CEO Numbers Network with Danielle Hayden
Making money and understanding your finances are two very different things, and this podcast aims to close that gap. Hosted by Danielle Hayden, former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., it breaks down the financial strategy that most business owners never had access to. Each episode focuses on profit, cash flow, and real decision-making to help listeners move their businesses forward.
Episodes
The 2027 Budget Reset, Part 2 of 3: Start With Your Pay
A copied template or aspirational numbers can sink a business budget by February. This one starts with your own pay and your own history. In part two of my 2027 Budget Reset series on CEO Numbers Network, I walk through year-end budget planning for small business owners and why a CEO budgets to invest while an owner in survival mode budgets to avoid running out of money. I start with owner's pay a
The 2027 Budget Reset, Part 1 of 3: Start With the Right Mindset
Every budget I've seen fail over the last 11 years failed for the same reason. It was built like a diet, and a diet only lasts so long. In part one of this three-part small business budgeting series, I cover the budget mindset reset that comes before annual budget planning. I explain why restrictive budgets built around cutting expenses fall apart, and how cutting software, contractors, and suppor
The 3-Part IRS Test for Every Contractor on Your Team
A signed contractor agreement only protects you if the way you work with that person matches it. The IRS has a clear test for this, and it's better to run it now than to find out during an audit. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I walk through the IRS three-part test for deciding whether someone on your team is a contractor or an employee. The three factors are behavioral control, financial
Why Your Contractor's W-9 Can't Wait Until January
Waiting until tax season to think about contractor paperwork is exactly what makes it so stressful. Every January, my team fields the same kind of call: a business owner needs a contractor's Social Security number, and that contractor already stopped answering. Find out what changed with 1099 reporting for 2026, including the new dollar threshold that determines when a contractor needs one. I brea
3 Questions That Separate a CEO From a Business Owner
Revenue and team size get the attention, but neither tells you if you're running your business like a CEO. It comes down to three specific numbers, and whether you know them without guessing. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I get into three questions I ask every CEO about her own numbers: her year to date profit and profit percentage, what her business owns compared to what it owes, and wh
The 30-Day Burnout Diagnosis Every CEO Needs to Run
A team member once asked me how we help clients who show up to their financial review calls completely burnt out. My answer surprised even me, and it led to a 30-day exercise I now recommend to every business owner I work with. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I talk about why burnout gets misdiagnosed so often in business ownership, and I walk through a real client example of growth mode c
How to Know If You Can Afford to Hire Your First Employee
Your profit and loss statement can look fine, and your stomach can still drop when you think about hiring. I know that feeling, because it's exactly where I was the night I hired my first employee. I walk through the three methods I use to decide if a business can afford to hire: the look back method, the averages method, and the look forward budgeting method. I cover how profit and cash flow can
The 4 Step CEO Reset Method for a Stronger Fourth Quarter
You made it through summer, and now the fourth quarter is staring you down. The instinct is to catch up on everything you let slide, but that's exactly what backfires. This episode shares the four step reset I use every fall to close out the year with focus instead of overwhelm. It's built for business owners who come out of summer feeling behind and try to fix everything in the business at once,
Can AI Actually Replace Your Bookkeeper?
