Business By The Books with Danielle Hayden – Details, episodes & analysis

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 CFO and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., dives into the 12 money truths that successful CEOs live by to grow smarter, more sustainable businesses not just bigger ones. 

Key Takeaways: 

1. Revenue ≠ Success: Profit is the real goal, not revenue. Chasing sales without watching expenses can leave your business cash-strapped and stressed. Focus on the bottom line.  (01:16 – 02:42)

2. Align Your Personal & Business Finances: Your personal finances impact your business. Owner’s draws and misaligned personal spending can drain your business's resources and future growth. (02:47 – 04:24)

3. Money Goes Where Focus Flows: You don’t need 3-4 revenue streams. The most successful CEOs stick to one core offering and master it before expanding. (04:24 – 05:51)

4. Filter Your Advice Wisely: We love our friends and family, but unless someone has real experience running a business, their advice may do more harm than good. (05:51 – 06:47)

5. Listen to Your Numbers: Your financials are trying to tell you something. Learn to read and review them regularly to help you avoid repeat mistakes and make smarter, future-focused decisions. (06:48 – 07:43)

6. More Money Isn't Always the Fix: More capital won’t fix a broken strategy. Think 2-3 times longer than you normally would before taking on debt or outside investors. (07:44 – 09:05)

7. Spending is Investing: When aligned with your goals, every dollar spent should help your business grow or strengthen. (09:05 – 09:52)

8. Permission to Say No: Saying yes to everything leads to burnout—successful CEOs protect their time and energy. (09:56 – 10:55)

9. Emergency Funds are a Must: A “just in case” or rainy day fund can be the difference between panic and peace when the unexpected happens. You never know when a new opportunity will pop up! (10:56 – 11:52)

10. Invest in Your Education: You don’t have to do it all, but you do need to understand your business’s financial health. (11:53 – 13:01)

11. FOMO is a Distraction: This goes back to “money goes where focus flows”—stay grounded in your vision, not someone else’s highlight reel. (13:01 – 14:10)

12. Money is a Game—Play It Smart: Use your financial statements as tools to track your growth, not just your income. (14:12 – 14:50)

⭐Bonus Rule: When things get uncomfortable, lean in further. Successful CEOs step outside their comfort zones, because they know that’s where the real growth happens. 

Resources:

Kickstart Accounting’s CFO Services | kickstartaccountinginc.com/cfo 

Kickstart Accounting’s Tax Services | https://ksataxpartners.com/

Book a Call with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

https://www.kickstartaccountinginc.com/book 

Connect with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/Kickstartaccounting

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@businessbythebooks 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc

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 Your Financial Reports as Decision-Making Tools - Your income statement, balance sheet, and cash flow statement aren't just paperwork, they're your roadmap to smart business decisions.

• Secret #2: Forecast for the Future, Not Just the Present - Strategic forecasting (including rolling and quarterly re-forecasts) helps you anticipate growth and plan for big investments like hiring or marketing.

• Secret #3: Align Spending with Your Goals - Every dollar you spend should support your vision. Focus on return-on-investment instead of random or feel-good expenses.

• Secret #4: Protect Your Profit - Set up multiple accounts, including a rainy-day fund, to safeguard your profit and prepare for future opportunities or challenges.

• Secret #5: Get Support from a Money Team - You don't have to be your own CFO. Surround yourself with financial pros who can guide you, hold you accountable, and cheer you on.

Topics Discussed:

Intro: The Risk of Growing on Hustle and Intuition Alone (00:00 – 02:00)

CFO Secret 1: How to Use Your Financial Reports to Make Better Decisions (02:06 – 03:59)

CFO Secret 2: Forecasting Strategies That Work (04:00 - 05:41)

CFO Secret 3: Budgeting with Purpose - Aligning Your Spending & Goals (05:42 - 06:23)

CFO Secret 4: Smart Savings Habits That Protect Profits (06:23 - 07:16)

CFO Secret 5: Who You Need on Your Money Team (07:17 - 09:08)

Resources:

Kickstart Accounting’s CFO Services | kickstartaccountinginc.com/cfo 

Book a Call with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

https://www.kickstartaccountinginc.com/book 

Connect with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/Kickstartaccounting

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@businessbythebooks 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc

Taxes. They’re not the most exciting part of running a business, but they’re unavoidable. If tax season snuck up on you and you’re staring down a bill you can’t pay, don’t panic, we’ve got you covered! 

In this episode, Danielle Hayden, CPA and founder of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., walks you through what to do when you can’t pay your IRS tax bill. From filing your return (even if you can’t pay right away) to exploring payment plan options, Danielle breaks it down with practical strategies to take control of your finances and stay out of trouble with the IRS.

Key Takeaways: 

• Step 1 - Don’t Ignore the Problem: Avoiding your tax bill only makes things worse. The IRS can impose serious penalties, so taking action right away is crucial.

