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- Financial Stress: What Causes It, and How Do We Fix It?
Financial Stress: What Causes It, and How Do We Fix It? | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast | Episode 35, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/D7V0md9U_Mk
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of MKB, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode of the MKB Podcast, Mills addresses common financial stresses faced by blue collar business owners, with a focus on cash flow management. She discusses the root causes of financial stress, short-term fixes such as cutting expenses and collecting overdue receivables, and long-term strategies like negotiating vendor prices, raising prices strategically, and improving team efficiency. Tune in to learn how to master your money, maintain a steady cash flow, and turn your business into a profitable asset.
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills or the MKB team?
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
Subscribe to the MKB YouTube channel for the latest: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
00:53 Welcome Back: Addressing Business Owners' Financial Questions
01:22 Tackling Financial Stress for Blue Collar Business Owners
03:43 Common Cash Flow Mistakes and Solutions
06:59 Strategies for Maintaining Profitability Without Raising Prices
08:48 Conclusion and How to Get Help from Mills Knows Bills
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #podcast #mkb #entrepreneurialfinance #bluecollar #smallbusiness #variableincome
10 min - Common Struggles: Everyday Questions for MKB
Common Struggles: Everyday Questions for MKB | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Episode 34, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/k2w8dg0jWKE
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of MKB, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode, Mills takes a conversational approach, and answers some of the common questions that she gets asked. Along with marketing team member Chloe, she discusses the challenges small business owners face with budgeting and offers tactical advice on establishing and maintaining personal and business budgets. The episode also outlines a step-by-step guide on how to review finances weekly, monthly, and quarterly, emphasizing the importance of proactive financial planning.
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills or the MKB team?
Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
Subscribe on YouTube for the latest from MKB: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
01:03 Today's Episode Structure
01:37 Common Financial Questions
02:35 Creating Accurate Budgets
05:05 Implementing Your Budget
05:31 Consistent Financial Reviews
09:32 Long-term Financial Planning
10:43 Conclusion and Next Steps
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #MKB #podcast #financialquestions #variableincome #smallbusinessfinance #entrepreneurfinances
12 min - Profit Margins: How to Raise Them
Profit Margins: How to Raise Them | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Episode 33, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/G5bPVlgrgHw
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of MKB, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode of the MKB Podcast, Mills is once again joined by fractional CFO Christian Wilson. Together, they tackle a common financial challenge faced by variable income earners: understanding and improving gross profit margin. The pair offer practical advice on renegotiating costs and vendor relationships, strategies for scaling service businesses effectively, and emphasize the importance of aligning business goals with personal aspirations.
Tune in to get the insights you need to make an informed choice for your business. Subscribe for more from Mills Bender and MKB on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
Connect with Christian: [email protected]
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills or the MKB team? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
00:49 Meet the Team and Today's Question
01:38 Understanding Gross Profit Margin
02:42 Improving Your Gross Profit Margin
06:26 Scaling Your Service Business
08:47 Aligning Business Goals with Personal Goals
10:53 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #podcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #smallbusiness #variableincome #profitmargin #scalingbusiness
12 min - Pricing Strategy: Hurting Your Bottom Line?
Pricing Strategy: Hurting Your Bottom Line? | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Episode 32, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/s7AID_xDs_0
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of MKB, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode, Mills welcomes back fractional CFO Christian Wilson to discuss your business's pricing strategy, and how it may be hurting your bottom line. The pair discuss factors that should be included in your pricing decisions, and how those prices may reflect on the products and services being offered. They also address the financial difficulties of slow seasons, and how to keep from running out of money.
Tune in to get the insights you need to make an informed choice for your business. Subscribe on YouTube for more from MKB: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
Connect with Christian:
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills?
Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
00:00 Introduction to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast
01:02 Meet Mills' Special Guest: Christian Wilson
01:25 The Burning Financial Question: How Is My Pricing Strategy Affecting My Bottom Line?
05:45 Follow-up Question: Why Do I Run Out of Money During Slow Seasons?