I ran our own business financials through AI three different ways and got three completely different answers. What that revealed about trusting AI with your numbers might change how you use it in your own business. I share what happened when I fed our real financials into AI and changed only the tone of my prompt, from neutral to positive to negative, and watched the same numbers produce three com
The S Corp Move to Stop Overpaying the IRS
You've built a profitable business, and you're still handing more of it to the IRS than you need to. The real reason usually traces back to your structure. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I'm continuing our mid-year tax check-in series with a deep dive into business structure. Profitable business owners often keep paying self-employment tax long after their structure has stopped making sen
Why Your Tax Bill Keeps Growing (Even When You Pay On Time)
Safe harbor protects you from an IRS penalty, but it doesn't protect you from a bigger tax bill when your business grows. This episode of CEO Numbers Network explains the difference, and what to do about it before next April. I explain safe harbor, the IRS rule that protects business owners from an underpayment penalty, and why it's often mistaken for a complete tax plan. I walk through the exact
Your CPA Did Everything Right, and It's Still Costing You
Your CPA can file a perfectly accurate return every year and still never once ask you the question that actually changes what you owe. That's how the entire accounting industry built the job, and I think it's the wrong way to run a business. I've spent my career watching business owners treat tax filing and tax planning as the same job. They're not, and that confusion is exactly why I built an ent
The CEO Strategy For Building A Full Money Team
You have your financial statements. But do you actually know what to do with them? Most of us were taught to check our numbers after the month is already over. That's the moment I want to change for you. In this episode, I walk through the four ways business owners make decisions and why most of us default to reacting instead of planning. I share the three shifts I use in my own business. Two of t
What Outgrowing Your Business Actually Looks Like
After eleven years, we admitted the business we had on paper wasn't the business we had actually built. This episode is what outgrowing your own business actually looks like, from the inside. We rebranded Kickstart Accounting into three divisions, Kickstart Bookkeeping, Nvision CFO, and KSA Tax Partners, and in this episode I explain why, starting with the one thing I want to clear up immediately:
The Reforecast Mistake Costing You the Rest of the Year
You made a plan back in January. By July, your business probably looks nothing like it. In this episode, I walk through mid-year financial reforecasting for small business owners, including a 3-step process for updating a budget using year-to-date data. I share the boardroom accountability standard, three questions I use to evaluate what happened, why it happened, and what to do next. I also share
How to Audit Business Expenses Like a CFO (5-Step Method)
You can't grow a business you can't defend. Every line item on your P&L deserves a real answer when someone asks why it's there. For years as a corporate CFO, I learned a framework for reviewing business expenses that I now use with every Kickstart Accounting client. It is a step-by-step method for small business owners who feel like their profit is leaking somewhere but cannot see exactly where.
The Mid-Year Reset Your Business Is Begging For
Everyone tells you to work on your business instead of in it. Nobody hands you the agenda for what that time is actually supposed to look like. In this episode, I walk you through the exact 90-minute midyear CEO session I have run on my own business every year for 11 years. This is a step-by-step financial review for small business owners who want to check in on their numbers before the second hal
Balance Sheet Mistakes Draining Your Business
How do you know if your business is actually building wealth, or just keeping you busy? The answer lives on a report most small business owners ignore: the balance sheet. I break down how to read it as a CEO, what assets, liabilities, and equity actually mean for your company, how much cash a healthy business should keep on hand, how to use debt strategically, and why owner's draws can drain long-
Why You're Stuck: The Three Phases Of Financial Support
You're not stuck because you're lazy. You're stuck because the support you picked doesn't match the stage you're actually in. In this episode, I walk through the three financial phases I've watched business owners move through over 11 years at Kickstart: Foundation (where you need clean books and visibility), Empowered (where you start using your numbers to lead), and Elevation (where you bring in
Why You're Profitable But Have No Cash
You look at your financials and the numbers show a profit. You look at your bank account and the balance doesn't match. You start wondering what you're missing. Most small business owners don't realize how much their accounting method is shaping what they see on their financial statements. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I break down the difference between cash basis and accrual basis acco
Building a Business Worth Selling: The 7-Step Framework