• Always File Your Tax Return, Even If You Can’t Pay in Full: The failure-to-file penalty is significantly higher than the failure-to-pay penalty. Filing on time helps minimize extra costs.

• Step 2 - Pay What You Can: Some payment is better than none. Put the amount of money towards the tax bill you can afford, and begin assessing the options available to you to pay the remaining balance. 

• Step 3 - Evaluate Your Payment Options: The IRS offers short-term and long-term payment plans, often at lower interest rates than credit cards or loans. 

• Weigh Your Financing Choices Carefully: Compare the IRS interest rate (around 8%) with other options like credit cards or personal loans to determine the most cost-effective way to pay your tax bill.

• Bonus Tips:

• Plan Ahead to Avoid Future Tax Surprises: Set aside money regularly for taxes, pay estimated taxes quarterly, and use financial statements to track your tax liability.

• Have a "Money Team": Having a trusted bookkeeper and tax accountant working together can help you stay ahead of tax season and avoid stressful surprises.

Topics Discussed:

Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Your Tax Bill (00:02:08 – 00:03:06)

Filing Your Tax Return vs. Waiting Until You Can Pay (00:02:36 – 00:06:43)

IRS Payment Plans and Evaluating All Financing Options (00:07:36 - 00:08:04)

Smart Strategies to Avoid This Situation in the Future (00:08:04 – 00:11:17)

The Importance of a "Money Team" (aka a bookkeeper and tax accountant) (00:11:17 – 00:12:15)

Resources:

All Our Episodes & Articles on Taxes | Tackle Your Taxes with Kickstart Accounting, Inc. 

KSA Tax Partners | https://ksataxpartners.com/ 

Free Gift | ‘How Much to Pay Yourself as a Business Owner’ Calculator

Book a Call with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

https://www.kickstartaccountinginc.com/book 

Connect with Kickstart Accounting, Inc.:

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/Kickstartaccounting

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@businessbythebooks 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/kickstartaccountinginc

Are you falling into the same financial pitfalls as many business owners? In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle Hayden shares her wisdom on fine-tuning budgeting practices for optimal business efficiency. Explore the importance of approaching budgeting in a way that matches your individual money personality and the four different budgeting approaches. 

Topics Discussed: 

Intro (0:00)

Money Personality Type Quiz (2:39)

What exactly is a budget? (3:07)

Style #1 - Budgeting for Free-spenders: The Allocation Method  (4:57)

Money Mindset Mastery Framework (12:41)

Style #2 - Budgeting for Perfectionists: Expense Grading Worksheet (13:43)

Style #3 - Budgeting for Keepers: The Back-In Method  (17:46)

Style #4 - Budgeting for Balance Seekers: The Traditional Approach (23:07)

Understanding which budget style suits you (29:24)

Book your budget session with our team (30:00)

For help with finances while growing your business, visit:

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Are you making the most common legal mistakes business owners do? In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle and Paige discuss essential legal and tax strategies for small businesses and entrepreneurs. Join us for this conversation with a legal expert dedicated to helping entrepreneurs navigate these topics and avoid legal pitfalls.

Topics Discussed: 

Intro (0:00)

Common Mistake #1: Registering the business. (4:00)

Common Mistake #2: business insurance, and professional contracts. (5:24)

Common Mistake #3: professional contracts (8:30)

Top contracts to have: Master Service Agreements, Terms & Conditions, and more (11:41)

Explaining Worker Agreements, 1099 Contracts, and Legal Safeguards (13:28)

Money Mindset Personality Type (15:51)

Understanding the legal and tax aspects of LLCs and S Corps (23:03)

For help, reach out to Paige and her team (35:35)

For help with finances while growing your business, visit:

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Connect with Legal Paige:

Website | thelegalpaige.com

Instagram | @thelegalpaige

LinkedIn | The Legal Paige

YouTube | The Legal Paige

Podcast | The Legal Paige Podcast

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Paying yourself as a business owner can be tricky; it can be difficult to know which approach to take and what would work best for your specific situation. In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle shares three methods you can use to manage your personal income from the business and keep your finances in order. Listen in and find the right method for you.

Topics Discussed: 

Intro (0:00)

Understanding S Corps: Their Pros and Cons, Episode 115 (01:26)

Lisa's S Corp journey in Episode 117: Dream Home Achieved (2:09)

Avoid using your business account as a personal piggy bank. (4:50)

Cindy's eCom Store and her financial wake-up call: separating business and personal (05:42)

Money Personality Type Quiz (08:05)

Method 1: Percent of Revenue Approach (09:38)

Method 2: Profit Distribution (12:26)

Method 3: Personal Budget (15:35)

For help choosing the best method for you, visit:

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle and Lindsay delve into community-driven business growth, partnerships, starting and growing a business without funding, and Lindsay's journey of selling her business. Discover insights on organic marketing, business development, challenges, key lessons, and cost-effective marketing strategies.

