Have you ever thought of your business as more than just a source of income? In this episode of She Means Profit, I’m diving into the idea of treating your business as a financial asset—one that can appreciate over time and build lasting wealth. Whether you’re planning to sell your business in the future, use it for retirement income, or create a legacy, the steps you take now to increase its value will pay off in the long run. Owning a business isn’t just about short-term gains; it’s about buil...
Nov 25, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 173
What if midlife was the perfect time to start a business? In this episode of She Means Profit , I explore why more and more Gen X women are stepping into the world of entrepreneurship. If you’re a woman in your 40s, 50s, or beyond, this episode is for you. We’re talking about reinventing yourself, claiming control over your financial future, and finding personal fulfillment in ways that a corporate job often can’t provide. This topic is especially close to my heart. Recently, my hairstylist, a y...
Nov 18, 2024•19 min•Season 2Ep. 172
In this episode of She Means Profit, I demystify the roles of bookkeepers, fractional CFOs, and tax accountants to help business owners understand when and why to hire these experts. Discover how a bookkeeper can manage your daily financial transactions, how a fractional CFO can provide strategic growth planning, and how a tax accountant can navigate complex tax laws. While all three are critical to a thriving business, they each serve different purposes, often at different stages of business gr...
Nov 11, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 171
Are you building wealth that will stand the test of time? In this episode, I'm diving into the final step of the Profit Method Framework: creating generational wealth. If you’ve been following along with the previous steps, you know that building a profitable business is just the beginning. Today, we’re focusing on how to ensure that all your hard work doesn’t just benefit you but continues to support and empower future generations. Generational wealth is more than a bank balance—it’s about crea...
Nov 04, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 170
Have you ever wondered what it really takes to stand out in your industry and go from simply surviving to truly thriving? In today’s episode, I’m diving into one of my favorite topics—building your influence and establishing thought leadership as a business owner. Influence is step five in my PROFIT Method Framework, and it’s a game-changer when it comes to scaling your business and expanding your reach. This isn’t just about gaining more followers or getting likes on social media posts. It’s ab...
Oct 28, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 169
What’s the biggest obstacle preventing my business from scaling? For many entrepreneurs like me, it’s not a lack of sales—it’s poor financial management. In this episode, I dive into one of the most critical steps in my Profit Method framework: cash confidence. As I always say, “You need to know your numbers. Without that financial clarity, it’s impossible to grow your business.” I start by revisiting my Profit Method framework, which is designed to help entrepreneurs at every stage of their jou...
Oct 21, 2024•17 min•Season 2Ep. 168
Do you think you have a money problem in your business? What if the real issue is sales? In this episode, I break down the common misconception that financial struggles are due to poor money management when, more often than not, it’s a lack of sales that’s holding you back. If you’re finding it hard to generate revenue, this episode will give you actionable strategies to prioritize sales and turn your business around. We start by exploring the fundamental role that sales play in business success...
Oct 14, 2024•18 min•Season 2Ep. 167
Are you dreaming of leaving your 9-to-5 and stepping into the world of entrepreneurship? In this episode, I dive deep into my own journey of transitioning from a secure job to becoming a full-time business owner. If you’ve ever felt the desire for more freedom, fulfillment, or financial independence, this episode is for you. I start by addressing one of the biggest challenges in any major life change—fear. I know firsthand how natural it is to feel uncertain, whether it’s fear of failure, succes...
Oct 07, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 166
"The way you think determines your success." — Melissa Houston Have you ever wondered why some entrepreneurs thrive while others falter? It’s not just about skills or strategy—it's mindset. In today's episode, we're diving into the first step of my Profit Method Framework: mindset. Why start here? Because your mindset can make or break your business. It’s the foundation on which every decision is made, whether you're just starting or ready to scale to the next level. Whether you’re stuck in fear...
Sep 30, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 165
"If it’s too late to start something new, especially a business, let me reassure you: it’s never too late." — Melissa Houston Are you feeling stuck in your business or contemplating a big change in your career? In episode 164 of the She Means Profit podcast, I’m thrilled to introduce the new PROFIT Method Framework, a game-changer designed to guide you through every stage of your entrepreneurial journey. This month has been full of personal milestones for me—celebrating 25 years of marriage and ...