Most small businesses can't be sold, even when they're profitable. The reason is that they were built around the owner instead of built for value. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I share a real client story about a business owner who came to me ready to sell and found out her business had no resale value. She had been minimizing profit for years to lower her taxes and running personal expe
The Write-Offs That Are Devaluing Your Business
Most business owners are doing one of two things at tax time, and both are costing them. Either they are leaving real deductions on the table, or they are chasing every write-off they see online and putting their business at risk. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I walk through the tax strategy mindset shift that separates business owners who feel ready at tax time from the ones who scrambl
The CEO Response to a Losing Month
You sat down to review your numbers and your business is losing money. Before you start cutting everything and questioning your worth, there is a better way to respond. In this episode, I walk through the exact framework my team uses inside Kickstart Accounting when a client's business is losing money. I cover how to identify whether a loss is short term, seasonal, or long term, how to find the re
Why Your "Tax Savings" Are Killing Your Business
I'm recording this on April 15th, the tax deadline, and I just got a surprise tax bill from my own accountant with almost no communication leading up to it. That experience reminded me exactly why we built KSA Tax Partners the way we did, because there's a real difference between a tax preparer and a tax partner, and most business owners don't know which one they actually have until something goes
The CEO Playbook for Scaling Without Stress
Something new is coming, and if you're a small business owner who's tired of making financial decisions on gut feeling, you'll want to be here for it. CEO Numbers Network launches tomorrow. Hosted by Danielle Hayden, former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., this is the show that brings boardroom-level financial strategy to small business owners who are ready to lead with their n
The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead
If Profit First is supposed to reduce financial stress, why do so many business owners feel more overwhelmed after setting it up? Multiple accounts, confusing percentages, and overdraft fees were not part of the pitch. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, Danielle Hayden cuts through the noise around Profit First and explains what a simpler, proven cash management system actually looks like for
10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now
Most businesses that look successful are expensive behind the scenes. Tight margins, no breathing room, and a CEO wondering where all the money went. This episode is for small business owners dealing with financial stress and money anxiety while revenue keeps growing. Danielle Hayden, a former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, shares the profit strategies she has refined over 11 yea
When Your Numbers and Your Instincts Tell Different Stories
Your gut says things are fine. Your numbers say something different. That tension is real, and it shows up in almost every business. This episode covers what your numbers are actually communicating when instinct and data don't line up. Danielle walks through how to use the Healthy Percentage Worksheet as a guardrail rather than a rule, and how the Start, Stop, Continue framework helps you turn tha
When Your Values Are Clear, Feedback Can't Shake You
Have you ever received feedback from a client and felt your stomach drop? That's not weakness — it's a signal your foundation needs work. When your values aren't defined, every opinion feels bigger than it is. A client comment, a bad month, a shift in the market — all of it feels personal. With that foundation in place, feedback becomes a tool instead of a trigger. In this episode of Business by t
The Quarterly Financial Review Every CEO Should Be Running
Most business owners are so focused on the day-to-day that the bigger picture never gets looked at. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden walks through exactly how to run a quarterly financial review — and why it's one of the most important things you can do as a CEO. Instead of reacting to slow weeks or tough months, a quarterly review gives you the structure to zoom out, fi
The 3 Financial Checkpoints Every CEO Should Follow
Most business owners know they should be looking at their numbers. But the real question is: which numbers, and when? In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden explains the simple financial rhythm every business owner should follow to stay in control of their business finances. Instead of trying to analyze everything all the time, Danielle breaks down how to structure your financia
7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now
Profitability doesn't require a dramatic business overhaul. It requires the right levers, pulled consistently. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting Inc., walks small business owners through 7 actionable profit levers drawn from her years in the CFO seat for large organizations, now translated for where you are today. You'll walk away knowing exac
Revenue Is Up. So Why Does Cash Feel Tight?
