CEO Numbers Network with Danielle Hayden

Kickstart Accounting, Inc.
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Making money and understanding your finances are two very different things. CEO Numbers Network is here to close that gap. Hosted by Danielle Hayden, former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., every episode breaks down the financial strategy that most business owners never had access to. Profit, cash flow, real decision-making. The kind of thinking that actually moves a business forward.

  1. 12H AGO

    The Write-Offs That Are Devaluing Your Business

    Most business owners are doing one of two things at tax time, and both are costing them. Either they are leaving real deductions on the table, or they are chasing every write-off they see online and putting their business at risk. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I walk through the tax strategy mindset shift that separates business owners who feel ready at tax time from the ones who scramble. I share the story of a client whose previous accountant told her to spend down her cash to lower her tax bill, which left her taking on massive debt right before opening a new store. I cover what actually counts as a deduction, the categories most owners forget, and the strategies that get abused online. You will walk away with a clear filter for every business expense and a better understanding of how tax decisions impact the long-term value of your business. You will learn what makes a business expense ordinary and necessary, how to spot the tax advice that puts your business at risk, and the strategic deductions most owners overlook. If you have ever felt unsure about what you can deduct, worried you are missing something, or pressured to spend money just to lower your tax bill, this episode will help you take ownership of your tax strategy and build a business that holds its value.   👉 Stop guessing at deductions. Build a tax strategy aligned with your real business goals: here.   Key Takeaways: 00:00 The Tax Deduction Mistake 00:55 What You're Actually Taxed On 02:00 The Ordinary And Necessary Rule 02:56 Spending To Save Backfires 04:52 Align Strategy With Business Goals 05:31 The Deduction Checklist 06:42 Separate Business And Personal 10:56 The Travel Write-Off Trap 13:48 The Augusta Rule Truth 16:45 Deduct More Or Show Profit   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 Can You Hire Your Children? How to Pay Your Kids, Get Tax Advantages, and Create Generational Wealth 👉 Beyond the Business: Preparing for a Secure Retirement

    18 min

  2. MAY 12

    The CEO Response to a Losing Month

    You sat down to review your numbers and your business is losing money. Before you start cutting everything and questioning your worth, there is a better way to respond. In this episode, I walk through the exact framework my team uses inside Kickstart Accounting when a client's business is losing money. I cover how to identify whether a loss is short term, seasonal, or long term, how to find the real root cause, and how to build a strategy that does not overhaul your entire business at once. The episode is for small business owners who have opened their P&L, seen red, and need a clear process for what to do next instead of reacting out of fear. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I break down my five-step framework for responding to a losing month with clarity instead of panic. You will learn how to categorize the type of loss you are facing, how to identify what actually caused it, and how to pick one focused change that moves your business forward. If you have ever opened your income statement, seen a loss, and felt your stomach drop, this episode will give you the language and the process to respond like a CEO instead of spiraling.   👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you respond to a losing month with data instead of panic: here   Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why Panicking Over a Loss Costs You More Than the Loss Itself 01:37 How to Identify Short Term, Seasonal, and Long Term Losses 03:11 The Questions to Ask When You're Diagnosing the Root Cause 05:34 Why You Should Treat This Like a Board Meeting Presentation 06:48 The One Rule That Stops a Losing Month from Spiraling 08:08 How Your Energy as a CEO Sets the Tone for Your Team 10:15 The Difference Between Coaching and Consulting 10:34 Why You're Not Failing, You're Missing Clarity   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now  👉 The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead

