CEO Numbers Network with Danielle Hayden

Hosted by Kickstart Accounting, Inc.

Business Entrepreneurship

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277

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Jun 2026

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About the show

Making money and understanding your finances are two very different things. CEO Numbers Network is here to close that gap. Hosted by Danielle Hayden, former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., every episode breaks down the financial strategy that most business owners never had access to. Profit, cash flow, real decision-making. The kind of thinking that actually moves a business forward.

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June 16, 2026Episode 710 min

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-term value. I also explain why minimizing taxes as your only financial strategy is one of the biggest mistakes I see, and what that does to your company's worth. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I share the four principles I use with our CFO clients to evaluate financial health. You will learn how to spot the trends that signal whether your business is gaining strength or losing it. If you have ever wondered why your business looks profitable on paper but does not feel valuable, this episode will give you the clarity you have been missing. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build real long-term value: here Key Takeaways 00:00 The Report You're Ignoring 02:45 Equity Is Your Wealth Score 03:15 The Tax Minimizing Mistake 04:43 Build a Cash Cushion 06:06 Protect Your Equity 08:24 Evaluate Every Decision Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next 👉 Why You're Stuck: The Three Phases Of Financial Support 👉 Building a Business Worth Selling: The 7-Step Framework

June 9, 2026Episode 47 min

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 forecasting and strategy). The phases aren't tied to revenue, they're tied to how you lead and how you make decisions. Once you know which phase you're actually in, you can stop chasing random financial advice and finally get the support that fits. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I break down what each phase looks like in real life, the signs that tell you which one you're in, and the kind of support that makes sense at each stage. You will learn how to spot the phase you're in, why DIYing the wrong solution keeps you stuck, and what financial leadership looks like once your books are no longer the bottleneck. If you have ever followed financial advice that worked for someone else but didn't move the needle for you, this episode will explain why and give you a clearer path forward. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can match the right support to the stage you're in: here Key Takeaways 00:00 The Wrong Support Is Costing You 01:47 Phase One: Foundation, Trust Your Numbers 03:21 Phase Two: Empowered, Lead With Numbers 04:34 Phase Three: Elevation, Reports to Strategy 06:04 Find the Right Support for Your Stage Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next 👉 Building a Business Worth Selling: The 7-Step Framework 👉 Why You're Profitable But Have No Cash

June 2, 2026Episode 512 min

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 accounting in plain language. I explain how each method reports revenue and expenses, why that gap between profit and cash exists, and how to tell which method actually fits your business right now. I also share a recent client story about a tax accountant's well-intentioned switch to accrual that created bigger problems a year later. You will learn why your profit and your cash rarely match, how large inventory purchases can cause big monthly swings in your numbers, and why a tax saving strategy that just pushes an expense to next year isn't actually a strategy. If you have ever looked at your books and thought "wait, how am I profitable but I have no cash?", this episode will give you the clarity to understand what your financials are actually telling you. 👉 Discover how our bookkeeping services can help you choose the right accounting method for your business: here. Key Takeaways: 00:00 Profitable But Broke? Here's Why 00:19 The Accounting Lens Shaping Your Decisions 01:30 Cash Basis Accounting, Explained Simply 01:54 Why Your Sales Don't Match Your POS 02:39 How Expenses Hit on Cash Basis 02:57 Accrual Accounting and Matching Revenue 04:37 Cash vs Accrual: How to Choose 05:23 The Real Pros and Cons of Cash Basis 07:04 What You Need Before Switching to Accrual 09:23 The Tax "Strategy" That Backfires Next Year Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 The Write-Offs That Are Devaluing Your Business👉 Building a Business Worth Selling: The 7-Step Framework

May 26, 2026Episode 416 min

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 expenses through the company, and the strategies that felt smart while she was building it were the exact things blocking her exit. I walk through the 7-step framework I use with my CFO clients to shift from operating a business to owning an asset that can run without you. You will learn what makes a business valuable to a buyer, why tax-minimization strategies can backfire when it's time to sell, how to standardize your offers, how to build recurring revenue, and how clean financials drive the kind of value that gives you options 3 to 5 years from now. If you have ever wondered why your profitable business still feels like a trap, or how to position your company so you have the option to sell, scale, or step back, this episode will show you exactly where to start. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build a business with long-term value: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why Most Small Businesses Aren't Sellable 01:30 How Tax Strategy Destroys Business Value 02:31 Operator vs. Owner Mindset Shift 06:23 Focus on One Core Offer 07:25 Build a Repeatable Process 08:35 Build a Team That Runs Without You 09:10 Build a Sales Engine 10:03 Standardize Your Offers 10:57 Recurring Revenue Drives Business Value 11:36 Create a CEO Vision and Plan Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 The Write-Offs That Are Devaluing Your Business 👉 The CEO Response to a Losing Month