Are cash flow problems making growth feel risky? If your revenue is climbing but profit keeps disappearing, this episode will show you exactly what to fix first. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden breaks down the 65-20-15 framework — the exact system Kickstart Accounting uses with CFO clients to help small business owners scale without draining cash or funding growth with de
Under 15% Profit? Your Business Is at Risk
There's one number every business owner needs to know… and it might surprise you. Net profit isn't just what's left at the end of the year—it's the heartbeat of a sustainable, healthy business. Today on Business by the Books, we're diving deep into why 15% net profit is the sweet spot, how too much or too little profit can signal imbalance, and what small business owners can do to protect and grow
The 3-Year Growth Plan Most Business Owners Never Build
There comes a point where what worked before stops working… Watching the numbers. Reacting to problems. Making decisions as they come up. Real growth requires a different role. The CEO role. Today on Business by the Books, I'm breaking down the shift from managing what has already happened to leading what comes next with the help of specialized CFO services. This episode is for the owner who is re
Money Mindset - Run Your Finances Like The 1%
Are you working harder than ever but still feel stuck? Your money mindset might be holding you back. You see, the difference between a struggling business and a successful one isn't income. It's how the CEO thinks about money. Today on Business by the Books, we're breaking down the mindset shifts I see over and over again in the top 1% of business owners we work with. We're talking about what s
The 5 things I'd do this year if I wanted to ruin my business
Most businesses don't fail overnight. They're slowly dismantled by habits that feel reasonable in the moment. In this episode, I break down five patterns that quietly sabotage growth, from pivoting too quickly and avoiding your numbers to isolating yourself and letting old money stories drive decisions. These habits don't always feel risky, but over time they create blind spots, emotional decision
4 Balance Sheet Red Flags - The Risk of not Understanding your Balance Sheet
Cash is the number one reason small businesses fail, and it usually happens quietly. In this episode of Business By The Books, I walk you through four balance sheet red flags I see business owners ignore all the time, even when revenue and profit look strong. We talk about why the income statement alone can create a false sense of security, how debt and owner draws quietly drain cash, and what war
11 Lessons in 11 Years
After 11 years in business, I've learned this: becoming a CEO isn't a finish line. It's a practice. The lessons that shape you most don't come from perfect plans or polished systems. They come from starting before you feel ready, trusting yourself through uncertainty, asking for help, navigating loneliness, and continuing to grow even when leadership feels heavy. In this episode, I'm reflecting on
Reasonable Compensation for S Corp Owners
Paying yourself incorrectly as an S Corp owner creates quiet IRS risk, cash stress, and year-end cleanup that many business owners don't see coming. In this episode of Business By The Books, Danielle explains what reasonable compensation actually means, why payroll must come before owner draws, and how setting this up early can save you stress later in the year. You'll learn: What reasonable com
Sunk Costs: The Silent Trap Sabotaging Your Goals (And How to Break Free)
Every January, business owners set big, impressive goals for the new year… but drag last year's mistakes, sunk costs, and emotional baggage with them. It's no wonder most of these exciting goals fade away by February. But it doesn't have to be that way! In this episode, we break down what sunk costs are, why they quietly sabotage your decisions, and how to finally break free from them. You'll lea
I'm Not Setting Goals This Year — And Why You Shouldn't Either
Why do most small business owners never achieve their goals? It's rarely a lack of ambition. It's usually a lack of systems, habits, and financial leadership. This episode is about why goals alone don't create results and how a proven, repeatable financial framework builds CEO confidence. I share a five-part monthly financial system designed to help you shift from an owner mindset to thinking lik
How to Use AI Without Creating Financial or Operational Risk
AI isn't going anywhere. But for small business owners, using it the wrong way can create financial blind spots, bad decisions, and long-term risk. This episode is about what happens when AI replaces judgment instead of supporting it, especially when it comes to your numbers. I'm joined by Carol Cox, founder of Speaking Your Brand and an early adopter of AI with a background in software developm
Beyond the Budget: The Hidden Psychology of How Entrepreneurs Think About Money – Ep. 254
If you've ever delayed looking at your numbers, dreaded a bookkeeping meeting, or felt a pit in your stomach when someone says "Let's review your finances," this episode is going to feel like a deep exhale. In this conversation, Danielle sits down with financial advisor and partner at Orange Financial Brad Cunningham for an honest look at why entrepreneurs struggle with money clarity and why confi
The Year-End Reflection Framework: The Truth About How Real CEOs Grow – Ep. 253
