“What you bring to the table in your business is exactly what you would bring to the table in your book.” — Jenna Kalinsky Have you ever thought about writing a book? Entrepreneurs have been writing and publishing more books than ever, and with good reason — writing a book can cement your reputation as a respected expert. This can have many tangible benefits. If the book is good, you’ll immediately boost your credibility and establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry. This can lead ...
Feb 22, 2021•31 min•Ep. 23
“Most people feel a lot of shame and embarrassment around carrying debt… and instead of asking for help, they stew in that shame and embarrassment and the situation just worsens.” — Melissa Houston In this episode, I’m sharing a very personal story. I’m a financial expert and a CPA, and have been for over 20 years. I write two columns on how to deal with your finances. I work with numbers every day. If anyone should have a grasp on how to maintain healthy finances, it should be me. Yet, I wound ...
Feb 15, 2021•22 min•Ep. 21
“A bookkeeper is the first line of a company’s finance team.” — Melissa Houston One of the most common questions I’m asked is: how do I find the right bookkeeper for my business? Another common question: what exactly will having a bookkeeper DO for my business? Many entrepreneurs make the decision to keep their books themselves, but I believe that working with a skilled bookkeeper is invaluable — particularly as you grow and scale. Business owners often hesitate to take on the expense of hiring ...
Feb 08, 2021•18 min•Ep. 21
Are you a boomer in the process of selling your home? Or a family member helping an elderly parent downsize and transition into a new chapter of their life? Then this episode is for you! My guest Vivien Sharon is a real estate professional and the author of The Boomer's 7‑Step Guide to Downsizing: Overcoming Fear & Discovering Freedom, which shares key strategies and methods for transitioning to a joyful, downsized life. 50% of Vivien’s business today is the boomer and senior market. As a hi...
Feb 01, 2021•33 min•Ep. 20
Increasing your revenue is great, but it shouldn’t be your only goal. Not by a long shot! Planning ahead and finding ways to reduce expenses are just as important. My guest Eowyn Levene is a money coach and the host of the Creatives Do Money podcast. She’s found that many of her clients come to her with the idea that her coaching is all about helping them make more money. They soon realize that business finances are about so much more than increasing revenue. Often, they can tap into unexpected ...
Jan 25, 2021•27 min•Ep. 19
“Financial mismanagement is probably the #1 money leak in your business.” — Melissa Houston I always say, money is one of the most emotional things in the world. And for an entrepreneur, one of the strongest emotions connected to money is stress. My 4-step CFO Money Method Framework is a great way to dive into better understanding your business finances, keeping track of your cash flow, and learning how to develop an effective budget. In this episode, I’ll be breaking down each step — and they’r...
Jan 18, 2021•19 min•Ep. 18
When you’re an entrepreneur, financial literacy is everything. The difference between figuring it out as you go and working from a place of knowledge and support is like night and day. My guest for this episode, Emily Milling, knows that all too well. Emily’s podcast production agency, The Ultimate Creative, helps entrepreneurs launch amazing, professional podcasts that support their business goals. Without her, you wouldn’t be listening to Think Like a CFO! But Emily isn’t just my podcast produ...
Jan 11, 2021•34 min•Ep. 17
“I really believe in building those strong relationships with other women … to help each other achieve their goals. There’s enough room for everyone at the top.” — Melissa Houston 2020 may just be the year of the female entrepreneur. 2020’s recession has hit women harder, with 55% of job losses found in sectors with largely female workforces, including travel, education, health services, and retail. Women are also being hired less during the pandemic, with hiring rates dropping from 47% to 45%. ...
Jan 04, 2021•33 min•Ep. 16
“They’re often linked together, pain in our body and pain in our life.” — Janis Isaman How you work impacts not only your business, but your health. Are you focusing on the right things? My guest, Janis Isaman, is the founder of My Body Couture, a one-on-one private studio where she offers customized movement and nutrition coaching. Certified in both business and nutrition, Janis has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Prevention, and Women’s Health. As an entrepreneur and solo parent, Janis has a...
Dec 28, 2020•37 min•Ep. 15
“Having money management skills can be — and is — empowering.” - Melissa Houston Are you making one of the top five major money mistakes in your business? It can be easy to make money management missteps, as many entrepreneurs — even the most passionate or seemingly successful — often have not learned the basics of business money management. It’s nothing to be ashamed of and it’s easy to fix. Even the most skilled and educated professional can feel like a failure if they don’t understand their n...
Dec 21, 2020•20 min•Ep. 14
The holiday season in 2020 is a little different. Fewer parties, smaller gatherings, less extravagant gifts… but the season of giving more important than ever. As we reflect on the true meaning of the holidays, I urge you, as a business owner, to think about charitable giving. In addition to being the right thing to do, there are a surprising number of tangible and intangible benefits that come along with supporting your community. The act of giving benefits not only the recipient, but the giver...
Dec 14, 2020•20 min•Ep. 13
“I take care of our finances so, at that moment, it just felt like it was all on me. Like I had let my family down.” - Anik Tracy To downsize or not to downsize? This question may not be what Shakespeare had in mind, but it’s a question that is on the minds of many people during this current economic moment, from up-and-coming professionals to families to older retirees. And it’s a question that my guest for this episode, Anik Tracy, has recently answered for herself — to great success. Anik and...