    12 min

  3. MAY 5

    Why Your "Tax Savings" Are Killing Your Business

    I'm recording this on April 15th, the tax deadline, and I just got a surprise tax bill from my own accountant with almost no communication leading up to it. That experience reminded me exactly why we built KSA Tax Partners the way we did, because there's a real difference between a tax preparer and a tax partner, and most business owners don't know which one they actually have until something goes wrong. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, I get raw about what worked this tax season, what didn't, and the real story behind a December tax strategy that left a client unable to fund her second location. I share why your money team should include four separate people for checks and balances, why your financials need to reflect the actual cost of running your business, and why I'm pushing back on the tax influencer advice telling you to write off your entire life. You will learn how to tell the difference between a tax preparer and a true tax partner, the four roles every business owner needs on their money team, and how to spot a December tax strategy that will create a cash flow problem in January. If you have ever followed tax advice that felt smart in December and broke your business in January, this episode will reframe how you think about tax strategy entirely and help you build a plan that protects your cash instead of draining it. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build a tax strategy that protects your cash and supports your growth here   Key Takeaways 00:35 The 4-person money team every business owner needs 01:17 Why your bookkeeper should not be your tax accountant 02:09 The tax deadline email that changed everything 03:51 Why KSA files extensions on purpose 04:54 How a tax week actually works 07:21 The truth about tax influencers 08:52 Why your tax strategy should match your core values 10:08 The December bonus strategy that backfired 11:11 Why writing off all your profit is the wrong move 12:32 What worked this tax season and what did not   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now

    14 min

  4. APR 28

    The Problem with Profit First And What to Do Instead

    If Profit First is supposed to reduce financial stress, why do so many business owners feel more overwhelmed after setting it up? Multiple accounts, confusing percentages, and overdraft fees were not part of the pitch. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, Danielle Hayden cuts through the noise around Profit First and explains what a simpler, proven cash management system actually looks like for small business owners. You will learn how to build financial clarity using four core accounts, how to set aside the right amount for taxes based on net income, and how to stop moving money weekly and start making CEO-level decisions monthly. If you have ever felt behind on your cash flow or unsure whether your money system is helping or hurting, this episode will give you a straightforward path forward. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can simplify your cash management and help you lead with clearer numbers: here   Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why Profit First sounds shiny but gets complicated 00:45 How the Profit First envelope system works 01:42 The hidden cost of moving money weekly 02:32 The four bank accounts every business owner needs 02:54 Why tax reserves should be based on net income 03:56 How to build a rainy day fund you touch quarterly 04:47 Why you don't save for profit, you create it 05:33 Never wait to save up before investing 05:59 The budget tool that replaces Profit First 06:48 Your real CEO job isn't transferring cash   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now 👉 When Your Numbers and Your Instincts Tell Different Stories

    8 min

  5. APR 21

    10 Profit Strategies Every CEO Should Be Using Right Now

    Most businesses that look successful are expensive behind the scenes. Tight margins, no breathing room, and a CEO wondering where all the money went. This episode is for small business owners dealing with financial stress and money anxiety while revenue keeps growing. Danielle Hayden, a former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, shares the profit strategies she has refined over 11 years working with thousands of small business owners. The conversation covers how to diagnose where profit is leaking, the order of operations for fixing it, and how to build margin back into a business that feels stretched thin. In this episode of CEO Numbers Network, Danielle breaks down the fastest profit levers available to a CEO right now and how to decide which one to pull first. You will learn how pricing, team utilization, cash flow timing, and expense control each shape your bottom line, and how to spot which one is costing you the most. If you have ever looked at your revenue and wondered why it does not feel like success, this episode gives you the clarity and the action steps to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you build a profitable business with intention: here   Key Takeaways: 00:00 Build Profit on Purpose 01:06 The 1% Pricing Shift 02:04 Lead Your Team to Profit 04:32 Control Your Cash Flow Timing 06:28 Stop the Profit Leaks 08:14 Build a Cash Rhythm 09:00 Know Your Profit Driver   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 Money mindset - Run Your Finances Like The 1%  👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now