Sep 23, 2024•19 min•Season 2Ep. 164
"What if the real issue in your business isn't about money, but sales?" — Melissa Houston In this episode of She Means Profit , I dive into the biggest misconception many of my clients have: they think they have a money problem, but the truth is, it’s a sales issue. After working with 90% of my clients, I’ve seen this pattern emerge time and time again. In this reintroduction episode, I’m excited to get back into helping women build profitable businesses. I’ve been through my own challenges this...
Sep 16, 2024•16 min•Season 2Ep. 163
“A thought leader is defined as an individual or firm recognized as an authority in their specialized field whose expertise are sought after and often rewarded. ” — Melissa Houston In an ever-growing industry, what sets you apart from the crowd of thousands proclaiming they’re the best and the greatest at what they do? The answer to this question gets harder every day. There will always be startups popping out of nowhere, small businesses that go viral, and established conglomerates that control...
Dec 11, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 162
"As you're starting your business, you're going to come across so many interesting and sometimes real challenges, really exciting problems to solve, areas of compliance and requirements that probably seem daunting, and I would say really seek out resources, seek out mentors.” — Dina Segal Contracts will always be an essential part of a business. Whether it’s a business deal with your supplier or establishing a new agreement with your client, this piece of paper plays a vital role in protecting n...
Nov 27, 2023•26 min•Season 1Ep. 161
“With the right mindset and dedication, successful debt management is within your reach.” —Melissa Houston Many aspire to start their own business, but a common obstacle preventing them from doing so is financial constraints. People who do not have enough funding often resort to taking out loans to build their first business. But what’s the deal with businesses that end up sinking rather than soaring? The culprit is often debt. Some businesses fall into the trap of having massive loans without a...
Nov 13, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 160
“The bottom line is that tracking your sales conversion is an essential step towards driving your business profit and ensuring that your business profit continues to grow and thrive, and not just your profit, but your sales and your whole business.” —Melissa Houston What sets a business up for success? It should have the capacity for profitability and scale. Making a profit in your business can be tough, especially in a challenging economy. In this episode, we emphasize that tracking sales conve...
Oct 30, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 159
“There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start a business. There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start calling yourself an entrepreneur until you actually start doing it.” — Dianne Welsh Here’s the deal: success isn’t some kind of magic trick. It starts when you decide to go on an adventure and grab opportunities offered to you. When it comes to building a business, you turn these opportunities into action-packed episodes that coincide with the difference you want to leave. As entrepreneurs,...
Oct 23, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 158
“Cash is queen and with the right strategies, you can manage it wisely and achieve long-term prosperity.” —Melissa Houston When running a business, cash flow is absolutely critical. As business owners, we are responsible for making sure that the cash moving in and out of business is managed properly. Why is it crucial to avoid running out of cash? Cash is the lifeblood of your financial obligations. And let me tell you, it’s not just about keeping cash at hand; it’s about fueling your business’s...
Oct 16, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 157
“Every business owner has made mistakes along the way, but the secret to success is learning from each mistake.” —Melissa Houston What makes a business successful? It’s how you turn mistakes into opportunities to improve and grow your way to success. Mistakes are not to be seen as weaknesses if you are a business owner. These must be seen as valuable lessons that can help you on your way to success. No successful business earned their way up without failing along the way and learning from the mi...
Oct 09, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 156
“As you prepare for your sales, be sure to prepare as well for your profit. Do not let the busyness of the season be an excuse for you not to create profit in your business.” —Melissa Houston It’s almost the end of 2023, and you know what that means - the busiest season is just right around the corner! So, what’s in the card for businesses this time? Well, it’s about finishing this year with a bang and gearing up for a more profitable new one. As we celebrate our third-year anniversary, our comm...
Oct 02, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 155
“Finances and marketing numbers are a game as well. So understanding how those numbers overlap can be a game changer.” —Melissa Houston 2023 has not been a great year for business owners. It’s been a rough year, really, with a lot of things happening around us and the economy affecting many different sectors. Experts are debating whether we’re experiencing a recession or not, and the thing is, we’ll only know we are in recession around six to eight months into it. Even though we’re not “official...
