As a woman entrepreneur in the service-based industry, you’re not just providing a valuable service—you're building a business. And at the heart of any thriving business is a healthy relationship with its finances. Instead of thinking of your money as a collection of separate numbers, it can be incredibly empowering to view it as an interconnected money ecosystem. When all the components are working in harmony, your business can flourish, grow, and provide you with the financial freedom you deserve.
Let's break down the five key components of this ecosystem and how they all work together.
1. Revenue: The Lifeblood of Your Business
What it is: Revenue is the total income your business generates from selling your services before any expenses are deducted. It’s the cash flowing into your business from your clients.
How it works: Think of revenue as the sun in your ecosystem. It's the primary energy source that fuels everything else. For a service-based business, revenue often comes from client contracts, project fees, monthly retainers, or hourly rates.
Example: Michelle is a freelance graphic designer. In one month, she completes a logo design project for $1,500, a website design for $3,000, and has two clients on a monthly retainer for $500 each. Her total revenue for the month is $1,500 + $3,000 + ($500 * 2) = $5,500.
2. Expenses: The Cost of Doing Business
What they are: Expenses are all the costs you incur to run your business. These are the payments you make to keep the ecosystem running.
How they work: Expenses are like the water and nutrients in your ecosystem. They are necessary for growth, but you must manage them carefully to prevent them from becoming a drain. They can be fixed (rent, software subscriptions) or variable (marketing costs, project-specific materials).
Example: Continuing with Michelle, her monthly expenses include:
- Fixed: Website hosting ($30), Adobe Creative Cloud subscription ($55), business insurance ($50).
- Variable: A one-time stock photo purchase for a client project ($100), and a new font license ($40).Her total monthly expenses are $30 + $55 + $50 + $100 + $40 = $275.
3. Profit: The Reward for Your Hard Work
What it is: Profit is what's left after all your expenses have been subtracted from your revenue. This is the ultimate measure of your business's financial health.
How it works: Profit is the growth and fruit of your ecosystem. It's the reward for successfully managing your revenue and expenses. It's the money you can reinvest in your business, pay yourself, or save for future stability and growth.
Example: Using Michelle’s numbers:
- Revenue: $5,500
- Expenses: $275
- Profit: $5,500 - $275 = $5,225This $5,225 is her profit. From this, she can pay herself, set aside money for taxes, and save for a new computer or a marketing campaign.
4. Assets: The Building Blocks of Your Wealth
What they are: Assets are anything of value that your business owns. They are resources you can use to generate revenue.
How they work: Assets are the sturdy trees and fertile soil of your ecosystem—they build long-term value. For a service-based business, assets might not be physical inventory. They could be intellectual property, like a developed course or a client list, or physical items like your laptop, camera, or office furniture. Even the cash in your business bank account is an asset!
Example: Michelle’s assets include her high-powered laptop, her professional camera, the custom-designed templates she sells, and the $5,225 in her business checking account (her profit from the month).
5. Liabilities: The Financial Obligations
What they are: Liabilities are the financial obligations or debts your business owes to others.
How they work: Liabilities are like the necessary maintenance in your ecosystem. They are debts that need to be paid off to keep the system healthy. This could include business loans, outstanding invoices you need to pay, or credit card debt. A healthy ecosystem manages its liabilities so they don't overshadow its assets.
Example: Michelle took out a small business loan to purchase her laptop. She has a monthly loan payment of $150. This loan is a liability. She also has a small balance on her business credit card for an emergency purchase.
The Ecosystem in Action: Cultivating Your Financial Health
Understanding these five components is the first step. The next is to actively cultivate your own money ecosystem. Start by taking regular snapshots of your finances—for example, at the end of each month. This isn't just about tracking numbers; it's about creating a pause point to assess your progress.
This is where you can compare your actual results to the financial goals you've set for your business. Let's say you projected a specific profit for the first six months. By taking that snapshot, you can see exactly where you stand.
If your profit for month six is less than projected, this pause point is your opportunity to analyze why. Was a marketing campaign less effective? Did a key client project get delayed? This insight empowers you to adjust your strategy for the next period, ensuring your business development and marketing efforts are aligned with your financial goals. By doing this consistently, you're not just running a business; you're actively steering it toward the success you envisioned. Take one small step today to get to know your money ecosystem better, and watch your business thrive.
Beyond the Numbers: Your Next Move
I just showed you how taking regular snapshots of your finances can help you pause and assess your progress. But what if you had a partner to help you turn that assessment into a powerful roadmap for growth?
You could use Profit Strategy Coaching for this purpose. My coaching is designed to help you move beyond just looking at the numbers and truly own your financial strategy. In our work together, I can help you:
- Assess your financial position within your unique money ecosystem.
- Set clear, actionable revenue goals for your business.
- Comprise a plan to reach those goals, ensuring every business development and marketing effort moves you forward.
