Episode 21

Episode 21

Episode 21: Ethical Decision Making In this episode of Past the Balance Sheet, Kash and Sassy dig into the uncomfortable but necessary conversation around ethics in business. Not as a legal checklist, but as a leadership issue. They talk through how unethical decisions rarely start big. They often begin with pressure, fear, survival mode, poor culture, weak controls, or the belief that “everyone does it.” From toxic leadership and employee mistreatment to questionable billing practices, vendor relationships, investor reporting, financial controls, and the danger of ignoring red flags, this episode pulls back the curtain on the quiet decisions that shape a company’s culture and long-term value. Kash and Sassy also discuss why ethical leadership matters before a crisis hits, how one bad decision can ripple through an organization, and why strong systems, clear documentation, and dual controls protect both the business and the people inside it. Because ethics is not one grand statement on a wall. It is the pattern of decisions a company makes when no one is watching. If this episode resonates with you, follow, subscribe, and share it with another founder, CEO, or business leader who needs to hear it.

Episode 20

Episode 20: The Milestone Episode — What Comes Next for Past the Balance Sheet We made it to Episode 20, and this one is a little different. In this milestone episode, Kash and Sassy take a step back to reflect on the journey so far, the listener feedback that shaped the show, and the shift from scripted structure to the honest, unscripted conversations that now define Past the Balance Sheet. We share listener stats, talk about what surprised us, and pull back the curtain on how episode ideas come to life. We also dig into what may be next for the podcast, including listener-submitted dilemmas, possible guest episodes, messy business topics, and the conversations we have not been brave enough to fully unpack yet. And in true Past the Balance Sheet fashion, we do not stay surface-level for long. This episode opens the door to one of those harder conversations: how founders, CEOs, and entrepreneurs can become the problem inside the business. We talk about what happens when great vision is paired with poor leadership, when owners struggle to let go, and when the person who built the business becomes the barrier to its next stage of growth. This episode is part celebration, part reflection, and part preview of where we are headed next.

Episode 19

Episode 19: Sometimes the biggest cash leak in a business is not a vendor, customer, or payroll — it is the owner. In this episode of Past the Balance Sheet, Kash and Sassy unpack the uncomfortable but necessary conversation around owner draws, distributions, payroll, and the impact those decisions have on cash flow. Owners absolutely deserve to be paid, but the business can only support what it can actually afford. They discuss how entity structure matters, why LLCs, S-Corps, and C-Corps handle owner compensation differently, and why conversations with your CPA should not wait until tax season. They also dig into the risks of pulling cash without looking at the balance sheet, accounts receivable, inventory, debt payments, taxes, and future obligations. This episode is a reminder that profit does not always mean available cash. Before taking the next draw, owners need to ask the harder question: is this money truly available, or is it coming from payroll, taxes, vendors, debt, or future cash flow? If you are a business owner, bookkeeper, accountant, or finance professional helping owners make better decisions, this episode is for you.

Episode 18

Episode 18: Leadership and People Management In this episode of Past the Balance Sheet, Kash and Sassy dig into one of the most overlooked financial drivers in business: leadership and people management. Most business owners think their biggest challenges are financial, but the root issue is often people — hiring, accountability, communication, culture, and knowing when someone is no longer the right fit. Kash and Sassy break down the difference between leadership and management, why clear expectations matter, how poor performance impacts profitability, and why avoiding hard conversations can quietly cost a business more than owners realize. They also share real-world stories about hiring mistakes, firing difficult employees, managing team expectations, and the financial ripple effect of keeping the wrong people too long. Because payroll may show up on the P&L, but poor leadership shows up everywhere.

Episode 17

Episode 17: Depreciation and amortization show up on your financials every month, but most business owners do not fully understand what they mean, where they show up, or why they matter. In this episode of Past the Balance Sheet, Kash and Sassy break down the difference between depreciation and amortization in plain English. They talk about tangible assets like vehicles, equipment, computers, and buildings, as well as intangible assets like trademarks, patents, software, client lists, and non-competes. They also dig into why these items hit both the P&L and the balance sheet, how useful life and depreciation schedules impact your numbers, why CPA involvement matters, and how these entries affect taxes, forecasting, profitability, asset tracking, and even business valuation. This conversation is especially important for business owners who have assets on the balance sheet, are preparing for growth, thinking about selling, or simply want to understand what their financials are actually telling them. The biggest takeaway: your financials are only useful if they reflect reality. Depreciation and amortization are part of that reality, whether you have been paying attention to them or not.