Every corporate finance team runs a monthly budget vs actuals review.

Not because it’s glamorous, but because it keeps the business honest, stable and moving in the right direction.

Most small businesses never do this and it shows up in stress, confusion, and that feeling of “I’m busy, but I’ve no idea where the money’s going.”

In this episode, I walk you through the exact process an FD would guide a CEO through, including:

• what budget vs actuals really shows you
• how to understand the story behind your numbers
• the difference between timing issues and structural changes
• what creeping costs reveal
• and how to make one or two clear decisions each month that protect your profit

This isn’t about perfection.

It’s about clarity, control and running your business like a CEO, not reacting month to month.

If you’ve ever wished your profit matched your effort, this is the episode to start with.

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This final episode of 2025 isn’t about targets, tactics, or spreadsheets.

It’s a pause, a moment to breathe, reflect, and recognise who you’ve become this year.

Instead of diving straight into budgets vs actuals, I’m guiding you through something I do every December for myself and my clients: a human and financial review using the Four Ls: what you Loved, the Lessons you learned, what you Loathed, and what you Longed for.

In this episode, I share my own reflections from 2025, from shutting off in the Canadian Rockies, getting married, running parkruns again, navigating grief, to the surprising joy of starting a second business. And I walk you through the questions that help you understand whether your business is supporting the life you want… or getting in the way of it.

We end with my own “delusional goals” for 2026 and a gentle invitation for you to set yours too.

A grounding, human episode, perfect for closing out the year with clarity instead of pressure.

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In this episode of Get Financially FIT, Debbie Hancock breaks down one of the most overlooked areas of small business finance: stock.

Stock isn’t just “stuff on shelves”, it’s money, it lives on your balance sheet, and it affects your profit, your cashflow, your insurance, and your ability to run your business with confidence.

Debbie shares two real stories from clients:

• one who accidentally overstated profit and overpaid £10,000 in tax because stock was coded incorrectly

• another who wasn’t counting stock at all and only discovered missing stock (and missing profit) once proper checks were in place

You’ll learn why corporates count stock so often, why systems matter more than spreadsheets, and how simple routines can stop profit quietly disappearing.

Debbie also explains how stock impacts decision-making, lead times, storage costs, and insurance and why accurate stock levels protect your business long before anything goes wrong.

If you hold any kind of physical product or material, this episode will give you clarity, confidence, and practical steps to take straight away.

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Welcome back to Get Financially Fit with Debbie Hancock and to Series Three: Steal from Corporate.

This week, we’re talking about something corporates are quietly brilliant at, expense discipline. But this isn’t about cutting back or endless sign-off forms. It’s about spending with intention and making sure every pound in your business is working hard for you.

You’ll learn:

• How corporates keep spending purposeful and linked to goals
• Simple ways to review your own expenses each month and quarter
• The questions a finance director asks before saying “yes” to a cost
• Why cutting costs isn’t the goal, spending smart is

You’ll finish this episode feeling clearer, more in control, and probably with a bit of extra cash hiding in plain sight.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Get Financially Fit with Debbie Hancock and Series Three: Steal from Corporate.

In this episode, we’re talking about one of the simplest but most powerful corporate habits, the pay run. This isn’t about payroll admin. It’s about being intentional with when and how you pay your suppliers so you can manage cash confidently, protect your cashflow and keep your business steady.

You’ll learn:

• Why paying invoices early can actually hurt your business
• How a weekly pay run creates rhythm, predictability and calm
• What questions to ask before you hit “pay”
• How to align your pay run with your cashflow forecast for total visibility

This isn’t about being corporate. it’s about running your business smartly, supporting your suppliers with reliability, and building your own financial freedom.

Connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know if you have payruns in your business.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome back to Get Financially Fit with Debbie Hancock and to Series Three: Steal from Corporate.

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most powerful tools you can steal from corporate, the rolling cashflow forecast.

This simple habit is the heartbeat of every successful business. It gives you clarity about what’s coming in, what’s going out, and when it’s happening, so you can make smart, confident decisions without the panic.

You’ll learn:

• What a rolling cashflow forecast actually is and how it works
• Why profit doesn’t pay the bills, but cash does
• How to build a simple version for your own business in under ten minutes a week
• The key questions a finance director would ask to keep your business financially steady
• 
  

This isn’t about guessing or spreadsheets for the sake of it. It’s about creating calm, clarity and control with your money.

Connect with me on LinkedIn and let me know you have started the cash flow forecast, bit of accountability there!

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Welcome to Series 3: Steal From Corporate, where I’m pulling back the curtain on how big businesses manage their money and showing you how to steal the best bits for your own.

