In my experience, poor financial management is what causes most underperforming small businesses to fail or not achieve their objectives. Often it is a lack of understanding of how basic business finance works that inhibits owners and leadership teams. You need to fully grasp what makes your economic engine work to make the right investments and calculate appropriate risks.
A business's value is influenced by more than its financial statements. Buyers assess the overall quality of the company, the risks associated with owning it, and the likelihood that its…
Introduction You can spend decades building a business and still be disappointed by what someone is willing to pay for it. That is a difficult realization, especially when you discover…
My goal with this guide is not to turn you into a valuation expert. It is to give…
This guide focuses on the financial measures I believe business leaders should understand and regularly discuss with their…
Grade the seven things every business must do. Get a Balance GPA, a report card, and a ranked…
The End of Cheap Capital Executive Introduction For years, cheap debt made many strategic choices feel easier. Growth…
Who This Guide Is For This document is designed for leaders who are responsible for growing, protecting, and…
Introduction: The Truth Most Owners Miss Most conversations about business value start in the wrong place. They start…
During a Vistage coaching session today, I revisited a tool I’ve used many times over the years. It…
The underlying principle is simple and deliberate: a plan that’s too big to explain is too big to…
Introduction – Don’t Get Stuck in the Short-Term I’m increasingly concerned that more business leaders have slipped into…
Working On the Numbers: Practical Financial Management for Small Business Owners Practical financial discipline for owners and emerging…
For an entrepreneur, smart risk management isn't just about protecting a company's bottom line—it's about protecting your personal…
In today’s climate of constant disruption—from economic swings and regulatory changes to cyber threats and workforce shifts—risk management…
The central thesis is that risk management is not merely a defensive tactic but a strategic imperative essential…
Financial Management for Small Business Owners: A Briefing Executive Summary This briefing synthesizes a comprehensive primer on financial…
This document serves as both a reference and a roadmap. It addresses the most critical areas of financial…
Companies rarely fail from lack of effort—they stumble from lack of visibility and discipline: cash crunches, fuzzy pricing,…
The New Economic Reality The economy you’re operating in isn’t “normal.” It’s a structural shift: tighter credit, higher…
Strategy Is No Longer a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline and We’ve Created a Playbook Running a business without a…
The Fed isn’t punishing business owners—it’s rebalancing an overheated economy. That doesn’t mean you should freeze. It means…
Growth by itself isn’t the goal. Sustainable, balanced growth that outperforms your market and strengthens your business foundation—that’s…
If you’re focused solely on today’s income, you’re likely sacrificing tomorrow’s wealth. The Secret Stock Market gives you…
Contingency planning isn’t about living in fear. It’s about being smart. It’s about protecting what you’ve worked so…
As a business owner, you already carry the weight. You understand the stakes. But you don’t have to…
Expense reductions should be strategic, not reactionary. By taking a thoughtful, analytical approach—leveraging data, empowering your team, and…
Keep Your Business Moving Forward—Momentum On Purpose Momentum is everything in a small business. When you’ve got it,…
Key Financial Metrics: Formulas, Importance, and Benchmarks A Straightforward Financial Reference for Business Owners Who Want to Stay…
Build Now, Exit Well: Why Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Strategy You’ve spent years—maybe decades—building your business.…
Middle Market Journal (MMJ) is an online hub that shares useful ideas, stories, and business cases aimed at middle-market…
For business owners, executives, and investors, this report offers more than numbers—it provides a strategic roadmap for the…
KPI.org is a free online resource designed to help organizations—large and small—understand, develop, and apply Key Performance Indicators…
Bring the decision you've been circling. The problem you haven't said out loud. The one you've been carrying alone.
Ed’s frameworks, the occasional hard-won lesson, and what he’s reading. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
