162 episodes

The She Means Profit Podcast is devoted to helping entrepreneurs master their finances and launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Simple, digestible, actionable advice from Melissa Houston, an accredited CPA with over 20 years of experience. Real business owners, real talk, real solutions.

She Means Profit Melissa Houston

    • Business
    • 5.0 • 15 Ratings

The She Means Profit Podcast is devoted to helping entrepreneurs master their finances and launch, grow, and scale their businesses. Simple, digestible, actionable advice from Melissa Houston, an accredited CPA with over 20 years of experience. Real business owners, real talk, real solutions.

    Cultivating a Thought Leader Reputation

    Cultivating a Thought Leader Reputation

    “A thought leader is defined as an individual or firm recognized as an authority in their specialized field whose expertise are sought after and often rewarded. ”

    — Melissa Houston

    In an ever-growing industry, what sets you apart from the crowd of thousands proclaiming they’re the best and the greatest at what they do?

    The answer to this question gets harder every day. There will always be startups popping out of nowhere, small businesses that go viral, and established conglomerates that control half the industry. You might think the safest bet is to just do well and see how it goes.

    But here’s something tried and true for you. This is a solution that’s been honed over time and proven effective: let yourself be the face of your business. Give the public someone to listen to, someone to root for, someone to lean on. Don’t just be the boss of your business; let yourself become a thought leader.

    In this episode, we will be discussing everything there is to know about thought leadership. From what it takes to get started to establishing yourself as one, whether through traditional media appearances or creating content for Tiktok, we will explore the steps you can undertake to become a respected thought leader in your industry.

    Listen to learn:
    Why there is a difference between influencers and thought leaders How to make informative and compelling content as a thought leaderHow an online presence cultivates your reputationWhy it is important to go on public speaking eventsHow networking is essential in building your brandWhy appearances on traditional media is essential Highlights:‌
    2:59 The definition of a thought leader8:33 Benefits of being a thought leader to your business9:19 Good and strategic content creation10:21 Means of increasing your online visibility11:50 Attending talks and publishing your own articles12:57 Importance of networking on events14:20 Writing a book and its impact on your brand reputation14:58 Hiring PR coverage and what it can do for you15:30 Appearances on varied media

    • 15 min
    Contract Negotiations with Dina Segal

    Contract Negotiations with Dina Segal

    "As you're starting your business, you're going to come across so many interesting and sometimes real challenges, really exciting problems to solve, areas of compliance and requirements that probably seem daunting, and I would say really seek out resources, seek out mentors.”

    — Dina Segal

    Contracts will always be an essential part of a business. Whether it’s a business deal with your supplier or establishing a new agreement with your client, this piece of paper plays a vital role in protecting not only your business’s best interests but also the rights of the other party.

    Writing down agreements and signing them may seem simple, but contracts are significantly more complex. They leave no stone unturned, explore every point thoroughly, and allow for no exceptions—except when both parties agreed to do so.

    This episode will explore the ins and outs of the beginning of every business journey: the contracts. Beyond the lengthy paragraphs and complicated words, we will learn the factors to consider in contract negotiations, stress the importance of thoroughly reading the written word before signing, and discuss ways to ensure that your contract attracts only the best and the most suitable partners for your business.

    Listen to learn:‌
    How to classify workersHow organizations can help with your resources and mentoring needsHow to negotiate your contract wellWhy it’s important to know your business core for contract negotiationsWhy flexibility is essential in your contractHow to avoid ambiguity in contractsWhy attorney’s fees can’t be overlooked in business negotiationsHighlights:‌

    4:28      Services Third-Party companies can do for you
    7:56      Contracting people from all around the world
    10:21   Organizations that help in mentoring start-up businesses
    12:28   Importance of contracting
    14:50   Payment terms in contracts
    16:49   A Business’ Liability Issues
    19:01   Proper Process of Contract Termination
    22:06   Importance of reading Terms and Conditions
    22:58   Creating a form for your business
    23:49   Attorney's fees in Contract Provisions
    24:03   Seeking Guidance and Mentors
    Links:‌ ‌
    Dina Segal
    Gusto Website

    Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
    Main website
    Cash Clarity Course
    Apply to Work With Me
    Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
    Mini-course: Pay Yourself
    Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
    Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

    Follow me on:

    IG: @melissahoustoncpa
    LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

    • 26 min
    Mastering Your Path to Success: Tips for Managing Debt in Business

    Mastering Your Path to Success: Tips for Managing Debt in Business

    “With the right mindset and dedication, successful debt management is within your reach.”

