We measure success.
Beyond just tax savings.
This may sound boring, but first is compliance. A lot of people come to us while business owners come to us and they’re out of compliance. Got all kinds of problems because of that. We’re taxing authorities in their lives, scattered and anxious and stressful. I measure been part of the 6,000 of them getting them into compliance and keep them that way because then everything starts to come and be more successful from there. It is certain key metrics and just depends on the business. But just a simple one that everybody needs is just the weekly cash flow and keeping the finger on pulls of that. That generally is the first indicator in any business, it’s to how well it’s doing in that week.
The cash go up? Did it go down? Did it stay the same? And why? For all those things, and that’s often lead honestly to business model modifications struggling with that.
So an example is St. Louis client. It’s come to me multiple times, different ones. And they had business models where they didn’t collect any money from the client until after the service was performed. And so what that leads to is the faster they grow, and the more they grow, the more their cash deficit becomes. They just can’t operate like that unless you’ve got tons of money and said no on the sidelines. Most people don’t have that. So they have to had to change your model to get some sort of deposit up front and try to work off them a reasonable deposit to have a reasonable amount of clients. Money so that a cash flow has to grow.
And I think the ultimate metric that I use is the client happy or they have a happy life.
When a business isn’t working.
A client’s not happy. They feel like they’re walking down the hall, bouncing off the walls left and right. But when they can get that little Rubik’s Cube black box business model tweaked so it’s lined up, all of a sudden, they’re going down the hallway straight and the lights are on and it’s successful, will end there happy, and they’re calm and there’s not as much stress.
So that’s what I look for. And when I see somebody who’s not in that boat, who is all stressed out, I know that that situation where the client has to bring that change right away because they can’t live like that for long haul. When you have that much chaos, stress, client happiness.
Tax savings are important when you run your own business, but at Dunn CPA Firm, we think success should start with structure and clarity to give you peace of mind. More often than not, even if a client comes to use for financial guidance, they also need to address one core issue first: non-compliance.
Get Compliant
Falling out of compliance with tax filings, payroll obligations and other regulatory requirements creates financial risk, as well as anxiety, distraction and operational problems.
This is why the first step with any client is to ensure they get (and stay!) compliant. Once the correct systems are in place, everything else becomes easier to manage. This foundation allows business performance, financial planning and day-to-day decision making to improve.
Focus on the Numbers That Matter
Every business has unique goals, but there are a few metrics that consistently offer insight into how well your business is running. One of the simplest is weekly cash flow. Change in cash flow is an early signal that tells a business owner if their systems are working or need adjustment.
Revisit Your Business Model
In many cases, cash flow problems are not caused by low sales or lack of demand, but instead they stem from structural problems in the business model.
A good example is a client who wasn’t collecting payment until after their services were delivered—as their business grew, so did their cash deficit. The more they succeeded in their business, the more their bank balance suffered. This is a very common disconnect, and one that is fixable.
Making a change, like requiring payment up front, allowed this client to create a healthier financial rhythm.
Measure Success Beyond Numbers
Success is measured by more than just numbers. One of the clearest indicators of if a business is working is if the business owner feels in control and happy with their work.
When your business is running properly, everything feels aligned. You’re running a system that supports your goals, rather than reacting to problems. Clients have told us they feel anxious, or like they’re “bouncing off the walls.” Once we help them solve for that, they’re calmer, more focused and confident in where they’re headed.
Support that Strengthens Your Business
Success is rooted in sustainability. At Dunn CPA Firm, we help business owners build systems that support both growth and peace of mind.
If your business isn’t running the way it should, let’s talk about how to get you moving forward again.