Sep 25, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 154
“No matter what stage of business you are at, it's really knowing that sales absolutely is, can, and should be beautiful.” —Jamie Gulino Davis There’s always a negative connotation about sales. People have this idea that we should never listen to salespeople because they only have one agenda: they make you lose control, urging you into buying their product or service and lose control of your money. So, it has always been a daunting and overwhelming experience for business owners to close sales. ...
Sep 18, 2023•28 min•Season 1Ep. 153
“Raising capital can be a critical component of your success. So, with the right financial strategy, you can take your business to the next level.” —Melissa Houston This is why starting or expanding a business can be daunting and overwhelming. It’s hard to answer the question ‘Where do we get our funding?’ Anyone could easily get confused—scared even—when raising capital for their businesses. And the thing is, it’s such a crucial component as no business would be able to start operating without ...
Sep 11, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 152
“A common mistake that entrepreneurs make is checking their bank balance at the end of the month and assuming that what is left is their profit.” —Melissa Houston Heads up: your bank balance does not equate to your true profitability. Doesn’t mean that you have all those money in your bank account, you’re free to spend them all you want. No—that’s not your profit yet! As business owners, we need to get our money management system tied up so that our profitability is optimized. And one way to do ...
Sep 04, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 151
“You need to have a solid understanding of what's going on in your business.” —Melissa Houston It’s a no-brainer that anyone who owns a business must have a solid understanding of what's going on in the business—everything, including the ins and outs and the future plans. It’s simply the bedrock of success. And while it is a no-brainer, actually committing yourself to doing so isn’t as simple as it seems. But when you have a firm grasp on your business, it's like having a compass that guides you...
May 29, 2023•15 min•Season 1Ep. 150
"There's an interconnection between mental health and financial health." —Joyce Marter At first glance, it may appear that there is no correlation between mental health and financial health, but the truth is that they affect one another. Existing mental health issues can make it difficult to manage finances effectively, just as having financial issues can lead to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. That is why it is essential to recognize the interrelation between financial and m...
May 22, 2023•25 min•Season 1Ep. 149
“Finding new and innovative ways to increase the amount and frequency of sales should be one of your top priorities if you want long-term success.” —Melissa Houston Sales volume is essential; it is the heart of your business. Without sales, businesses cannot drive revenue, gain profits, and eventually grow. In simple words, there is no business if you don’t have sales. But increasing your sales volume is not easy. You need to put in effort, dedication, sweat, time, and willingness to take risks....
May 15, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 148
"When running a product-based business, profitability should be top of mind." —Melissa Houston Creating and operating a product-based business demands a significant amount of courage and drive to bring your product to the market. Thus, it’s a must that entrepreneurs possess a deep understanding of their intended audience, their competitors, and the industry in which they operate. It is not easy to build a product-based business. There are several things that you should consider, and a bucket of ...
May 08, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 147
"The key to succeeding in business isn't just having a strong idea, but also knowing how to manage your business correctly." —Melissa Houston What motivated you to start your business? Each of us has unique reasons why we started to take the journey of entrepreneurship. For some, it’s their passion, while for others, it’s the desire to have another source of income. But running a thriving business requires a good grasp and understanding of financial management. You have to consider everything th...
May 01, 2023•18 min•Season 1Ep. 146
“Your brand is everything in your business that people have a touchpoint with.” —Tiffany Neuman Your brand is your signature. But it is not just about the colors, logos, or other visuals you provide. Building a brand is all about creating a foundation for your business that includes your vision, voice, story, and goals. It should be like a conversation, a dialogue between you and your customers. Developing a unique brand is a step toward establishing a thriving and profitable business. Tune in t...
Apr 24, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 145
"Money serves as a tool to help you create positive things in the world and support your values." —Melissa Houston Contrary to the common notion, money is NOT just a number. We all know how this number in our banks and our wallets has a huge influence on our quality of life. So, it is not surprising that many of us tie our worth and happiness to the amount of money that we have. We stress about chasing it and work hard to attain it. And while money has the power to make us feel secure, it should...
Apr 17, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 144