    —Melissa Houston

    Many aspire to start their own business, but a common obstacle preventing them from doing so is financial constraints. People who do not have enough funding often resort to taking out loans to build their first business.

    But what’s the deal with businesses that end up sinking rather than soaring?

    The culprit is often debt. Some businesses fall into the trap of having massive loans without a solid plan. Business owners tend to choose the short-term solution of gearing up, taking debts, instead of focusing on the long-term ones. Let’s be real, when those loans start piling up, it’s not just your business that is affected, but your personal life too.

    Whether you’re in it for business or dealing with personal finances, taking on debt is a big responsibility. You have to ensure that you can deal with it and properly resolve it in order to avoid the chances of it overtaking your business or life.

    Listen to learn:‌
    Why most businesses resort to taking up debtsWhy  entrepreneurs should focus on  long-term solutions for their businessHow can business owners manage their debts in businessHow the pressure of debt can affect one’s mental healthHow business owners or even individuals can avoid taking too much financial debtHighlights:‌

    03:39  Having personal debt to run the business 
    04:39  What too much debt can do to your business
    06:22  Impact of debt on our mental health
    08:17  Knowing your business numbers
    11:18  Tip 1: Analyze Debt and Financial Situation
    11:59  Debt Repayment Calculator Mini Course
    12:28  Tip 2: Prioritize Your Debts
    13:02  Tip 3: Negotiate with Creditors
    13:49  Tip 4: Consider Debt Consolidation
    15:20  Tip 5: Seek Professional Advice

    Links:‌ ‌  
    Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable BusinessUnlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing StrategyCash Clarity CourseApply to Work With MeMain websiteMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget BinderFollow me on:

    IG: @melissahoustoncpa
    LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

    • 17 min
    Boosting Business Profit through Mastering Sales Conversion Tracking

    Boosting Business Profit through Mastering Sales Conversion Tracking

    “The bottom line is that tracking your sales conversion is an essential step towards driving your business profit and ensuring that your business profit continues to grow and thrive, and not just your profit, but your sales and your whole business.”

    —Melissa Houston

    What sets a business up for success? It should have the capacity for profitability and scale.

    Making a profit in your business can be tough, especially in a challenging economy. In this episode, we emphasize that tracking sales conversions is not just about boosting profit but about fostering a holistic and thriving business.

    Smart business owners take into consideration their marketing and sales performance indicators. Why? Because when you are critical about your marketing and sales, you learn what’s working and what needs to improve to achieve sustainability.

    Success in business does not happen in an instant. It truly takes time and effort, no doubt about it. But here’s the secret: investing your time and effort to wholeheartedly grasp your business’s financial data and sales will provide you with the necessary foundation for your business to thrive.

    Listen to learn:‌
    Why tracking sales conversions improves business profitWhy business owners must understand the marketing and sales KPIs in their businessWhy determining the customer needs is beneficial in improving your salesHow to reach the right people to help meet your business goals How tracking your sales helps improve the return on investment for your businessHighlights:‌

    01:12: The root cause of money problems in business
    02:47: Three profit drivers in business
    02:53: Path Profitability Masterclass and Unlock Your Pricing Strategies Podcast
    04:21: Marketing and Sales KPIs
    05:40: Proper outsourcing and hiring of people for your business
    06:19: Importance of tracking sales conversions to increase profit in business
    07:02: Understanding your return on investment
    10:12: Knowing what your customer needs
    11:30: Identifying the potential for improvement
    13:36: The key step in improving your business profit

    Links:‌ ‌  
    Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable BusinessUnlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing StrategyCash Clarity CourseApply to Work With MeMain websiteMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget BinderFollow me on:

    IG: @melissahoustoncpa
    LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

    • 15 min
    Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset for Success with Dianne Welsh

    Cultivating an Entrepreneurial Mindset for Success with Dianne Welsh

    “There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start a business. There’s never gonna be a perfect time to start calling yourself an entrepreneur until you actually start doing it.”

    — Dianne Welsh

    Here’s the deal: success isn’t some kind of magic trick. It starts when you decide to go on an adventure and grab opportunities offered to you. When it comes to building a business, you turn these opportunities into action-packed episodes that coincide with the difference you want to leave.

