Growing a business isn't just about increasing revenue. It's about creating a financial foundation that allows for sustainable growth. If we don't track our numbers, optimize cash flow, and plan for taxes, scaling can quickly turn into a financial disaster. So how do we scale without burning out or running out of cash?

On this episode, I break down the four essential pillars of a business---product, marketing & sales, operations, and finance---and explain why finance is the most overlooked yet critical factor for growth. I also share the key financial metrics we need to track weekly, from net profit margins to cash conversion cycles, and discuss why tax planning should never be an afterthought. Plus, I walk through practical steps for managing cash flow, understanding burn rate, and using financial planning to scale sustainably.

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• Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps

• 1:00 - The four key pillars: product, marketing & sales, operations, and finance
• 3:12 - Why finance is often ignored (and why that's a huge mistake)
• 4:51 - Understanding net profit margins and why 15%+ is the goal
• 7:12 - Customer acquisition cost (CAC) and why we need to recover it within 6-12 months
• 9:45 - Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) and why predictable income matters
• 11:27 - Cash conversion cycle: how long it takes to turn investments into revenue
• 14:36 - Burn rate and runway: how long our business can survive on current cash reserves
• 16:48 - Why weekly financial check-ins are a game changer
• 18:03 - Cash flow management: why small businesses struggle and how to avoid problems
• 21:09 - The power of unit economics: why we need to know our profit per product/service
• 23:30 - Strategic financial planning for sustainable scaling
• 25:42 - The importance of tax planning and why it should never be an afterthought

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