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Why Your Business Is Profitable but You Still Feel Broke
Most creative entrepreneurs have stared at a solid profit number and still felt completely broke. It's one of the most common — and most misunderstood — experiences in running a creative business.
The problem isn't your work ethic, your discipline, or your income. It's the disconnect between how your business performed and what that actually looks like in your bank account.
In this episode of Creative Minds, Smart Money, I'm breaking down why profitable businesses still feel cash-strapped, what's actually causing the gap, and what to do about it.
Topics Covered
Why profit and cash are two completely different things — profit is a measurement of performance, cash is timing, and confusing the two is what keeps you second-guessing every financial decision you make
The timing problem nobody warns you about — your revenue doesn't always arrive when the work is done, and your expenses absolutely will not wait for it to catch up
Why your bank balance is lying to you — not intentionally, but it only shows what's there, not what's already committed, and making decisions from that number keeps your business in reactive mode
How growth makes this louder, not easier — more revenue means more commitments and more spending, and without structure in place, scaling just amplifies the pressure you're already feeling
The emotional cost of never feeling financially safe — what it actually looks like when a client has full clarity on their cash, and why that peace of mind is worth building toward
Why "I'll just make more money" doesn't fix it — and what a cash flow forecast actually gives you that profit alone never will
Feeling broke in a profitable business isn't a sign that something is broken. It's feedback that your business is ready for a clearer system — one that shows you not just how you performed, but what's actually coming and what you can confidently decide with that information. 💡
Links & Resources:
Website: https://firestormfinance.com/
Podcast Home: https://firestormfinance.com/podcast/
Book a Discovery Call: https://firestormfinance.com/contact
Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Social:
Instagram: @firestormfinance
Threads: @firestormfinance
LinkedIn: Samantha Eck
Facebook: Firestorm Finance
YouTube: @FirestormFinance
Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 — Why profitable businesses still feel broke
01:33 — Profit vs. cash: what the difference actually means
03:45 — The timing problem nobody warns you about
06:53 — Why your bank balance is lying to you
10:44 — What a cash flow forecast actually gives you
View all episodes
By Samantha Eck | Bookkeeper for CreativesMost creative entrepreneurs have stared at a solid profit number and still felt completely broke. It's one of the most common — and most misunderstood — experiences in running a creative business.
The problem isn't your work ethic, your discipline, or your income. It's the disconnect between how your business performed and what that actually looks like in your bank account.
In this episode of Creative Minds, Smart Money, I'm breaking down why profitable businesses still feel cash-strapped, what's actually causing the gap, and what to do about it.
Topics Covered
Why profit and cash are two completely different things — profit is a measurement of performance, cash is timing, and confusing the two is what keeps you second-guessing every financial decision you make
The timing problem nobody warns you about — your revenue doesn't always arrive when the work is done, and your expenses absolutely will not wait for it to catch up
Why your bank balance is lying to you — not intentionally, but it only shows what's there, not what's already committed, and making decisions from that number keeps your business in reactive mode
How growth makes this louder, not easier — more revenue means more commitments and more spending, and without structure in place, scaling just amplifies the pressure you're already feeling
The emotional cost of never feeling financially safe — what it actually looks like when a client has full clarity on their cash, and why that peace of mind is worth building toward
Why "I'll just make more money" doesn't fix it — and what a cash flow forecast actually gives you that profit alone never will
Feeling broke in a profitable business isn't a sign that something is broken. It's feedback that your business is ready for a clearer system — one that shows you not just how you performed, but what's actually coming and what you can confidently decide with that information. 💡
Links & Resources:
Website: https://firestormfinance.com/
Podcast Home: https://firestormfinance.com/podcast/
Book a Discovery Call: https://firestormfinance.com/contact
Listen & Subscribe:
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Social:
Instagram: @firestormfinance
Threads: @firestormfinance
LinkedIn: Samantha Eck
Facebook: Firestorm Finance
YouTube: @FirestormFinance
Pinterest: Firestorm Finance
Chapter Timestamps
00:00 — Why profitable businesses still feel broke
01:33 — Profit vs. cash: what the difference actually means
03:45 — The timing problem nobody warns you about
06:53 — Why your bank balance is lying to you
10:44 — What a cash flow forecast actually gives you