You don't need a better checklist.
You need the one that was written for where your business actually is.
Every June, business owners sit down to "review the numbers" and stall out within twenty minutes. The reports are open, the coffee is poured, and nothing useful happens. The usual conclusion is that they're bad with money. The real problem is that they're running a review built for a different business. A founder still catching up on bookkeeping has no business stress-testing a three-year forecast, and a seasoned CEO gains nothing from another lecture on clean books.
In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I walk you through the 90-minute midyear CEO session I've run on my own business every year for 11 years, broken down by financial stage. Whether you're in foundation, empowered, or visionary, you'll know exactly what your 90 minutes should look like, what to review, and what to leave alone.
You'll learn:
- How to identify which financial stage you're in before you review a single number
- What foundation-stage owners should do with their 90 minutes instead of forcing a financial review
- How to review payroll, owner pay, and contractor W-9s on your P&L
- Why your tax reserve needs a midyear check against what you've actually paid
- What to look for on your balance sheet: cash, debt, and owner's draws
- How visionary-stage CEOs reforecast the back half against 10-year goals
👉 Discover how our CFO services can guide your midyear review at every stage here!
Key Takeaways:
00:00 What "work on your business" really means
00:58 Block 90 minutes. Be the CEO.
01:33 The three financial tiers
01:38 Foundation: clean books first
03:35 Empowered: read your P&L like a CFO
05:00 Payroll, owner pay, W-9s
07:33 The 25% tax reserve check
08:24 Balance sheet: cash, debt, draws
10:43 Visionary: 10-year, 3-year, 1-year
12:19 Reforecast the back half
The second half of the year is going to happen either way. Run the session, and decide how.
👉 Apply for CFO Support: https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/the-cfo-solution/
✨ Check Your Books | https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/
✨ Book a Call | https://kickstartaccountinginc.com/book-a-call/
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Listen next:
👉 The Best Advice Can Still Leave You Stuck And Broke
👉 The Hidden Balance Sheet Trap Slowly Killing Your Wealth