What Drives Business Value Whitepaper
April 2, 2026
This document is designed for leaders who are responsible for growing, protecting, and ultimately realizing the full value of their business. For many organizations, performance is measured through familiar indicators—revenue, profit, and growth.…
New Business Year Playbook: A 30 / 60 / 90-Day Focus for Leaders Who Want Results
January 30, 2026
The underlying principle is simple and deliberate: a plan that’s too big to explain is too big to execute. By keeping priorities small, expectations clear, and progress measurable, you give your team the…
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT ASSESSMENT TOOL
October 19, 2025
Companies rarely fail from lack of effort—they stumble from lack of visibility and discipline: cash crunches, fuzzy pricing, slow receivables, unplanned debt, or budgets that don’t match reality. This tool shows exactly where…
Debt, Growth & Crisis Policy – A Strategic Guide For Small Business Owners
October 15, 2025
The economy you’re operating in isn’t “normal.” It’s a structural shift: tighter credit, higher rates, workforce constraints, geopolitical pressure, digital disruption, and a more volatile policy environment. You’re feeling it in interest expense,…
Winning Moves for Uncertain Times A Strategic Playbook for Business Owner
August 2, 2025
Strategy Is No Longer a Luxury—It’s a Lifeline and We’ve Created a Playbook Running a business without a strategy is like sailing without a compass. The waves of disruption are real—rising debt, unpredictable…
Small Business Strategies To Keep and Build Momentum
November 25, 2024
Keep Your Business Moving Forward—Momentum On Purpose Momentum is everything in a small business. When you’ve got it, growth feels natural and wins stack up. When you lose it, even simple tasks feel…
List of Key Financial Metrics with Formulas and Benchmarks
November 9, 2024
Key Financial Metrics: Formulas, Importance, and Benchmarks A Straightforward Financial Reference for Business Owners Who Want to Stay in Control You don’t have to be a CFO to understand the health of your…
Business Financial Health Self-Assessment
June 16, 2024
Business Financial Health Self-Assessment A Candid Tool to Help Business Owners Understand Where They Stand—and What to Do Next Financial health isn’t just about profit margins and revenue targets—it’s about resilience, clarity, and…
Financial Primer for Clients
August 11, 2023
Whether you’re just getting comfortable with your balance sheet or need a deeper understanding of ratios, cash flow, and pricing strategy, this primer meets you where you are—and helps you build from there.
Business GPA Tool – What Every Leader Should Focus On and Measure
June 13, 2021
This tool gives owners and leadership teams a simple, GPA-style way to see how the business is really performing—and then turn that insight into focused action. Instead of chasing isolated wins or debating…
Middle Market Journal
October 24, 2024
Middle Market Journal (MMJ) is an online hub that shares useful ideas, stories, and business cases aimed at middle-market companies—those falling between small businesses and large enterprises, typically with revenues ranging from roughly $5…
KPI.org
August 28, 2024
What Is KPI.org? KPI.org is a free online resource designed to help organizations—large and small—understand, develop, and apply Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) effectively. It’s sponsored by the Balanced Scorecard Institute (BSI) and supported…
CPI Inflation Calculator
January 25, 2022
CPI Inflation Calculator The Illusion of Numbers—Why a Dollar Is Never Just a Dollar Most business decisions are made using numbers. Revenue. Costs. Budgets. Investments. And we tend to treat those numbers as…
EDUCBA
December 31, 2021
EDUCBA The Gap Between Learning and Doing—And Why It Still Exists Most people are not lacking education. They’re lacking applicable skill. They’ve taken courses. They’ve earned degrees. They’ve spent time learning. And yet,…
The Ultimate List of Visual Risk Management Techniques
August 26, 2021
Risk Management Techniques The Reality of Risk—It’s Not the Event, It’s the Lack of Preparation Most leaders think about risk when something goes wrong. A missed target. A failed project. An unexpected disruption.…
Private Equity
August 5, 2021
WSJ Pro Private Equity A Specialized Information Source for Private Equity Professionals WSJ Pro Private Equity is a subscription-based information service focused on the private equity industry. It is part of the Wall…
Bankrate
August 5, 2021
Bankrate A Personal Finance Information and Comparison Platform Bankrate is a digital personal finance platform that provides financial information, product comparisons, and rate data across a wide range of consumer financial categories, including…
CFO Magazine
August 5, 2021
CFO.com A Financial Leadership News and Analysis Platform CFO.com is a digital publication focused on financial leadership, providing news, analysis, and insights for chief financial officers and senior finance executives. It originated as…
MindTools
July 5, 2021