    As entrepreneurs, your top-notch priority should be making sure you’ve got all your bases covered. You want to ensure that you examine every bits and pieces that are essential in making these opportunities successful. Once you grasp these insights, you plan out your strategy and get into action mode.

    Business is not a simple game where you just join and see how it goes. You go through your business, prepare a succession plan, and actually critique how the opportunity will work its way to success.

    Listen to this episode to learn:‌
    Why having an entrepreneurial mindset leads to successWhy the key to creating a successful business is having a business financial managementHow successful entrepreneurs put opportunities into actionHow an entrepreneur deals with challenges of generational wealthHow global opportunities for entrepreneurs contribute to keeping a sustainable businessHighlights:‌
    01:29: The Entrepreneurial Mindset
    03:32: Qualities possessed by successful Entrepreneurs
    06:02: Business Finance as key to Creating Successful Business
    07:18: The Entrepreneurial Family Business book
    11:11: Problems faced by Family-Based Businesses
    13:32: Dealing with challenges of Generational Wealth
    15:58: Awareness on Global Entrepreneurship Opportunities

    Links:‌ ‌
    Dianne Welsh
    https://diannewelsh.wp.uncg.edu/
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianne-welsh-9755989/
    The Entrepreneurial Family Business: From Survival to Success: https://he.kendallhunt.com/product/entrepreneurial-family-business-survival-success

    Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable Business
    Main website
    Cash Clarity Course
    Apply to Work With Me
    Mini-course: The Debt Repayment Calculator
    Mini-course: Pay Yourself
    Mini-course: Personal Net Worth Calculator
    Mini-course: The Ultimate Budget Binder

    Follow me on:

    IG: @melissahoustoncpa
    LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

    • 18 min
    Maximizing Cash Efficiency in Business

    Maximizing Cash Efficiency in Business

    “Cash is queen and with the right strategies, you can manage it wisely and achieve long-term prosperity.”

    —Melissa Houston

    When running a business, cash flow is absolutely critical. As business owners, we are responsible for making sure that the cash moving in and out of business is managed properly.

    Why is it crucial to avoid running out of cash? Cash is the lifeblood of your financial obligations. And let me tell you, it’s not just about keeping cash at hand; it’s about fueling your business’s success. When you’ve got a healthy cash flow while your business profits, that’s when you can really invest in driving your business toward success.

    And as most businesses gear up with their business financial planning for 2024, take into consideration strategies that can help you manage to stay and have a positive cash flow that can earn your chance to invest more in your business.

    Listen to learn:‌
    Why business owners need to have their business financial plan ready for 2024Why having a cash management system is essential for every businessWhy do businesses need to set up a cash reserveHow does closely monitoring the inflow and outflow of funds impact the overall performance of a businessHow can business owners keep track of their accounts receivableHow automating bill payment keeps business expenses under controlHow can business owners improve and gain positive cash flow in businessHighlights:‌

    03:07: Gearing Up the Business Financial Planning for 2024 
    05:32: Business Cash Management
    06:33: Profitability and Positive Cash Flow
    07:17: Key Cash Management Strategies: Managing Cash Flow
    08:23: Key Cash Management Strategies: Set Up a Cash Reserve
    10:06: Key Cash Management Strategies: Tracking your Accounts Receivable
    11:10: Key Cash Management Strategies: Automate BIll Paying
    12:10: Key Cash Management Strategies: Improve Cash Flow in Business
    13:35: Evaluate inventory management practices
    14:42: Done in a Day Service Program

    Links:‌ ‌  
    Cash Confident: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Creating a Profitable BusinessUnlock Your Profit Potential With This Smart Pricing StrategyCash Clarity CourseApply to Work With MeMain websiteMini-course: The Debt Repayment CalculatorMini-course: Pay YourselfMini-course: Personal Net Worth CalculatorMini-course: The Ultimate Budget BinderFollow me on:

    IG: @melissahoustoncpa
    LinkedIn: @melissahoustoncpa

    • 16 min

Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5
15 Ratings

15 Ratings

JK, Canada ,

Excellent podcast!

This podcast is a go-to for people who want to connect with an authentic but highly knowledgeable financial expert. Melissa has a warm and engaging approach and brings on terrific people to interview. I can always count on learning something that I can take into my business.

Ebeaton ,

Powerful resource

Powerful insights and practical advice - gold mine for business owners!

svcopy ,

So much gold!

Melissa is SO generous in everything she shares. Every single episode is packed with insights that make you want to fill your notebook and then take action on the ideas.

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