Gratitude + Gains
Ensuring Your Finances Honor What You’ve Built
Every business owner benefits from taking time to reflect, not just approaching year-end, but whenever there’s a shift in pace or perspective. Most of us naturally gravitate toward reflection once the holiday season ramps up, but how often do you reflect on your business efforts and gains, as much as your personal ones?
A few times a year (and now is as good a time as any) it’s worth asking: Are your financials telling the full story of your hard work?
This is about more than hitting revenue goals. It’s about making sure your numbers reflect the value you’ve created, the resilience you've shown, and the direction you want to go next.
Here’s how to turn reflection into action, with a financial lens that helps you finish strong:
1) Start with a "gratitude review," backed by numbers.
Take stock of the year with two perspectives:
Qualitative: What are you most proud of? What clients, projects, or team moments stand out?
Quantitative: How did those things translate into financial results?
Example: If you onboarded a new dream client in Q2, check how that relationship has impacted revenue and margins. Has the engagement been profitable? Did it lead to referrals or recurring work?
This is about connecting emotional wins to real financial outcomes. When those two align, you're building something sustainable.
2) Run a cash flow reality check before holiday slowdowns.
The weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year’s often bring delayed payments, time off, and inconsistent sales. That doesn’t have to catch you off guard.
Ask:
Do you have 1-2 months of operating expenses covered in your cash reserves?
Have you planned for any year-end bonuses or time-off costs?
Are there clients who need gentle reminders to pay before the holidays?
Pro Tip: Run a cash flow forecast to model out your inflows and outflows through the end of the year. A Breakaway advisor can help you set one up, and keep it going into the new year.
3) Assess profitability, not just revenue.
You’ve likely heard it before, but it bears repeating: Revenue is vanity. Profit is sanity.
With most of the year behind you, now’s the time to:
Compare your gross profit margin to earlier in the year. Has it improved? Declined?
Review cost of goods sold (COGS) or direct labor costs to identify any creep.
Identify underperforming services or products that may need to be phased out or restructured in 2026.
Example: A service provider might realize their new offer brings in high revenue but has hidden labor costs that erode profitability. Flagging that now lets you adjust pricing or delivery before next year.
4) Celebrate gains, then set the stage for growth.
After the financial review, take a moment to truly appreciate the wins.
Maybe this was your most profitable year yet. Maybe you weathered a tough season and stayed standing. Either way, those are gains worth acknowledging.
But don’t stop there. Use this reflection as fuel. What would it look like to build on these wins in 2026?
Want help reviewing your numbers before the year wraps up?
Let’s schedule a check-in. You deserve clarity, a plan that matches your progress, and a creative, no-judgement financial partner.