This is more than just a check-in; it's about building a sustainable and profitable future.
If you're ready to learn more about how I can help you, click the link below.
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The entrepreneurial journey is a thrilling ride, full of passion, innovation, and incredible highs. But let's be honest, it can also be incredibly challenging. There are moments when you feel stuck, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of tasks, or unsure of the best path forward for growth. It’s during these times that many entrepreneurs consider bringing on a guide – a business coach.
While the right coach can be truly transformative, accelerating your growth and providing invaluable clarity, the world of business coaching can also feel like a minefield. With so many people selling coaching services these days, it's easy to fall victim to an unethical, inexperienced, or ineffective coach. As someone who’s been a full-time entrepreneur for over two decades, running a boutique accounting and consulting firm, and now coaching Black women service providers on building profit-centered businesses, I’ve seen a lot—both the good and the not-so-good. This guide is designed to help you understand, choose, and leverage a great coach so you can navigate this landscape with confidence.
What Exactly Is Business Coaching? (And What It Isn't)
At its core, business coaching is about empowering you, the entrepreneur, to achieve your goals. A coach provides guidance, accountability, and strategic insights, helping you to unlock your own potential and build the skills necessary for lasting success. It's not about the coach doing the work for you, but rather equipping you to do the work more effectively.
It’s important to distinguish business coaching from other professional services you might encounter:
- Vs. Consulting: A consultant is typically hired to provide specific expertise and solutions to a problem, often doing the work or implementing strategies for you. A coach, on the other hand, guides you to identify your own solutions and develop the capabilities to implement them yourself. However, a coach with consulting experience, like my 20+ years in accounting and consulting, can offer the best of both worlds, providing strategic guidance rooted in practical, hands-on business knowledge when appropriate.
- Vs. Mentorship: A mentor usually shares their specific experiences, insights, and network based on their own journey. While valuable, coaching employs a more structured methodology, focusing on your specific goals and holding you accountable to a personalized plan. Interestingly, if the coach and client share common backgrounds or lived experiences, as often happens in my work with Black women service providers, the relationship can organically evolve to include elements of mentorship, fostering a deeper bond. This blend can be incredibly powerful, but it’s crucial to remember that the core dynamic remains a professional business relationship.
- Vs. Therapy: While mindset and emotional intelligence are often components of effective coaching, therapy focuses primarily on addressing past emotional or psychological issues. Business coaching is forward-looking, centered on achieving your business objectives and professional development.
The power of business coaching is often amplified when a coach specializes. For instance, my focus is on profit-centered businesses for Black women service providers. This specialization means I deeply understand the unique challenges and opportunities faced by this specific group of entrepreneurs aiming to build truly sustainable and profitable ventures, allowing for more targeted and impactful guidance. My emphasis on profit is a core principle because, while there are many metrics for success, profitability is the most critical indicator of a business's health. As an accountant, I understand how to measure this, and by focusing on profit instead of solely on sales, we can create a game-changing strategy for your business.
Why Hire a Business Coach? The ROI of Guidance
So, why bring on a business coach? The return on investment (ROI) can be significant and multifaceted:
- Accelerated Growth: A coach can help you bypass common pitfalls and identify the most efficient path to reach your goals faster than if you were going solo.
- Clarity & Focus: They provide an external, objective perspective, helping you cut through the noise, prioritize effectively, and stay focused on what truly matters.
- Objective Perspective: It's hard to see the label from inside the bottle. A coach offers unbiased feedback, challenges your assumptions, and provides insights you might miss.
- Accountability: One of the most powerful aspects of coaching is the built-in accountability. Knowing you have regular check-ins with someone invested in your success keeps you on track and committed to your goals.
- Skill Development: A good coach helps you hone critical skills, whether it's leadership, strategic thinking, financial acumen, sales, or marketing.
- Overcoming Obstacles: When you hit a plateau, face a seemingly insurmountable challenge, or need to navigate complex problems, a coach provides a framework and support to break through.
- Increased Profitability & Efficiency: Ultimately, effective coaching should directly translate into tangible business results, including improved financial performance and streamlined operations.
Who Needs a Business Coach? Identifying Your Fit
Business coaching isn't just for struggling businesses or new startups. Entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey can benefit immensely:
- The Startup Entrepreneur: If you're just launching, a coach can help you lay strong foundations, clarify your vision, and avoid common early mistakes.
- The Stagnant Business Owner: Feeling stuck? A coach can help you identify bottlenecks, reignite growth strategies, and find new avenues for expansion.
- The Overwhelmed Leader: As your business grows, so do your responsibilities. A coach can guide you on effective delegation, time management, and stress reduction.
- The Scaling Entrepreneur: When you're ready to expand, a coach can assist with building robust teams, systems, and structures to support sustainable growth.