10:43 Episode Wrap-Up and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #variableincome #smallbusiness #pricingstrategy #bottomline
12 min - Company Vehicles: Lease or Buy?
Should You Lease or Buy Your Business Vehicle? | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Episode 31, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/ymKq9lK6QKc
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of Mills Knows Bills, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode, Mills is joined by MKB CFO Jen Fizer and special guest Kenney Baez, owner of a wildlife removal and pest control business. They discuss the financial implications of leasing vs. owning business vehicles. The conversation covers hidden costs, tax considerations, and how to make the best decision based on your current financial situation. Tune in to get the insights you need to make an informed choice for your business.
Subscribe on YouTube for the latest from the MKB Podcast, Mills Knows Bills, and CEO Mills Bender!
To connect with Kenney and Freedom Wildlife:
Website: https://freedomwildlife.com/
Connect with Jen:
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills?
Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
01:37 Meet the Guest: Kenney Baez
02:14 Leasing vs. Owning a Company Vehicle
03:09 Financial Considerations and Advice
05:45 Pros and Cons of Leasing
11:52 Final Thoughts and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #variableincome #smallbusiness #podcast
13 min - How To Improve Cash Flow
How to Improve Cash Flow for Your Business | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Episode 30, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/hUS_kUScNYk
Welcome to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of Mills Knows Bills, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode, Mills discusses strategies for managing cash flow with her guests, fractional CFOs Christian Wilson and Jen Fizer. The episode covers key topics such as understanding cash flow statements, projecting cash flow, and solutions to cash flow problems. The trio share insights on controlling expenses, increasing revenue, and leveraging accounts receivables. They also highlight the importance of having an emergency fund. The episode aims to help business owners with fluctuating income avoid financial pitfalls and achieve their financial goals.
Subscribe on YouTube for the latest from the MKB Podcast, Mills Knows Bills, and CEO Mills Bender!
To connect with Jen and Christian:
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills Podcast
01:02 Meet the Team: Special Guests Jen and Christian
02:32 Understanding Cash Flow Issues
05:04 Strategies to Improve Cash Flow
09:30 Building a Safety Net for Future Cash Flow
11:52 Conclusion and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #podcast #entrepreneurfinances #smallbusiness #variableincome #cashflow
13 min - How to Make Your Company More Profitable
Why Your Company Isn't Profitable, and How to Fix It | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast, Season 4
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/IEg9zy6NV3U
Welcome to the Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of Mills Knows Bills, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this episode, Mills is joined by MKB team member Jen Fizer, a seasoned CFO with over a decade of experience. They dive into a pressing question from a listener: "Why is my company not profitable, and what can I do about it?" The conversation covers crucial aspects such as analyzing profit and loss statements, managing operating expenses, renegotiating with vendors, and optimizing revenue streams. They also discuss the importance of collecting accounts receivables on time. Get actionable tips to help your business achieve financial stability and growth. Tune in to master your money and transform your financial future!
Subscribe on YouTube for the latest from Mills Knows Bills:
https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
To connect with Jen:
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
00:00 Introduction to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast
01:04 Special Guest Introduction: Jen Fizer
02:06 "Why Is My Company Not Profitable?"
03:55 Strategies to Improve Profitability
07:12 Accounts Receivables and Profitability
09:51 Conclusion and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #smallbusiness #variableincome #businessprofit #profitability
11 min - Tax Traps To Avoid As Business Owners
Tax Traps to Avoid as Business Owners | The Mills Knows Bills Podcast Season 4 Premiere
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/tQd0BD-mczM
Welcome back to The Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Let's get to those burning financial questions.
In this season 4 premier episode, host Mills Bender welcomes Paul Childers, owner of Blue Sky Biz Solutions, to discuss the importance of showing profit in a business and avoiding common tax traps. They dive into business credit, why it matters, and how to build it effectively. Learn strategies to manage taxes, protect personal assets, and obtain better financing to scale your business. Tune in to gain insight into mastering your fluctuating income and achieving both personal and professional financial goals!
