Scaling Up, Not Giving Up

Scaling Smart: How to Grow Without Going Broke


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🎧 Scaling Smart: How to Grow Without Going Broke with Cash Flow Mike

Episode Summary

What if your business is growing... but your bank balance is shrinking?

In this episode of Scaling Up, Not Giving Up, Richard sits down with Mike Milan — aka Cash Flow Mike — to unpack one of the most misunderstood aspects of scaling: cash flow.

Mike has built 14 companies, taught over 25,000 business owners, and helped uncover more than $150 million in hidden cash. From his early days running a hotel staffing company to building bar-restaurants and eventually scaling fintech software, Mike shares the gritty truth about growing broke — and how to avoid it.

If you’ve ever thought profit was enough… or found yourself staring at your accounts wondering where the money’s gone, this one’s for you.

What We Cover in This Episode

  • Mike’s leap from State Trooper to 14-time founder
  • The hotel staffing boom — and how it nearly bankrupted him
  • Why profitable businesses go bust
  • How to understand your financial gap
  • Why invoice factoring is like crack
  • What founders get wrong about cash forecasting
  • The power of the 7-Minute Conversation
  • Building scalable systems across staffing, hospitality, and tech
  • Why advisors need to stop lecturing and start listening
  • Mike’s formula for bouncing back from burnout

Resources & Mentions

  • 💻 Mike’s free course: https://cashflowmike.com
  • 📚 Mike’s books:
    • Don’t Be a DUMB Business Owner
    • The 7 Minute Conversation
    • Don’t T.E.L.L. Me What To Do!

Connect with Mike Milan

  • Website: https://cashflowmike.com
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cashflowmike

Connect with Richard Lee

  • 🌐 Website: https://richard-lee.co.uk
  • 🎙️ More episodes: https://pod.link/1804985577

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Scaling Up, Not Giving UpBy Richard Lee