- Anyone Seeking Clarity & Direction: If you feel lost, unsure of your next steps, or simply want to optimize your performance, a coach provides the framework for defining and achieving your objectives.
Specifically, my coaching is tailored for Black women building profit-centered businesses—those who are ready to move beyond just making ends meet and truly build a financially robust and fulfilling enterprise. My coaching benefits all of the types of businesses listed above, as my profit-centered approach provides a strong foundation for any stage of growth.
What to Look For in a Business Coach: Your Due Diligence Checklist
It's truly frustrating to fall victim to an unethical, inexperienced, or ineffective business coach. Unfortunately, it's a common experience given the sheer number of people selling coaching services these days. Finding the right business coach can be transformative, but it requires due diligence on your part. By looking for these signs of professionalism, flexibility, and genuine client focus, you can significantly reduce your risk and increase your chances of finding someone who truly helps you succeed.
Here's what I recommend looking for to protect yourself and find a truly valuable coach:
A. Kick the Tires Before You Commit
Never feel pressured to jump into a long-term, expensive commitment. A good coach will offer ways for you to experience their style and approach before you fully invest.
- Free Clarity Calls are Key: Always look for an opportunity to speak with them without obligation. This allows you to ask all your questions and gauge if your personalities and working styles align. I offer a free 45-minute Clarity Call for this exact purpose – it's a chance for both of us to see if we're a good fit. If a coach doesn't offer this, or pushes you straight into a paid package, proceed with caution.
- Beware of One-Size-Fits-All Sales: If a coach is willing to sign you up and take your money without vetting you first, that's a major red flag. It suggests they're more interested in the sale than in whether they can genuinely help you achieve your desired transformation. A good coach wants clients who are committed to doing the work, because if you're not, even the best coaching won't yield results. They should be just as invested in your success as you are.
- Flexible Engagement Options: You should never be limited to only a long-term commitment. A reputable coach will often offer multiple packages, including single sessions, or a longer-term program. This allows you to start with a smaller investment, experience their coaching firsthand, and then decide if you want to continue with multi-session packages. This "try before you buy" approach empowers you to make an informed decision based on your actual experience, rather than a sales pitch.
B. Evaluate Their Investment in Your Success
A coach's willingness to invest in their own business infrastructure often reflects how much they value your client experience and time. Are they cutting corners, or are they providing a professional, streamlined service?
- Professional Tools and Platforms: Pay attention to the tools they use for client interaction, scheduling, and assignments. While free tools can suffice for some things, if they're charging high-ticket prices but relying solely on free platforms for client interaction and assignments, it might indicate they don't prioritize efficiency or a premium client experience. For example, my clients get access to a private portal where they can upload homework, engage in private chats between sessions, and get questions answered. This investment creates a more personal and streamlined experience than endless email threads.
- Clear Structure and Deliverables: A good coach provides a clear roadmap and specific assignments. Coaching isn't just about motivational talks; it's about actionable steps and measurable progress. If you're not getting specific assignments or actionable steps that help you move forward, it's difficult to track progress and see tangible results. Before committing, ask about their coaching methodology, what a typical session looks like, and what kind of support and assignments you can expect between sessions.
C. Look for Proof & Process
- Experience that Informs their Niche: Don't confuse "selling services" with "running a business." An effective coach should have real-world business experience that directly informs their coaching niche. For example, my background as an accountant means my coaching is inherently profit-centered, encompassing robust financial management as a core part of the process. The numbers guide decision-making every step of the way, not just at the end. Ask about their origin story and how long they've truly run a business, beyond just offering services.
- Testimonials/Case Studies: While social proof is valuable, dig deeper. Are the testimonials vague, or do they speak to specific, tangible results? A reputable coach should be able to articulate their process and provide examples of how they’ve helped others.
- Clear Methodology & Metrics: Can they clearly articulate how they coach? Do they have a defined process, or does it feel haphazard? A structured approach often leads to more consistent results. Crucially, an effective coach will not only help you set a plan of action but also define the metrics that must be tracked to measure whether the plan is working. This includes both qualitative and quantitative indicators. They should provide appropriate measuring and tracking tools, like a KPI dashboard, and guide you in reviewing your financials regularly, not just waiting until the "finish line" to see if a plan worked.
- Empathetic Temperament & Communication Style: Coaching involves vulnerability. Look for someone who is empathetic, non-judgmental, and makes you feel comfortable enough to share openly. Are they good listeners? Do they ask thought-provoking questions that get to the core of what you need to share, even if you weren't initially aware of it? This critical quality can often be gleaned during a free consultation or a limited engagement, which can help you decide if you want to continue working with them.
Maximizing Your Coaching Experience: Getting the Most Out of Your Investment
Once you've found the right coach, your role in the partnership is crucial to truly maximizing your investment:
- Be Open and Honest: The more vulnerable and transparent you are about your challenges and goals, the more effectively your coach can guide you.