Most entrepreneurs skip reflection altogether. They're busy, tired, and ready for a fresh start. But if you don't pause to reflect, you repeat the same mistakes. You carry old habits into a new season. You build goals on top of unclear patterns. Reflection is where leadership starts. It's where clarity lives. It's simple, but not easy. In this episode, Danielle walks you step-by-step through the Y
Why Most Entrepreneurs Stay Stuck (and the Framework That Fixes It) – Ep. 252
Most entrepreneurs stay stuck for one simple reason: they do bookkeeping for taxes, not for leadership. They record their numbers, send them to the accountant, hope the IRS is happy… and then cross their fingers the rest of the year. But, you can't lead a business with guesses, gut feelings, or your bank balance alone. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickst
AI Won't Tell You the Truth About Your Numbers—But I Will: The Dark Side of Bad Bookkeeping – Ep. 251
If you've ever thought, "My books are fine," because you're using QuickBooks' automations or have uploaded your QuickBooks file into ChatGPT for analysis, this episode is your wake-up call (delivered with love!). Bad bookkeeping covered up by pretty software dashboards or people-pleasing AI chatbots hides real problems. This week, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc.,
The Simple Weekly Habit That Transformed This CEO's Business – Ep. 250
What if one simple weekly habit could completely transform the way you manage your business? In this conversation, Danielle sits down with Cathi Nelson, CEO and founder of The Photo Managers, to talk about how she went from overwhelmed and unsure about her finances to confidently running a thriving business. Cathi shares how a weekly review of her numbers, consistent support from her Kickstart Acc
The Hidden Mistakes That Keep Your LLC Small (and How to Grow Into an S Corp) – Ep. 249
You've set up your LLC, you're running an established business, and things are moving along, but are your financial habits actually helping you grow and is your LLC protecting you the way you think it is? In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., breaks down the five hidden mistakes that hold LLC owners back and shows you how to build the ri
How to Know If Your Contractor Should Be an Employee: The 3-Part Test That Could Save You Thousands – Ep. 248
What if misclassifying your team could cost you thousands in back taxes, penalties, and missed benefits? Most business owners don't realize how risky it can be to pay someone as a contractor when they really should be an employee. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., simplifies the IRS classification rules into a 3-step framework that help
What I Would Say If I Wasn't Afraid to Hurt Your Feelings – Ep. 247
In this episode of Business by The Books, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc.'s Danielle Hayden gets honest about a tough but essential topic: Are you building a business that's truly healthy, or one that's just trying to pay as little as possible in taxes? Danielle breaks down the real costs of trying to make every expense a "business expense." From dinners and vacati
The Confidence That Comes with Financial Clarity: A Journey from Stressed to Scaling with Nico Misleh – Ep. 246
Do you ever feel like you're drowning in decisions but flying blind when it comes to your finances? You are not alone! In this episode of Business by The Books, Danielle sits down with returning guest and longtime client Nico Misleh, a nurse practitioner and the founder of Apollo Health Optimization and HRT University, who went from overwhelmed and unsure to confidently hiring, scaling, and even l
Bonuses Made Simple: A 6-Step Framework for Rewarding Your Team – Ep. 245
It's the season of gift giving, evaluating team performance, and bonuses, and for many business owners, that can bring up hard questions. Can I afford to give out bonuses this year? What if it's not as much as last year? How much is fair? And how do I reward my team without draining my cash or putting my business at risk? In this episode, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting,
The Tax Strategies Business Owners Need to Prep Before the New Year – Ep. 244
Heading into tax season unprepared can be costly—missed deductions, lost paperwork, and sometimes, a surprise check to the IRS. But it doesn't have to be that way! In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., shares the ultimate year-end checklist every business owner needs to save on taxes, protect their business, and walk confidently into ta
The 4 Seasons of Business Explained and Healthy Spending Strategies for Each Stage – Ep. 243
Are you constantly wondering if you're spending too much or maybe not enough in your business? Here's the truth: not every season of business is meant to be profitable. And if your spending isn't aligned with the season you're in, you could risk stunting your growth or draining cash you can't afford to lose. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounti
The 3 Stages of Business Growth: Entrepreneur, Small Business Owner, and CEO Explained – Ep. 242
In this week's episode of Business by The Books, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., breaks down the real journey from entrepreneur to small business owner to finally stepping into the role of CEO. This isn't about chasing flashy titles or hitting arbitrary revenue goals. It's about clarity, confidence, and understanding your numbers so you can actua
How to Use Financial Goal Setting as the Foundation for Your Business Budget – Ep. 241