To connect with Paul:
https://blueskybizpro.com/
https://www.facebook.com/paul.childers.731
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
Subscribe on YouTube for the podcast episodes and more from Mills Knows Bills: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
00:53 Season Four Kickoff with Paul Childers
01:22 Understanding Business Credit and Taxes
03:11 Importance of Showing Profits
05:36 Building and Leveraging Business Credit
07:27 How to Improve Your Business Credit Score
08:12 Conclusion and Contact Information
#financialpodcast #MillsKnowsBills #businesscredit #businesstaxes #entrepreneurialfinance #creditscore
9 min - How To Analyze Profit & Loss Statements
Welcome to the Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of Mills Knows Bills, discusses strategies for business owners and variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
In this season finale episode of the Mills Knows Bills podcast, Mills provides a comprehensive guide to understanding and analyzing your profit and loss (P&L) statement. The episode covers key components such as revenue, cost of goods sold (COGS), operating expenses (OPEX), and net income. Mills offers practical tips on diversifying revenue, managing seasonal business fluctuations, negotiating with vendors, and maintaining a healthy profit margin. Whether you're a product-based or service-based business owner, this P&L analysis 101 class will help you make smarter financial decisions and avoid common pitfalls. Tune in to learn how to better handle your fluctuating income and stay on track with your financial goals!
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
Subscribe for the latest on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/5MUYVnkmG-I
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
00:53 Podcast Overview and Goals
01:26 Understanding Profit and Loss (P&L)
02:01 Revenue Analysis
03:52 Cost of Goods Sold (COGS)
04:49 Operating Expenses (OPEX)
06:39 Net Income and Profit Margin
09:22 Conclusion and Next Steps
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #variableincome #businessfinances
10 min - How To Scale $1 Million to $10 Million for Blue Collar Businesses
Welcome to the Mills Knows Bills Podcast! Host Mills Bender, founder and CEO of Mills Knows Bills, discusses strategies for variable income earners to manage their finances effectively. Let's get to those burning financial questions!
Join Mills in this solo cast episode of the Mills Knows Bills podcast as she discusses strategies for mastering fluctuating income and scaling your blue collar business. Mills identifies five common financial pitfalls that entrepreneurs face: lack of planning, mixing personal and business finances, avoidance of financial management, inadequate savings, and unbalanced leverage. Learn practical tips to implement a budget, separate finances, stay proactive in financial planning, build savings, and manage debt to ensure a healthier financial future for your business.
Do you have your own burning financial question for Mills? Contact her here:
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://MillsKnowsBills.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/@millsknowsbills
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mills-knows-bills
Subscribe on YouTube for the latest https://youtube.com/@MillsKnowsBills
Link to video podcast episode: https://youtu.be/dpI7WLlTED4
00:00 Introduction to Mills Knows Bills
00:28 Podcast Overview and Goals
00:53 Answering Common Financial Questions
01:35 Five Common Financial Pitfalls
01:48 Pitfall 1: Lack of Planning
03:11 Pitfall 2: Mixing Business and Personal Finances
04:30 Pitfall 3: Avoidance
06:11 Pitfall 4: Little to No Savings 0
7:18 Pitfall 5: Unbalanced Leverage
08:57 Conclusion and Call to Action
#financialpodcast #millsknowsbills #entrepreneurialfinance #variableincome #businessfinances #financialmistakes #bluecollar
10 min
About The Financial Operator
From the publisher's feed
I've spent over a decade in finance and operations, including seven years as an Operational CFO helping businesses through everything from growth to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. I've owned, scaled, and sold my own company, so I understand firsthand the pressure, risk, and grit it takes to be a business owner.
Now, as CEO of MKB, I help entrepreneurs get clear on their numbers so they can scale with confidence and stop feeling stuck in the chaos.
On this podcast, I sit down with real business owners to talk about the financial challenges they've faced, and the strategies that got them through. From cash flow stress to hiring decisions and growth setbacks, nothing's off the table.
The Financial Operator is here to make finance feel doable, empowering, and dare I say—exciting.