Strategy Meets Finance

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

  1. 2D AGO

    5 Numbers That Tell You the Truth About Your Business | Ep 225

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most business owners track revenue. Some track profit. Almost none track the five numbers that actually tell you if their business is healthy, growing in value, and built to last. Steve sits down in this episode and walks you through exactly what he looks at in the first ten minutes with any business. These numbers connect together, build on each other, and will show you pretty quickly if your strategy is working or quietly costing you. If you've ever stared at a decent profit and still wondered where all the cash went, this one is going to hit close to home. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    22 min
  2. 5D AGO

    What Nobody Tells You About Scaling Your Business | Ep 224

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Scaling sounds like the goal, but it’s also where a lot of businesses quietly break.  Growth doesn’t fix problems, it exposes them. If margins are tight, they get tighter. If cash flow is inconsistent, it gets worse. And if the strategy isn’t working, scaling just accelerates the damage.  This episode breaks down what no one talks about when it comes to scaling, how to know if a business is actually ready to grow, and the one metric that determines whether scaling will create value or destroy it. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    11 min
  3. APR 2

    The #1 Struggle Business Leaders Face | Ep 223

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  A lot of business owners think profit is the goal, but the real problem shows up when the cash is not there. This is one of the most common struggles leaders deal with. Steve breaks down why profit and cash flow don’t match and shares a simple way to measure how much of your profit actually turns into usable cash. Once you see this number, you’ll understand exactly where your money is getting stuck and what needs to change. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    7 min
  4. MAR 24

    The 3 Phases Every Failing Business Goes Through (And How to Escape) | Ep 222

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Most businesses don’t fail overnight. They go through the same three phases, and most owners don’t realize what’s happening until it’s too late. It starts with a strategy that quietly stops working, then margins get squeezed, and eventually cash runs out. Steve breaks down these three phases and shows how to spot them early so you can fix the real problem before your business gets stuck in a place that’s hard to recover from. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    16 min
  5. MAR 17

    Why Your Business Makes Money But Never Seems to Have Any | Ep 221

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  Your income statement says you made money, but your bank account says something else. This happens in more businesses than you think. Steve explains why profitable companies can still feel cash-strapped and where the money actually goes. Most of the time it disappears in just 3 places: margin problems, working capital, and owner distributions. When you understand how these 3 areas affect free cash flow, the numbers in your business finally start to make sense. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    11 min
  6. MAR 12

    If You've Been Watching the News, You Better Know Your Numbers | Ep 220

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  There is a lot of noise in the economy right now. Inflation, labor shortages, geopolitical tension, and constant disruption.  In times like this, guessing in your business can get dangerous fast. Steve explains the 3 numbers every business owner should understand to stay in control. When you understand these numbers together, you can see what is really happening inside your business and make better decisions before small problems turn into big ones. _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    18 min
  7. MAR 9

    This is Why Profitable Companies Run Out of Cash | Ep 219

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  A lot of companies are profitable on paper but still run out of cash. The problem usually comes down to something most owners never measure called the cash conversion cycle. Steve explains why profit and cash flow are different, how working capital traps cash inside a business, and why growing too fast can actually make the problem worse. Once you understand how DSO, inventory, and payables affect your cash cycle, you can start pulling the right levers to get cash moving back into your business.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    24 min
  8. MAR 2

    The #1 Thing Holding 99% of Businesses Back | Ep 218

    How much cash is hiding in your business? See if you qualify for a Free Financial Health Check  Financial Intelligence Toolkit  It’s not cash. It’s not strategy. It’s not training. The thing that holds most businesses back is the story the owner tells themselves. Steve shares real examples of companies with clear roadmaps to millions in upside who still did nothing. Not because they lacked tools, but because they resisted change. Fear, old narratives, self-doubt, and hidden beliefs quietly block execution. You can have the right strategy and still stay stuck if your mindset fights it. If you feel like you know what to do but you’re not doing it, this might be the real reason.  _______________________________________ Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the individual Coltivar Group, LLC (“Coltivar”) personnel quoted and are not the views of Coltivar or its affiliates. Certain information contained in here has been obtained from third-party sources. While taken from sources believed to be reliable, Coltivar has not independently verified such information and makes no representations about the enduring accuracy of the information or its appropriateness for a given situation. This content is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be relied upon as legal, business, investment, or tax advice. You should consult your own advisers as to those matters. References to any securities or digital assets are for illustrative purposes only, and do not constitute an investment recommendation or offer to provide investment advisory services. The Company is not registered or licensed by any governing body in any jurisdiction to give investing advice or provide investment recommendations. The Company is not affiliated with, nor does it receive compensation from, any specific security. Please see https://www.coltivar.com/privacy-policy-and-terms-of-use for additional important information. LinkedIn | YouTube  coltivar.com

    20 min

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About

Welcome to Strategy Meets Finance, the podcast for business owners and entrepreneurs who want to start, grow, and run a business that lasts. Most business owners struggle because they treat strategy and finance as separate. But without a clear strategy, your finances won’t support long-term growth. And without strong financial planning, even the best business ideas fall flat. On this show, we bring both sides together—so you can grow your business with confidence, improve cash flow, increase profit, and make better decisions. Hosted by Steve Coughran, a former CFO and founder of Coltivar, each episode shares simple tools, real examples, and practical advice from working with companies of all different sizes. You’ll learn how to set smart goals, fix money leaks, build stronger teams, and create lasting value.

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