Ever sat down to build your budget, only to realize you don't even know what you're building it for? A budget without a goal is like a map without a destination. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., is pulling back the curtain on the exact step-by-step framework she and her team use with CFO clients to set financial goals first, and th
The Confidence Formula: Balancing Intuition + Data in Your Business Numbers with Serena Waller of The Dande Agency – Ep. 240
Ever heard the phrase "know your numbers" and thought, okay…but what does that actually mean? In this episode, Danielle sits down with client and entrepreneur Serena Waller, founder of The Dande Agency, to talk about how truly understanding her numbers transformed the way she runs her business. Serena gets real about the ups, downs, and unexpected turns of entrepreneurship—like losing a corporate
The CEO's Guide to Budgeting: A Financial Plan That Supports Your Season of Life – Ep. 239
A lot of business owners look at budgeting as punishment for past money mistakes, but budgeting doesn't have to feel restrictive. In fact, budgeting can be used as a tool for freedom while protecting your business at the same time, especially if you allow yourself the space and time to plan. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., shares how to us
The 5 Must-Know Cash KPIs Every Business Owner Needs to Grow & Stay Profitable – Ep. 238
If you want to grow your business with confidence, you need to understand your cash flow, and that means going beyond just checking your bank balance. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, your go-to financial partner for all things bookkeeping, breaks down the 5 essential cash KPIs every CEO should track and explains how to use them to make smarter decisions for your business. Key Takeaways: Cash
Your Business Back-to-School Reset: How to Finish the Year Strong – Ep. 237
Sharpen your pencils, grab a fresh notebook—it's back-to-school season for your business! Just like the excitement of new school supplies and a fresh start, this time of year gives us the perfect opportunity to reset and set yourself up for a strong finish to the year. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and owner of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., shares
How One Fantasy Book Sparked a Career Pivot and Successful Podcast Business with Nicole from Fantasy Fangirls Podcast – Ep. 236
In this episode, Danielle is joined by Nicole, one-half of the dynamic sister duo behind Fantasy Fangirls Podcast, to talk about her leap from running a professional coaching business to building a wildly successful podcast brand that's taken the book world by storm. This isn't a story about going viral overnight (although that did happen). It's a story of personal growth. It's a story about makin
Cash Flow Clarity - How to Finally Understand Where Your Money Is Going – Ep. 235
Ever look at your cash flow statement and want to crawl under your desk and hide? You're not alone! Cash flow statements aren't really made for business owners, but that doesn't mean you should ignore them. So, how do we read them? In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., is here to show you exactly how to understand your cash flow without nee
Stop Doing $10 Tasks in Your Business - Why DIY Is Costing You Money – Ep. 234
Let's get real, you're not going to build a million-dollar business while spending your time on $10/hour tasks. In this no-fluff, heart-to-heart episode, Danielle breaks down the true cost of doing it all yourself, especially the low-value to-dos that keep you "busy" but not profitable, and shares the action steps you need to buy back your time, start delegating, and finally lead your business li
How to Redesign the Way You Work to Have "More Life" with Taylor Thompson – Ep. 233
This episode, we're pausing the hustle to take a big-picture look at what really matters in both business and life. Danielle Hayden, CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., sits down with Taylor Thompson, founder of Personal Brand House, bestselling author of More Life, podcast host, and national speaker, to talk about what it means to build a business that gives you more life, not just more work and r
The Mid-Year CEO Tax Check-In: What You're Responsible for (and Why It Matters) – Ep. 232
Ready to stop scrambling come tax time and start planning like the business leader you are? Well, it starts with your mid-year financial game plan. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., walks you through the steps you need to take to get your books in shape, plan for tax season (without stress), and build a business that's profitable and sustainable for t
Bookkeeping 101: What It Is and Why It Matters for Small Businesses – Ep. 231
What exactly is bookkeeping and why does it matter so much for your business? In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., breaks down the basics of bookkeeping, explains how it supports your growth, and shares the real-life benefits of staying on top of your numbers. Whether you're just starting out or scaling fast, this is foundational knowledg
The Mid-Year CEO Reset: Reforecasting With Purpose – Ep. 230
Remember that shiny budget and those big goals you made in January when the year felt fresh and full of possibilities? If your business (or life) looks different now than it did months ago, you're not failing, you're simply running a real business in the real world. Things shift. You adapt. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., walks you through one of he
