Step 3 of Building a Better Business

Anna Stubbs • August 2, 2023

Define exactly where you are now - warts and all

This crucial step is so often overlooked. But without knowing your starting point, you don't know what your path to success looks like. It sounds obvious, but many business owners plan for the future without fully understanding where they are now.

Answer the following questions honestly to help define where you are now (warts and all):


1. How aligned are the owners / leaders of your business?
If asked independently, would the leaders have the same vision for the business? Conflict must be addressed and thinking aligned before we can plan the future.


2. What activities are generating your current results?
It’s not just about the sales numbers, but the activities driving your results. Consider the number of leads you’re generating, your proposal or quote conversion rate, average sales value, etc. It’s essential to know these numbers now so you can improve them.


3. How engaged is the team to deliver your vision?
Businesses with a great culture and an engaged team significantly outperform those without. Your team needs to understand how their roles contribute to the overall vision for the business. Without the team on board, you won’t achieve leverage.


4. How appropriate are your measurement and reporting systems?
If you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it. Review the systems you use to measure your results. Do they provide accurate and useful information? The decisions you make are only as good as the information they’re based on.


5. What are your five biggest vulnerabilities right now?
What keeps you awake at night? Is there industry disruption? Is there new legislation that could impact operations? Are your systems robust? Do you have high team turnover, succession to plan for, cashflow strains, or a weak Balance Sheet?


Take the time to define where your business is at now. Be honest and identify the weaknesses in your business so you can take steps to improve.

Skip this step at your peril!


Need help answering these questions? Get in touch!


"Opportunities don't happen. You create them." - Chris Grosser

Basic strategic advice: why your business needs an evolving strategy

By Anna Stubbs • June 2, 2026
“Q: Why do I need an evolving strategy for my small business?” You’re a business owner or CEO. And that means it’s your responsibility to take care of the business, invest in the right places and make the company a success story. However, to do this, you need an agreed business strategy that lays out your goals, your mission and your plan for taking the company to the next level. So, why does this need to be an evolving strategy? “A: Your business strategy is not a static document – it’s a plan and mission that should be fluid, agile and able to react to change.” We’re trading in uncertain times at present. Each day presents a new challenge for small businesses, and having a plan that can react to change is a major competitive advantage.

Cash flow and cost control

By Anna Stubbs • June 2, 2026
More than ever, cashflow is a vital part of staying afloat, whether your business is in recovery or growth mode. Revenue, profit and your bottom line all deserve your attention. But keeping everything running is the baseline. Regular cashflow forecasts help you keep that in focus. Here’s why: Cost control - If you can't reach your targets for income, reining in your costs may give you a little extra head room to manage cashflow while you plan your next move. Visibility on outgoings - Cost control can be a challenge when it’s hard to pinpoint hidden costs or where established ways of doing things cost more money than they should. You may also have been coping with unexpected expenses, as you’ve adapted your business for unplanned circumstances or increased costs. Improving business practice - It's more than only keeping an eye on outgoings (though that's important). It's about looking at each aspect of your business and business systems (or the gaps where there should be business systems) to see if poor practice is driving costs up unnecessarily. It can be useful to break it down - You can look at cost centres such as office supplies or freight. Or you can look at what those costs do for your business. It can help to analyse costs in terms of cost of sale and overheads.

Basics strategic advice: how do accountants support your financial performance?

By Anna Stubbs • June 2, 2026
“Q: How does an accountant support my financial performance?” We’re all used to the idea of a business needing an accountant. But have you ever stopped to think what a good accountant and business adviser can actually bring to your company? Advances in technology, software and AI are changing our expectations of what a basic accountant/business owner relationship can offer. So, it’s important to reassess your expectations and to find out where we can add real, additional value. “A: Your accountant is now a full-fledged business adviser, ready to help you review, manage and transform your finances and strategy.”  In previous decades, your accountant dealt primarily with historical data – the transactions and cash inflows/outflows that had happened in the past. Today, with access to so much smart forecasting, data analysis and forward-looking scenario-planning, we can tell you far more about the future of your business.