Dec 07, 2020•31 min•Ep. 12
“Money management is the key to building your wealth.” - Melissa Houston What is wealth? Wealth is an abstract concept that holds different meanings for different people. The dictionary calls it “an abundance of valuable possessions or money.” Some people say that while rich people have money, a wealthy person’s money is sustainable. It’s also been defined as “the ability to survive a certain number of days forward.” People have a lot of ideas about what wealth means! And while I value intangibl...
Nov 30, 2020•25 min•Ep. 11
“Quite frankly, the world of finance is like a second language. I mean, I didn’t understand anything.” - Fiona Personal finance can be incredibly daunting, but understanding your numbers can yield amazing results. My guest for this episode is The Millennial Money Woman, also known as Fiona. She’s nurtured a passion for finance since her preteen years — while she knew that she loved the idea of money management, she didn’t quite have the grasp on it that she wanted, as financial literacy is somet...
Nov 23, 2020•34 min•Ep. 10
“We don’t know what works — we’re in a pandemic! Everything we thought we knew, doesn’t. And everything that didn’t work, now does.” - Sondra Diggs As the pandemic economy trudges on, many businesses have been forced to rethink, reprioritize, and rework — but some have carved out space to thrive. My guest for this episode, Sondra Diggs, is a self-titled ‘girlfriend relationship advocate’ who has designed her business around the idea that female relationships are a powerful form of support that s...
Nov 16, 2020•33 min•Ep. 9
“If you are so far from your vision, it can be very overwhelming to think of something so big.” - Maria Tan When you’re heading out on a journey to an unknown place, one of the most important things you can have with you is a map. That’s no less true when you’re starting a business. So, let’s work on your cartography skills. My guest for this episode, Maria, Tan has been described as a ‘business coach for misfits’ who empowers non-conformists across the globe to create success tailored to their ...
Nov 09, 2020•37 min•Ep. 8
“When you’re in business for yourself, if you know your numbers, you’re going to be a rock star!” - Melissa Houston I get it: numbers can be scary for a lot of people. While I love working with them, I can understand the reluctance to dig in. Many people fear that they aren’t “smart enough.” I’m here to tell you: you are . And it’s in your best interest to develop a deep understanding of your business numbers. Knowing and understanding your numbers can be the difference between a sustainable, pr...
Nov 02, 2020•21 min•Ep. 7
“There’s a real fear to charge what you’re worth.” -Melissa Houston How is your money mindset holding you back from reaching the success you’ve always dreamed about? My guest for this episode is Elizabeth St. Pierre, an entrepreneur and business coach who grew her first company, a dog-walking business, to six figures in just six months. She started a blog, where she talked about running her business and offered sales and marketing advice to others. This was the start of her business coaching car...
Oct 26, 2020•35 min•Ep. 6
What does it take to build a successful, sustainable business? The answer isn’t as simple as “more sales.” The truth is that your revenue numbers, no matter how high, do not determine how profitable and successful your business is. Your revenue is only one part of your overall financial picture — and six- or seven-figure revenues mean very little if you aren’t actively working to control your costs. Unfortunately, high revenues can be easily negated if your costs are spiralling out of control. T...
Oct 19, 2020•15 min•Ep. 5
Mike Pacchione of Mike Talks is a genius when it comes to presenting and has built up a great coaching business — then COVID-19 hit. He explains how he weathered the storm, what the shift to virtual presentations has meant for his industry and for the presenters themselves, and what he wishes he’d done differently over the past few years to be better prepared for the shutdown. “There was one day in particular where I had $55,000 worth of business cancel, which for a one-person shop is just bruta...
Oct 12, 2020•32 min•Ep. 4
Jana Veltheim of Align Massage Therapy launched her first business at the age of 23, and now owns multiple massage therapy clinics throughout the Ottawa area. “I was denied a bank loan...when I asked why, I was told it was because I was young and female and could get pregnant.” - Jana Veltheim She shares with the Think Like a CFO Podcast how she’s faced marketing, growth, and mindset challenges over the past 20 years — and why she is thriving now (even in the time of COVID-19!) “I knew I could c...
Oct 05, 2020•28 min•Ep. 3
Whether you’re starting up, ramping up, or scaling up, you need to be on top of your financials. Choosing a good accountant can create money-magic, but knowing your own numbers is even more important. “We fear things that we tend to sensationalize in our brains. We think that it’ll be scarier than what it is… taking action actually helps the fear subside.” - Melissa Houston, CPA In this episode, you’ll discover: 5 reasons why knowing your numbers (especially your cash flow) is the magical key to...
Oct 05, 2020•25 min•Ep. 2
It’s the launch of the Think Like a CFO Podcast, devoted to helping women entrepreneurs master their finances and launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Simple, digestible, actionable advice from an accredited CPA with over 20 years of experience. Real business owners, real talk, real solutions. “The numbers become emotional when the common response is that people fear the numbers. They get anxiety or embarrassment that they don’t know their numbers. It doesn’t need to be that way!” - Melissa...
Sep 23, 2020•24 min•Ep. 1