Midyear Business Review: Refocus, Rework & Still Hit Your Goals – Ep. 229
We're officially at the halfway point of 2025, and no, it's not too late to make this year your most productive year yet! In this episode, Danielle is joined by one of our numbers experts from our amazing Kickstart Accounting team, Account Manager Becky Teves, to talk through the biggest obstacles she sees small business owners experiencing right now, and how you can finish this year strong and st
The Power of the Quarterly Financial Review: How 90 Mins Every 90 Days Changes Everything – Ep. 228
You're reviewing your numbers monthly (go you!), but what about taking a step back to see the big picture? In this episode, Danielle walks you through the power of a quarterly financial review, one of the most practical ways to make smarter decisions, spot real trends, and align your business goals with your personal ones. She breaks down the difference between monthly and quarterly reviews (the m
The Money Mistakes We All Make (and How to Fix Them) – Ep. 227
Just because there's money in the bank doesn't mean your business is truly profitable. In this episode, Danielle lays out the most common (and sneaky) financial mistakes she sees entrepreneurs and small business owners making without even realizing they're doing it. From undercharging to over-relying on your gut, Danielle is not here to shame you—she's here to show you how to avoid them so you hav
Building a Business That Can Carry You Through Life's Hardest Moments with Jess Walker of Five Dot Post – Ep. 226
In this episode, Danielle sits down with Jess Walker, founder of the unique and heartfelt illustrated greeting cards Five Dot Post, to talk about what it really looks like to build a business that supports you today—not down the road, not after you hit this or that goal, but right now. From packing every order by hand to big-box retailers, Jess's story is one of hard-won wisdom, practical mindset
12 Money Rules Every Successful CEO Follows to Build Profit and Wealth – Ep. 225
Let's set the record straight: Revenue is not the goal. Profit is. If you've ever felt like you're doing everything—chasing more sales, more clients, more offers—but still coming up short on cash and clarity, this episode is your permission slip to pause, stop worrying about sales numbers alone and start focusing on what generates profit. In today's episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CF
5 CFO Secrets to Grow Your Business (Without Losing Your Mind) – Ep. 224
Are you chasing growth in your business but worried it might cost you your profits, sanity, or both? In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., pulls back the curtain on the real strategies CFOs use to grow companies intentionally and profitably. These are the 5 CFO secrets you can and should start using today! Key Takeaways: Secret #1: Use
How Your Future Break-Even Number Turns Big Business Decisions into Simple Math – Ep. 223
Before you hire, launch, or invest, there's one number you need to know: your future break-even point. It's more than a "boring" accounting term; it's one of the most powerful tools you have in your toolkit as a business owner and CEO. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, reformed corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., flips the script on how entrepreneurs look at their break-even poin
From Burnout to Balance: Redefining Entrepreneurial Success Through Break-Even Analysis with Delanie Fischer of Self-Helpless Podcast – Ep. 222
In this spirited and honest episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden sits down with multi-talented entrepreneur, comedian, host of the popular podcast Self-Helpless, and author of MockTales, Delanie Fischer, for a candid conversation about what sustainable creative entrepreneurship really looks like, and why knowing your break-even point may be the most powerful financial move you can ma
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 busi
Healthy Spending Habits: Business Budget Percentages That Fuel Sustainable Growth – Ep. 220
What if the secret to building your dream business isn't about saving more, but about spending smarter? In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., invites you to stop feeling guilty every time you make an investment in your business. Instead, learn how to spend with clarity, purpose, and profit in mind. She walks you through the healthy spending percentages su
The Finance Micro Habits Successful CEOs Use to Stay Ahead Year-Round – Ep. 219
When it comes to running a thriving business, it's not just the big moves that count—it's the small, consistent ones that truly build momentum. In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CEO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., shares the financial micro habits that high-performing CEOs use to stay aligned with their goals, grow strategically, and stay empowered all year long without burning out or
7 Habits to Cut Impulse Spending and Boost Your Business Budget – Ep. 218
If you've ever made a quick purchase that didn't quite align with your financial goals, you're not alone. It happens to the best of us! In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CPA and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., tackles the challenge of impulse spending as an entrepreneur with a practical approach that's meant to empower you, not make you feel guilty. Whether you're a free spender, saver, pe
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