May 19, 2026Episode 318 min

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 scramble. I share the story of a client whose previous accountant told her to spend down her cash to lower her tax bill, which left her taking on massive debt right before opening a new store. I cover what actually counts as a deduction, the categories most owners forget, and the strategies that get abused online. You will walk away with a clear filter for every business expense and a better understanding of how tax decisions impact the long-term value of your business. You will learn what makes a business expense ordinary and necessary, how to spot the tax advice that puts your business at risk, and the strategic deductions most owners overlook. If you have ever felt unsure about what you can deduct, worried you are missing something, or pressured to spend money just to lower your tax bill, this episode will help you take ownership of your tax strategy and build a business that holds its value. 👉 Stop guessing at deductions. Build a tax strategy aligned with your real business goals: here. Key Takeaways: 00:00 The Tax Deduction Mistake 00:55 What You're Actually Taxed On 02:00 The Ordinary And Necessary Rule 02:56 Spending To Save Backfires 04:52 Align Strategy With Business Goals 05:31 The Deduction Checklist 06:42 Separate Business And Personal 10:56 The Travel Write-Off Trap 13:48 The Augusta Rule Truth 16:45 Deduct More Or Show Profit Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 Can You Hire Your Children? How to Pay Your Kids, Get Tax Advantages, and Create Generational Wealth 👉 Beyond the Business: Preparing for a Secure Retirement

May 12, 2026Episode 211 min

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 real root cause, and how to build a strategy that does not overhaul your entire business at once. The episode is for small business owners who have opened their P&L, seen red, and need a clear process for what to do next instead of reacting out of fear. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I break down my five-step framework for responding to a losing month with clarity instead of panic. You will learn how to categorize the type of loss you are facing, how to identify what actually caused it, and how to pick one focused change that moves your business forward. If you have ever opened your income statement, seen a loss, and felt your stomach drop, this episode will give you the language and the process to respond like a CEO instead of spiraling. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you respond to a losing month with data instead of panic: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why Panicking Over a Loss Costs You More Than the Loss Itself 01:37 How to Identify Short Term, Seasonal, and Long Term Losses 03:11 The Questions to Ask When You're Diagnosing the Root Cause 05:34 Why You Should Treat This Like a Board Meeting Presentation 06:48 The One Rule That Stops a Losing Month from Spiraling 08:08 How Your Energy as a CEO Sets the Tone for Your Team 10:15 The Difference Between Coaching and Consulting 10:34 Why You're Not Failing, You're Missing Clarity Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now 👉 The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead

May 5, 2026Episode 114 min

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 wrong. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I get raw about what worked this tax season, what didn't, and the real story behind a December tax strategy that left a client unable to fund her second location. I share why your money team should include four separate people for checks and balances, why your financials need to reflect the actual cost of running your business, and why I'm pushing back on the tax influencer advice telling you to write off your entire life. You will learn how to tell the difference between a tax preparer and a true tax partner, the four roles every business owner needs on their money team, and how to spot a December tax strategy that will create a cash flow problem in January. If you have ever followed tax advice that felt smart in December and broke your business in January, this episode will reframe how you think about tax strategy entirely and help you build a plan that protects your cash instead of draining it. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build a tax strategy that protects your cash and supports your growth here Key Takeaways 00:35 The 4-person money team every business owner needs 01:17 Why your bookkeeper should not be your tax accountant 02:09 The tax deadline email that changed everything 03:51 Why KSA files extensions on purpose 04:54 How a tax week actually works 07:21 The truth about tax influencers 08:52 Why your tax strategy should match your core values 10:08 The December bonus strategy that backfired 11:11 Why writing off all your profit is the wrong move 12:32 What worked this tax season and what did not Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now

May 4, 20260 min

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 numbers. Expect real conversations about profit, cash flow, decision-making, and what it actually takes to run a business like a CEO. Just the financial clarity you've been looking for. If running your business has ever felt more like guessing than leading, come back tomorrow. The first episode drops soon and it starts here. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you lead your business with better numbers: here Resources: 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram

April 28, 2026Episode 2728 min

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 small business owners. You will learn how to build financial clarity using four core accounts, how to set aside the right amount for taxes based on net income, and how to stop moving money weekly and start making CEO-level decisions monthly. If you have ever felt behind on your cash flow or unsure whether your money system is helping or hurting, this episode will give you a straightforward path forward. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can simplify your cash management and help you lead with clearer numbers: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why Profit First sounds shiny but gets complicated 00:45 How the Profit First envelope system works 01:42 The hidden cost of moving money weekly 02:32 The four bank accounts every business owner needs 02:54 Why tax reserves should be based on net income 03:56 How to build a rainy day fund you touch quarterly 04:47 Why you don't save for profit, you create it 05:33 Never wait to save up before investing 05:59 The budget tool that replaces Profit First 06:48 Your real CEO job isn't transferring cash Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now 👉 When Your Numbers and Your Instincts Tell Different Stories

April 21, 2026Episode 27110 min

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 years working with thousands of small business owners. The conversation covers how to diagnose where profit is leaking, the order of operations for fixing it, and how to build margin back into a business that feels stretched thin. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, Danielle breaks down the fastest profit levers available to a CEO right now and how to decide which one to pull first. You will learn how pricing, team utilization, cash flow timing, and expense control each shape your bottom line, and how to spot which one is costing you the most. If you have ever looked at your revenue and wondered why it does not feel like success, this episode gives you the clarity and the action steps to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build a profitable business with intention: here Key Takeaways: 00:00 Build Profit on Purpose 01:06 The 1% Pricing Shift 02:04 Lead Your Team to Profit 04:32 Control Your Cash Flow Timing 06:28 Stop the Profit Leaks 08:14 Build a Cash Rhythm 09:00 Know Your Profit Driver Resources: ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here 👉 Check your books here 👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram Listen next: 👉 Money mindset - Run Your Finances Like The 1% 👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now