You're Not Bothering Anyone: The Follow-Up Episode Every Business Owner Needs

You're Not Bothering Anyone: The Follow-Up Episode Every Business Owner Needs

In this episode, Debbie Bailey tackles one of the most overlooked parts of running a business: follow-up. From the sofa cleaner who lost two years of repeat bookings to the window cleaner who drove past the same house for two years without ever knocking, Debbie shares real stories that show exactly what it costs when we don't stay in touch. She breaks down who you should be following up with (it's a longer list than you think), why most of us don't do it, fear of being annoying, fear of rejection, or simply no system and how to reframe all of it. Plus the "I don't have time" myth, thoroughly busted. If you only take one thing away from this episode: follow up. It's that simple, and it works. Who to follow up with: * Every enquiry into your business * Current customers * Past customers * People who've engaged positively with your social posts * Followers who've interacted with you * People who've replied to your emails * People who've recommended you * People who've left you a testimonial * Collaboration opportunities * Press opportunities * Previous bookings ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The KPI mistake That damages growing businesses

Most managing directors at the £1–5m stage are chasing one headline number. Revenue. Growth. Cash. And that appears to make sense. But when you focus on one KPI in isolation, you can hit it and still damage the business underneath it. In this episode, I break down: * Why growth without guardrails can erode profit * What happens when behaviour is driven by narrow measurement * The gym example: revenue up, retention ignored, profitability under pressure * Why corporates never look at a KPI in isolation You don’t need a complex dashboard but you need to understand what your headline number is and what sits beside it to protect the business long term. If you’re leading a growing business and want more control without the read tape, this episode is for you. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Steal from Corporate: Risk for growing businesses

Risk rarely shows up where you expect it. In this episode of Get Financially Fit, Debbie Bailey explores the kind of risk that sits quietly in the background while the numbers look fine, the sort that keeps business owners awake at 3am but never appears in the P&L until it’s too late. Drawing on a real client story and her experience in corporate finance, Debbie explains how larger organisations think about risk as design, not fear and how MDs of £1–5m businesses can apply the same thinking without adding layers of process or complexity. You’ll hear why unmanaged risk often shows up personally before it shows up financially, how simple structural decisions can create calm, and the one question Debbie would ask if she were sitting next to you as your Finance Director. This episode is for managing directors who want to grow their business without carrying all the risk themselves. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

Why Profit, cash and the balance sheet only make sense together

You can be profitable and still feel stuck. You can have cash in the bank and still feel nervous. And you can look at your numbers regularly and still feel unsure what decision to make next. In this episode, I explain why that happens and why profit, cash and the balance sheet only make sense when you look at them together. This isn’t about learning accounting. It’s about understanding why decision-making feels hard when you’re only looking at one part of the picture. I share how finance directors actually use profit, cash and the balance sheet together to help CEOs: * understand what’s really going on in the business * avoid cash squeezes and tax surprises * make confident decisions about pay, growth and investment * stop reacting month to month If you’ve ever thought, “The business is profitable… so why does this still feel stressful?” this episode will help you see why and what to look at differently. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

The Balance Sheet: What Corporates See (That Most Business Owners Miss)

The balance sheet is one of the most misunderstood reports in a small business and one of the most important. In this episode of Get Financially FIT with Debbie Hancock, Debbie explains how corporates really use the balance sheet as a control and decision-making tool, not just a year-end formality. Drawing on real-world examples from gyms and growing businesses, Debbie walks through: * what the balance sheet actually shows (and what it doesn’t) * how mistakes here often lead to overpaying tax * why payroll, VAT and fixed assets are common problem areas * how the balance sheet affects dividends, cash confidence and business value * and what a CEO should be looking at — without needing to become an accountant * This episode is about understanding your business position properly, asking better questions, and using the balance sheet the way a Finance Director would, so your profit, tax and decisions are grounded in reality. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.