In this episode, I’m sharing the simple truth: corporates aren’t clever, they’re just consistent. They plan, measure, and review over and over again, creating rhythm and predictability that gives them control.

We’ll look at what that means for small business owners like you, and how building your own version of structure doesn’t tie you down, it gives you more freedom, more clarity, and more peace of mind.

You’ll learn:

• The one thing corporates do every month that keeps them financially calm.
• How to bring that same rhythm into your own business (without drowning in spreadsheets).
• Three key areas where structure changes everything: cashflow, expenses, and monthly reviews.

This isn’t about turning into a corporate robot, it’s about running your business with the calm and confidence of a CEO.

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If you've ever struggled to explain what you really do in your business, or felt like your message just isn’t connecting, this episode is for you.

Today, I’m joined by the incredible Susan Payton, story strategist, copywriter, and bestselling author of The Business of Stories. Susan helps entrepreneurs and business owners craft powerful, authentic stories that build trust, create connection and ultimately lead to more sales, without ever feeling pushy or fake.

I’ve worked with Susan myself, and I can honestly say her approach has transformed how I talk about my own work, especially when speaking on stage or creating content. But what’s even more powerful is Susan’s own story…

In this episode, she shares her business journey from working at Capital Radio, meeting Chris Tarrant in an A3 layby, to building and growing a successful online business that’s fully aligned with who she is.

We talk honestly about:

• Finding your voice and building confidence in your pricing
• The surprising beliefs that can limit your income, even if you think you have a great relationship with money
• How storytelling can drive not just emotional connection, but financial growth in your business
• The routines and mindset shifts that helped Susan go from £100k business, to her biggest-ever launch

It’s a really inspiring, practical conversation that I know it will leave you feeling energised to speak up, charge correctly for the value you are offering, and run your business your way.

Susan is also running a brilliant offer this August: daily story prompts every weekday, to help you show up and be seen consistently in your business. If content creation ever feels like a struggle, this is a great place to start.

You’ll find the link to sign up in the show notes or head to:

thebusinessofstories.com/prompts

And you can sign up on 31st August and still receive all the prompts!

Let’s dive in.

Other ways to connect with Susan:

Free book: https://thebusinessofstories.com/freebook/

https://www.facebook.com/SusanPaytonUK/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanpaytonuk/

https://www.instagram.com/thebusinessofstories/

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In this episode of 'Get Financial Fit', Debbie Hancock speaks with Kate Gathard from Elysian Services about the transformative role of fractional HR in businesses. They discuss the evolution of HR from a mundane function to a strategic partner that can significantly impact a company's bottom line. Kate emphasises the importance of understanding market rates for employee retention, the necessity of open communication, and the emotional challenges faced during redundancies. The conversation also touches on the cost-effectiveness of fractional HR services, the impact of employee costs on business success, and the importance of maintaining a good reputation. Finally, they explore upcoming changes in employment law and the lessons learned from running a business.

takeaways

• Fractional HR can provide tailored support without the cost of full-time staff.
• Effective HR should focus on people, profit, and process.
• Market rates are crucial for retaining top talent.
• Open communication is key to successful people management.
• Difficult conversations should be handled with empathy and professionalism.
• Redundancy processes can be managed with care to protect employee dignity.
• HR plays a vital role in maintaining a company's reputation.
• Understanding employee costs is essential for business sustainability.
• Social media policies are important for protecting brand reputation.
• Upcoming employment law changes require businesses to stay informed.

Find Kate on LinkedIn

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In this episode of 'Get Financially Fit', Debbie Hancock and Jo Stimson discuss the critical role of sales in business success. Jo, a fractional sales director, shares insights on how to transform chaotic sales processes into structured, profitable systems. They explore the importance of follow-up, the collaboration between sales and finance, and the distinction between marketing and sales. Jo emphasizes the need for effective communication and systems to ensure consistent sales and business growth, ultimately leading to a healthier financial state for businesses.

takeaways

• Sales chaos is a common issue for many businesses.
• A fractional sales director can provide immediate expertise without the need for onboarding.
• Effective follow-up processes can significantly increase sales conversion rates.
• Sales and finance departments should collaborate closely to avoid conflicts.
• Marketing and sales must work together to understand customer needs better.
• Every piece of communication should serve a sales purpose.
• Sales should be viewed as a service, not a pressure tactic.
• Building systems within sales can prevent money from leaking out of the business.
• Communication is key in sales, both internally and with customers.
• Success in sales often means making yourself redundant as a leader.

• "Sales chaos is a real problem."
• "Follow-up is you being helpful."
• "Make the offer, do you want to buy it?"

Please connect with Jo here: Linkedin

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