Company with Bob Logan | Ep 200
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Steve sits down with Bob Logan, president of Plumbline, a $50M+ plumbing and HVAC company with over 150 techs on the road. They unpack how Bob scaled a residential service business, built a strong leadership team, deals with “poison” employees, uses numbers without a finance background, and navigates private equity in the trades. If you want to grow a plumbing, HVAC, or service company the right way, this one’s gold. _______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. Free Financial Health Check: coltivar.com/check LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Dec 1, 2025 • 18min
Looking to Buy a Business? Listen to This First | Ep 199
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Thinking about buying a business or taking over someone else’s?Before you jump in, Steve breaks down the five things he looks at every single time he evaluates a deal. You’ll learn how he analyzes revenue quality, what he looks for in financials, how he decides if a business is worth the price, and why free cash flow—not profit—is what actually matters. If you’re serious about entrepreneurship through acquisition, this episode could save you from a bad deal._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Nov 24, 2025 • 57min
Building a High End Landscape Company with Chris Turner | Ep 198
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Elevate by Design: www.ebdstudios.com Nisho: www.studionisho.com Chris Turner walked away from a secure design job with no plan, just a feeling he wasn’t in the right place. That leap led him to co-found one of Denver’s top high-end landscape design studios. In this episode, Steve and Chris talk about what really happens when you leave stability for something bigger, how Elevate by Design built a premium brand from scratch, and why confidence is what attracts high-end clients. If you’ve ever wondered how luxury landscape firms get built, this one will open your eyes._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/checkLinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

5 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 14min
How to Optimize Your Business Without Doing More | Ep 197
Discover how to boost profits without extra work! Explore the importance of clarifying your messaging to improve lead conversion rates. Learn how scaling can actually mean simplifying processes instead of adding to your workload. Uncover the secrets of packaging offers to enhance perceived value, encouraging more purchases. Finally, dive into understanding your numbers better and leveraging key financial levers to optimize cash flow. Small tweaks can lead to significant growth!

Nov 10, 2025 • 18min
5 Biggest Mistakes Companies Make When "Strategic Planning" | Ep 196
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Before you book that offsite or map out next quarter, listen to this.Steve breaks down the five mistakes that derail most “strategic planning” sessions: picking the wrong facilitator, ignoring communication styles, showing up without data, jumping to tactics before strategy, and avoiding the one real constraint hurting the business. You’ll learn a simple way to structure the day, surface honest input, bring the right numbers, and keep everyone focused on solving the actual strategic problem, so your plan creates results, not busywork._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Nov 3, 2025 • 12min
How to Know If Your Sales & Marketing Is Working | Ep 195
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Want a free scaling workshop for your business? Schedule a call now to see if you qualify: coltivar.com/schedule-your-call Most business owners spend thousands on sales and marketing, but few know if it’s actually paying off.Steve breaks down how to measure the real return on your sales and marketing spend using three simple checks. He explains how to evaluate the effectiveness of your funnel, calculate your LTGP-to-CAC ratio, and use cash collection formulas to fuel growth without burning through cash. This episode will help you finally connect sales, marketing, and cash flow so you can scale with confidence._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Oct 30, 2025 • 15min
Financial and Economic News: October 30, 2025
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Major moves and market momentum in this week’s top financial stories, including:Chipotle Stock Tanks as Young Customers Cut BackBlackRock Caught in a $500 Million Fraud ScandalMeta’s AI Spending Sparks Investor DoubtWhite-Collar Jobs Vanish as AI Takes OverGoogle’s Record Quarter Fueled by AITune in for smart commentary, sharp context, and the financial insight you need to lead in a changing world — only on FinWeekly._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Oct 27, 2025 • 11min
Does Your Business Really Need a Strategy? (Yes, Here’s Why) | Ep 194
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Every business has a strategy, even if it’s not written down.The real question is whether yours is working. In this episode, Steve explains what strategy actually is, why every company needs one, and how to identify the strategic problem that’s holding your business back. He shares a simple framework for making better decisions, keeping your customer at the center, and connecting strategy to financial results so your growth actually pays off. If you’ve ever wondered whether you need a strategy, this episode will give you the answer._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com

Oct 23, 2025 • 11min
Financial and Economic News: October 23, 2025
Ready to see how much cash is hiding in your business? Get your free Financial Health Check now: coltivar.com/check Major moves and market momentum in this week’s top financial stories, including:Inside Silicon Valley’s 100-Hour AI GrindTesla’s Profits Drop as Musk Bets on RobotsHome Sales Rise as Mortgage Rates EaseGrocery Prices Keep ClimbingQuantum Stocks Surge on Trump’s Tech PushTune in for smart commentary, sharp context, and the financial insight you need to lead in a changing world — only on FinWeekly._______________________________________Disclaimer:The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation.This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube coltivar.com


