Getting to the Bottom Line: Helping business owners maximize revenue, profit, and cash flow
Getting to the Bottom Line is the podcast for business owners who are done guessing at their numbers. Each episode covers the topics that actually move the needle: cash flow, bookkeeping, revenue, profit margins, budgeting, financial clarity, and making smarter decisions with the money your business generates. Whether you use QuickBooks Online or Zoho Books, whether you do your own bookkeeping or work with a team, this podcast meets you where you are.
Stephanie Smith and her husband, Kris, are bookkeepers and outsourced CFOs running New Light Financial Solutions together as a team. Together, they help small business owners get their books in order, understand what their numbers are telling them, and build a path toward the goals that actually matter. Stephanie & Kris are QuickBooks Online ProAdvisors and Zoho Finance Partners. They work with business owners across the country on everything from DIY bookkeeping support to done-for-you monthly bookkeeping and full CFO advisory services.
If you're a business owner who's tired of feeling behind on your finances, not sure if your business is actually profitable, or just looking for someone who can explain this stuff in plain English, this is your podcast. Subscribe so you never miss an episode, and join the Financial Navigator newsletter at newlightfs.com/newsletter for monthly insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Q: How do I understand my business cash flow?
A: Getting to the Bottom Line covers cash flow basics, common mistakes, and practical strategies for keeping more money in your business.
Q: What is the difference between bookkeeping and CFO services?
A: Bookkeeping keeps your records accurate. CFO advisory helps you use those records to make better decisions and grow. Stephanie explains both in plain English on the show.
Q: What's the difference between revenue and profit?
A: Revenue is what comes in. Profit is what's left after expenses. Getting to the Bottom Line breaks down concepts like this in every episode so they actually make sense.
Q: How do I use Zoho Books for my small business?
A: Stephanie is a Zoho Finance Partner and covers Zoho Books tutorials, tips, and walkthroughs across her YouTube channel.
Getting to the Bottom Line: Helping business owners maximize revenue, profit, and cash flow
Cash Flow Confessions: "We Got Cocky and Almost Lost Everything" with Alan Lazaros
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What happens when four years of incredible growth convinces you that nothing can touch you?
In this episode of Cash Flow Confessions, Stephanie talks with Alan Lazaros, CEO and founder of Next Level University, about the financial scare that almost ended his company. For four years straight, his business grew by an average of 115% a year, peaking at 119% in one year alone. Growth like that feels unstoppable. So Alan and his business partner Kevin leaned on credit cards, hired fast, and expanded into new departments (even a side app).
Then growth slowed. Hard. After COVID, the podcast industry doubled in size almost overnight and competition followed. In one quarter, Alan's company lost ten major clients. Revenue growth dropped to 19%, then 11%. The same credit card debt that felt manageable during a 119% growth year suddenly had them in the red.
Alan walks through the exact math behind that shift, the moment he sat Kevin down and told him they were headed toward shutting down, and how they figured out which 8 of their 24 departments were actually keeping the business alive.
If your business is riding a wave of strong revenue and growth right now, this one's for you. It's a real look at how cash flow, profit, and debt interact, and why checking your numbers daily, not just at year-end, is one of the best habits you can build before things slow down.
We want to hear from you! Send us a message.
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My name is Stephanie Smith, owner of New Light Financial Solutions, and we help business owners walk the one clear path to generating more cash in their business. To learn more, visit us online at https://newlightfs.com/
Sign up for our newsletter for more great tips on how to keep the cash flowing in your business: https://newlightfs.com/newsletter/
Need help generating more cash in your business? Book a right fit call with us today: https://newlightfs.com/rightfit
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Want to be a guest on Getting to the Bottom Line: Conversations to help business owners maximize revenue, profit, and cash flow? Send Stephanie Smith a message on PodMatch, here: https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/newlightfs
Looking to be on more podcasts this year? Check out PodMatch: https://www.joinpodmatch.com/newlightfs