Topics Discussed:  

Intro (0:00) 

Lindsay’s current mission and focus (2:47)

Lindsay as an “accidental” entrepreneur and how to grow your business with no funding (4:04)

Balancing full-time work and building a business (6:48)

Attracting brand partnerships: luck or skill? (10:23) 

Money Mindset Mastery Framework (20:50)

The journey of selling your company: navigating due diligence inquiries (21:51)

Leaving your business behind and pivoting to a new business (28:46)

Lindsay’s most important lesson learned and strategies for success (37:00)

Connect with us for help (45:20)

For help with finances while growing your business, visit:

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/ 

Connect with Lindsay Pinchuk:

Website | www.lindsaypinchuk.com

Instagram | @lindsaypinchuk

LinkedIn | Lindsay Pinchuk

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

When should a contractor become an employee? What is a W9 or 1099 contract? How should you collect them? In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle is joined by Kelsey to answer those questions and explain their complete blueprint for business owners on how to expand their teams.

Topics Discussed: 

Intro (0:00)

What are W9 and 1099 contracts? (1:33)

The best practices for collecting the W9s and who you need to collect them from (2:48)

What is the difference between a contractor and an employee? (8:12)

Money Mindset Mastery Framework (10:11)

When to turn a contractor into an employee and the benefits of each (11:14)

The most important reminders (17:20)

Connect with us for help (19:00)

For more help regarding employees, contractors, W9 or 1099 contracts, visit:

https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

In this episode of “Entrepreneur Money Stories”, Danielle is joined by Tanessa, a health consultant for 7-figure earners, to discuss how entrepreneurs are prone to overwork, lack of concentration or energy, and even burnout, because they neglect the greatest asset of their business, has—their mind. Together they talk about sleep, diet, tools, and routines to increase productivity. 

Topics discussed:

Intro (0:00)
Your brain is the greatest asset your business has. (2:44)
Aura ring as a way to measure our quality of sleep. (5:31)
What is REM sleep, and how does it impact your business? (7:22)
Bedtime Routine: Dos and Don’ts (10:31)
Circadian rhythm and ways of triggering your brain to slow down (11:42)
How late exercise and food can alter good sleep (14:40)
Ways to mitigate disrupting factors (16:37)
Finding your Money Mindset personality type (18:20)
Alcohol as a sedative and how it influences REM sleep (19:39)
Start implementing consistency at bedtime to see fast results (22:35)
Adjusting your sleep time with chronobiology (23:34)
Ways to know if you are sleeping at the right time (25:09)
What to eat for breakfast to feel satiated and maintain energy stability (26:43)
Healthy breakfasts and the truth about carbohydrates (28:47)
Importance of blood sugar stability and inflammatory effects of meals (31:03)
Monitoring fight or flight response using heart rate on food adaptability (32:56)
Evaluating your diet and the consumption of whole foods (34:51)
Advice on caffeine: when to drink coffee (37:24)
How to elevate your energy levels through resilience (39:37)
Conclusion (41:25)
Get in touch with Tanessa and The Becoming Limitless Podcast (43:08)

Connect with Tanessa Shears:

Website | tanessashears.com

Instagram | @tanessashears

YouTube | Tanessa Shears

LinkedIn | Tanessa Shears

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

In this episode of Entrepreneur Money Stories, Danielle is joined by Kelsey to discuss a frequent question among listeners: How do I get paid as an LLC or sole proprietor? There can be a lot of confusion among business owners when it comes to being an LLC, such as what exactly is an LLC, the cost of becoming one, "Should I pay my mortgage from my business account?", and more. Together, Danielle and Kelsey, answer all these questions and more, so that you and your business can thrive while being legally protected.

Topics Discussed:

Intro (0:00)

What exactly is an LLC? (1:30)

Should a sole proprietor become an LLC? (2:17)

The cost of becoming an LLC (2:55)

Sole proprietor vs. LLC vs. S-Corp (3:08)

Single-member LLCs vs. partnerships (4:54)

How to pay yourself as an LLC (5:27)

Legally distinguishing between personal and business expenses (7:13)

How to have clean bookkeeping (9:02)

Does it matter how often you take owner draws? (10:17)

Owner draws and taxes (10:55)

How to calculate owner draws and how much to pay yourself (11:16)

Paying yourself as an S-Corp vs. an LLC (14:55)

How to pay yourself during slow months (16:09)

Treat your business as a business, not a personal ATM. (17:09)

Connect with us for help (19:52)

For help becoming an LLC or calculating owner draws, visit https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/

Connect with Danielle:

Instagram | @Daniellehayden__OH

Instagram | @Kickstartaccounting

Website | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Facebook | Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Get Started Today: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/get-started/