MindTools A Management and Leadership Skills Development Platform MindTools is a digital learning and development platform focused on building management, leadership, and workplace effectiveness skills. It provides a library of on-demand resources designed…
ITR Economics
March 31, 2021
An Economic Forecasting and Business Intelligence Consulting Firm ITR Economics is an economic forecasting and consulting firm that provides business leaders with economic analysis, forecasting services, and strategic planning guidance. Founded in 1948,…
vCalc
February 16, 2021
A Collaborative Online Calculator and Equation Platform vCalc is an online calculator and equation platform that allows users to create, customize, share, and use calculators, formulas, datasets, and mathematical tools across a wide…
Strategy + Business
February 16, 2021
strategy+business A Global Business Strategy and Leadership Publication strategy+business is an award-winning business management and corporate strategy publication published by PwC and associated with the global Strategy& consulting network. The platform provides articles,…
ProSight Financial Association
February 16, 2021
A Financial Services Leadership, Risk, and Compliance Association ProSight Financial Association is a nonprofit professional association serving the banking and financial services industry through research, training, analytics, benchmarking, professional development, and collaborative industry…
The National Center for Employee Ownership
February 16, 2021
The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) A Nonprofit Organization Focused on Employee Ownership and ESOP Education The National Center for Employee Ownership (NCEO) is a nonprofit membership, research, and educational organization dedicated…
MIT Sloan Management Review
February 16, 2021
A Research-Based Management and Leadership Publication MIT Sloan Management Review (MIT SMR) is a research-driven business publication published by the MIT Sloan School of Management. Founded in 1959, the platform focuses on leadership,…
Harvard Business Review
February 16, 2021
Harvard Business Review A Global Business Leadership and Management Publication Harvard Business Review (HBR) is a leading business management and leadership publication produced by Harvard Business Publishing, an affiliate of Harvard Business School.…
Finimpact
February 16, 2021
A Business Financing and Small Business Funding Platform Finimpact is a business financing and financial education platform focused on helping small businesses and entrepreneurs access funding, compare financing options, and understand business lending…
A Guide To Energy Efficiency for Small Businesses
February 16, 2021
An Energy Efficiency and Small Business Sustainability Resource The “Energy Efficiency for Small Business” section of FSG (Facility Solutions Group) is an educational and service-oriented resource that helps small businesses reduce energy costs,…
The Economist: Economic & Financial Indicators
February 16, 2021
An Economic Indicators and Financial Analysis Publication The Economist – Economic and Financial Indicators is a data-driven economics and finance section published by The Economist, focused on global economic trends, financial markets, macroeconomic…
Business Owner’s Toolkit
February 16, 2021
A Small Business Formation and Compliance Resource Platform BizFilings Tools & Resources, part of Wolters Kluwer, is a small business education and compliance platform focused on business formation, incorporation, licensing, taxes, compliance, and…
Businessballs.com
February 16, 2021
A Leadership, Management, and Personal Development Learning Platform BusinessBalls.com is a free online leadership, management, and personal development resource offering articles, frameworks, training materials, templates, and educational tools for individuals and organizations. Founded…
Bloomberg
February 16, 2021
A Global Financial News, Data, and Media Platform Bloomberg is a global financial information, business news, and media company providing real-time market data, analytics, research, software tools, and journalism for financial professionals, businesses,…
VIDEO
How The Economic Machine Works by Ray Dalio This video offers a clear and concise explanation of how the economic machine works, presented by Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates. Dalio breaks down the complex workings of the economy into simple,…
The End of Cheap Capital
June 24, 2026
The End of Cheap Capital Executive Introduction For years, cheap debt made many strategic choices feel easier. Growth investments, acquisitions, digital bets, buybacks, and operating expansion could often be justified because capital itself…
Why Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Strategy
October 24, 2024
Build Now, Exit Well: Why Every Business Owner Needs an Exit Strategy You’ve spent years—maybe decades—building your business. But what happens when it’s time to move on? Whether you’re dreaming of retirement, eyeing…
AI’s Effect on Industry Margins Over the Next Five Years
October 10, 2024
For business owners, executives, and investors, this report offers more than numbers—it provides a strategic roadmap for the coming decade. It challenges leaders to ask critical questions: Which parts of our value chain…
What are the roles and responsibilities of a CFO?
