Is Your Business Built for Growth? Let’s Talk Numbers.

Spring is here, and with the close of the first quarter, now is the perfect time to check in on your business’s financial health. The truth is that growth doesn’t happen by accident. It occurs through clarity, strategy, and smart decisions, grounded in your numbers.

Whether you aim to expand operations, hire staff, or stabilize cash flow, a strong foundation starts with knowing where you stand. So, let’s talk about the numbers that matter—and how they can help shape what’s next for your business.

1. Are You Operating Profitably?

It’s not just about revenue but what’s left after expenses. If your income statement isn’t clearly showing consistent profit margins (or you’re unsure what your margins are), it may be time to revisit pricing, overhead, or service efficiency.

Tip: Benchmark your gross and net profit margins against industry standards. We can help you identify gaps and opportunities.

2. How’s Your Cash Flow?

Many growing businesses fail not because they’re unprofitable, but because they run out of cash. You're not alone if you’ve ever struggled to make payroll or cover a vendor payment while waiting on receivables.

What to check:

• Average days to collect payments

• Burn rate (especially if you’re reinvesting in growth)

• Cushion for slow months

Solution: A cash flow forecast clarifies how to plan and sleep better at night.

3. Do You Know Your Breakeven Point?

Your break-even point is where revenue meets expenses. Knowing how much you have to sell or bill each month to stay afloat gives you a baseline—and helps inform decisions like when to invest or pause.

4. Are Your Books Giving You Real Insight—or Just Reports?

It’s easy to fall into the trap of recording numbers just for tax season. But great books tell a story. They help you see what’s working, what’s not, and where to focus.

If your monthly financials don’t feel like a tool you can use to lead your business, we can change that by setting up and monitoring performance reports and metrics.

5. Is Your Financial System Scalable?

Growth requires systems that grow with you. Are you still tracking invoices in spreadsheets or manually entering payroll? Investing in cloud accounting software (like QuickBooks Online) and integrated solutions (like ADP) can save hours and reduce costly mistakes.

Let’s Build for What’s Next

At Carlson Hearne CPA, we help small business owners move from reactive bookkeeping to proactive financial strategy. That starts with clarity, which leads to confidence.

If you’re unsure what your first quarter numbers are telling you—or what steps to take next—let’s talk. We offer monthly service packages beyond tax returns to support your growth year-round.

Curious where you stand?

Contact us today to schedule a check-in or learn more about our monthly bookkeeping and advisory services.