    11 min

  6. APR 14

    When Your Numbers and Your Instincts Tell Different Stories

    Your gut says things are fine. Your numbers say something different. That tension is real, and it shows up in almost every business. This episode covers what your numbers are actually communicating when instinct and data don't line up. Danielle walks through how to use the Healthy Percentage Worksheet as a guardrail rather than a rule, and how the Start, Stop, Continue framework helps you turn that information into a real decision. If you've ever felt confident in your business and then been caught off guard by the financials, this gives you a concrete way to move forward. You will learn how to read what your numbers are actually telling you, when to trust your instincts as a CEO, and how to use that clarity to make better decisions for your business. If you have ever looked at your financials and felt confused, or felt confident in your business only to be caught off guard by your numbers, this episode will help you find clarity and step more fully into your role as a CEO. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can help you lead with both data and vision: here   Key Takeaways: 00:00 When Gut and Numbers Don't Agree 00:20 Business Is Art and Math 00:42 What a Fitness Tracker Taught Me 01:12 What We Hear on Financial Review Calls 02:28 Healthy Percentage Worksheet: Guardrail, Not a Rule 03:42 The Start, Stop, Continue Framework 05:06 Leading With Data and Vision as a CEO   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now 👉 Revenue Is Up. So Why Does Cash Feel Tight?

    6 min

  7. APR 7

    When Your Values Are Clear, Feedback Can't Shake You

    Have you ever received feedback from a client and felt your stomach drop? That's not weakness — it's a signal your foundation needs work. When your values aren't defined, every opinion feels bigger than it is. A client comment, a bad month, a shift in the market — all of it feels personal. With that foundation in place, feedback becomes a tool instead of a trigger. In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden shares what 11 years of building Kickstart Accounting has taught her about core values. You will learn how to identify the core values that actually run your business, why values are an operating standard and not a branding exercise, and how to use them as a filter the next time something feels uncomfortable. If you have ever found yourself reacting to feedback instead of leading through it, this episode will give you the clarity to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here   Key Takeaways: 00:00 Why client feedback feels destabilizing 00:20 What unclear values cost your leadership 01:06 Why Danielle left corporate finance 02:14 How Kickstart's five core values show up daily 03:20 The biggest mistake CEOs make with core values 03:36 Why values can't shift when someone questions you 04:50 How team development reflects healthy leadership 05:19 The CEO filter for defining your values 06:00 Building a firm that stands on values   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 The Quarterly Financial Review Every CEO Should Be Running 👉 The 3 Financial Checkpoints Every CEO Should Follow

    7 min

  8. MAR 31

    The Quarterly Financial Review Every CEO Should Be Running

    Most business owners are so focused on the day-to-day that the bigger picture never gets looked at.  In this episode of Business by the Books, Danielle Hayden walks through exactly how to run a quarterly financial review — and why it's one of the most important things you can do as a CEO.  Instead of reacting to slow weeks or tough months, a quarterly review gives you the structure to zoom out, find the real patterns in your business, and decide where you're going next.  You will learn what to review each quarter, from revenue and operating expenses to cash flow, compensation, and net income, and how to use that information to lead your business with intention. If you have ever felt like you're running your business without a clear financial direction, this episode will give you a repeatable process to change that. 👉 Discover how our CFO services can transform your finances and align them with your future goals: here   Key takeaways: 00:00 Reacting vs. reviewing your numbers 01:24 How to run a quarterly financial review 02:28 What your revenue is actually telling you 03:38 How operating expenses reveal your priorities 04:46 Profit vs. revenue — what healthy profit looks like 06:24 Cash flow and protecting your business 07:42 How to review compensation 08:22 Setting your next 90-day priorities   Resources:  ✨Download The Ultimate Dashboard for Business Owners for FREE here 📈 Book a strategy call with Danielle's team at Kickstart: here    👉 Check your books here  👉 Visit the Kickstart website 👉 Follow us on Instagram   Listen next: 👉 Under 15% Profit? Your Business Is at Risk 👉 7 Simple Levers to Increase Your Profit Right Now

    11 min
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About

Making money and understanding your finances are two very different things. CEO Numbers Network is here to close that gap. Hosted by Danielle Hayden, former corporate CFO and CEO of Kickstart Accounting, Inc., every episode breaks down the financial strategy that most business owners never had access to. Profit, cash flow, real decision-making. The kind of thinking that actually moves a business forward.

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