May 23, 2024
What are the roles and responsibilities of a CFO? In McKinsey’s article “What are the roles and responsibilities of a CFO?”, Michael Birshan, Kapil Chandra, Andy West, and Kevin Carmody explain how the…
CFO Roles and Responsibilities Defined
May 23, 2024
CFO roles and responsibilities In NetSuite’s article “What Is a Chief Financial Officer? CFO Roles and Responsibilities Defined,” author Rami Ali, Senior Product Marketing Manager, explains why the CFO role has become essential…
The CFO of The Future
May 23, 2024
The CFO of The Future In Workday’s feature story “The CFO of the Future,” the company explores how the CFO role is shifting from a numbers-focused finance function into a strategic leadership role…
The Evolving Role of The CFO: A Function in Transition
May 23, 2024
The Evolving Role of the CFO: A Function in Transition In Toptal’s article “What Does A CFO Do? The Evolving Role and Responsibilities,” author Paul Ainsworth, a verified management consulting expert and former…
Why the path of global wealth and growth matters for strategy
August 25, 2023
Recent global turbulence raises a question: Is the world shifting to a new economic regime for the long run? New McKinsey Global Institute (MGI) research and a recent McKinsey executive survey1 suggest that it might…
Cost Cutting That Makes You Stronger
June 15, 2023
When so much in the world feels beyond our control, costs are to a large extent controllable. But cutting them to drive short-term savings is a mistake. When companies take a one-off approach…
Investing in Growth Through Uncertainty
June 15, 2023
When faced with disruptions and downturns, many leaders and companies instinctively focus on cutting costs to maintain profitability. But some identify opportunities and then take thoughtful action to emerge from crisis even stronger.…
Capital Is Expensive Again. Now What?
April 25, 2023
With interest rates rising in real terms, the value of growth strategies has declined. Managers need to look carefully at where they allocate capital, focusing more on investing in productivity. Nor should they…
Capital Is Expensive Again. Now What?
March 31, 2023
With interest rates rising in real terms, the value of growth strategies has declined. Managers need to look carefully at where they allocate capital, focusing more on investing in productivity. Nor should they…
Allocating Capital When Interest Rates Are High
January 24, 2023
During a decade of low interest rates and abundant capital, companies greenlit many projects that make less sense now that the economic environment has changed. To prevent experiencing these regrets in the future,…
Something’s coming: How US companies can build resilience, survive a downturn, and thrive in the next cycle
January 19, 2023
The US economy continues to throw off mixed signals. But one thing is becoming clear: executives should prepare for an extended period of higher interest rates. …the US economy has produced another confusing…
Into the storm: CFOs pivot to managing financial headwinds
December 15, 2022
With a potential economic slowdown looming, the latest results from our first McKinsey CFO Pulse survey1 show that CFOs have sharpened their focus this year on managing the inflation that has stifled economic growth…
Preparing Your Company for the Next Recession
December 9, 2022
Leaders should build resilience, local agility, and portfolio agility to prepare for the next recession. The worst of times for the economy as a whole can be the best of times for individual…
Moving Upward in a Downturn
October 8, 2022
Downturns are a recurring fact of life in every industry. Sooner or later, demand for an industry’s products or services declines—often dragging prices down along the way—regardless of the state of the economy…
7 Lessons on Dynamic Pricing (Courtesy of Bruce Springsteen)
October 3, 2022
Some fans were outraged when man-of-the-people Bruce Springsteen charged more than $5,000 per seat for his upcoming concert. The high prices were the result of a dynamic pricing system, in which prices are…
Rev up your growth engine: Lessons from through-cycle outperformers
June 12, 2022
Previous economic crises have shown us that companies’ paths to recovery are shaped by their industries, regions, and individual corporate characteristics—but also very much by the actions they take before, during, and after…
Business Forecasts Are Reliably Wrong — Yet Still Valuable
March 22, 2022
Business forecasts are often wrong — and yet they can still be a powerful tool for savvy leaders if they view them in aggregate and ask the right questions. The authors offer six…
How to deal with price increases in this inflationary market
February 6, 2022
Merchants today are planning and buying for their categories amid one of the hardest inflationary environments industry has seen in decades. When a supplier brings a price increase to a merchant, especially in…
How to Calculate the Impact and Probability of Business Risk
October 24, 2021
This risk management tool is a really easy way to visualize the impact of risk. You can use it to evaluate current problems, potential future problems, or as part of a Post-Mortem to…
Managing the people side of risk
October 11, 2021
Companies can create a powerful risk culture without turning the organization upside down.
KPIs Aren’t Just About Assessing Past Performance
October 6, 2021
Many companies track KPIs as a way of predicting performance. To really exploit the predictive power of KPIs, though, you need to map how the KPIs for your key stakeholders feed into each…
How & Why Managers Use Financial Statements
September 13, 2021
Becoming an effective manager requires continuously honing and improving your management skills. This could mean exchanging resources with others in your network, reading books or publications, or taking online courses. Not to be overlooked are…
Moving from cash preservation to cash excellence for the next normal
July 1, 2021
Companies can build on their initial response to the pandemic to elevate their cash-management capabilities.
The Balanced Scorecard – Measures That Drive Performance
February 16, 2021
What you measure is what you get. Senior executives understand that their organization’s measurement system strongly affects the behavior of managers and employees. Executives also understand that traditional financial accounting measures like return-on-investment…