- Be Willing to Do the Work: Coaching isn't a magic wand; it requires your active participation, effort, and commitment to implementing the strategies discussed.
- Define Your Goals Clearly, with a Roadmap: It's essential to be as specific as possible about what you want to achieve. Your coach should then help you build a clear, actionable roadmap to those goals, with defined steps and check-ins along the way. If a coach's plan is only conceptual with a "wait and see" approach, that's a red flag. A great coach helps you set realistic financial goals and reviews your progress against those numbers consistently. If the engagement won't extend to the ultimate goal timeframe, they should equip you with, or at least make you aware of, the skills and tools to continue tracking your progress independently. Remember, your coach is a guide for what you want to achieve, not someone who tries to steer you in a direction that isn't yours.
- Communicate Regularly & Proactively: Utilize all available support channels. Don't wait until your next session if a question or challenge arises; leverage chat platforms or quick check-ins.
- Give and Receive Feedback: Coaching is a two-way street. Don't hesitate to provide feedback to your coach on what's working (or not working) for you. Be open to receiving their feedback in return.
- Implement Consistently: The biggest differentiator for successful coaching clients is their consistent action. Take the assignments, apply the insights, and integrate new strategies into your business.
Conclusion: Invest Wisely, Grow Exponentially
The right business coach can be one of the most powerful investments you make in your entrepreneurial journey. They can provide the clarity, accountability, and strategic guidance needed to navigate challenges, accelerate growth, and ultimately build the profitable business you envision. However, this transformative power hinges on doing your due diligence and selecting a coach who is genuinely invested in your success.
If you are a Black woman service provider ready to build a truly profit-centered business, I invite you to explore if my coaching is the right fit for you. Book a free Clarity Call to discuss your business goals and see how we can work together.
What's been your experience with business coaches, good or bad, and what's your biggest challenge in finding effective support for your business? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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The Hidden Key to Profitability: Mastering Your Cost of Services
For many service-based businesses, the path to increased profitability often seems to involve two main routes: raising prices or acquiring more clients. While both are valid strategies, there's a powerful lever often overlooked that can dramatically boost your bottom line without either: understanding and optimizing your Cost of Services.
When we hear "Cost of Goods Sold" (COGS), our minds typically jump to manufacturing or retail. We picture raw materials, production lines, and inventory. But service businesses have their own direct costs, and just like product-based companies, dissecting these expenses can unlock significant profit potential.
What Exactly Are Your Costs of Services?
Think about the direct expenses incurred every time you deliver a service to a client. These aren't your general overhead like office rent or administrative salaries. These are the costs directly tied to fulfilling a specific client project or engagement. Here are some common examples:
- Direct Labor: This is perhaps the most significant cost for many service providers. It includes the actual time you or your team members spend directly working on a client's project. This isn't just billable hours; it's the time invested in research, planning, execution, and client communication for that specific project.
- Software Licenses: If you use specialized software directly for client delivery (e.g., specific design software for a creative project, project management tools billed per client, or analytics platforms used only for client reporting), a portion of these costs should be allocated to your Cost of Services.
- Subcontractor Fees: If you outsource parts of a client project to freelancers or other businesses, their fees are a direct cost of delivering that service.
- Travel Expenses: For on-site client work, direct travel costs like flights, accommodation, and mileage directly related to a specific project.
- Materials/Supplies: While less common than in product businesses, some service businesses might have direct material costs (e.g., specific print materials for a marketing campaign, unique supplies for a training workshop).
Why Does This Matter So Much?
The beauty of optimizing your Cost of Services lies in its direct impact on your profit margins. Even small reductions in these direct costs can lead to substantial increases in your net profit, all without the pressure of finding new clients or the potential backlash of raising your rates.
Imagine you have a service with a 50% gross margin. If you can reduce your Cost of Services by just 5%, that doesn't just add 5% to your profit; it could be a much larger percentage increase of your net profit, depending on your overall cost structure. It's about working smarter and more efficiently, ensuring that every dollar spent on delivering a service is truly optimized.
How to Start Optimizing
The first step is to accurately track and categorize these direct costs. Many service providers don't have a clear picture of their true Cost of Services, often lumping them into general operating expenses.
Once you have a clear understanding, you can begin to ask critical questions:
- Are there inefficiencies in our project delivery process that are increasing our direct labor costs?
- Are we utilizing our software subscriptions effectively for client work, or are there redundancies?
- Can we negotiate better rates with our subcontractors without compromising quality?
- Are there technologies or process improvements that could reduce the time spent on repetitive tasks for clients?
Ready to Stop Leaving Profit on the Table?
Click HERE to learn more about my Profit Strategy Coaching Packages.
What's one area of your direct service costs you plan to review this week to boost your profitability? Let me know in the comments!
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