https://agileplanners.com/ https://agileplanners.com/blog/are-you-starting-the-new-year-with-answers-or-assumptions/https://agileplanners.com/blog/are-you-starting-the-new-year-with-answers-or-assumptions/Wed, 28 Oct 2026 12:00:00 GMTA new year may feel like a fresh start, but the unanswered financial questions in your business don’t disappear when the calendar changes. https://agileplanners.com/blog/how-confident-are-you-in-the-decisions-youre-making/https://agileplanners.com/blog/how-confident-are-you-in-the-decisions-youre-making/Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTYour financials should do more than tell you how your business performed. They should give you the confidence to make decisions about what comes next. https://agileplanners.com/blog/financials-not-telling-the-whole-story/https://agileplanners.com/blog/financials-not-telling-the-whole-story/Tue, 22 Sep 2026 12:00:00 GMTYour numbers can be completely accurate and still not give you the information you need to make a good business decision. The question isn’t just whether you have financial reports. It’s whether they tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it. https://agileplanners.com/blog/is-your-bank-balance-helping-youor-hiding-the-real-problem/https://agileplanners.com/blog/is-your-bank-balance-helping-youor-hiding-the-real-problem/Mon, 24 Aug 2026 12:00:00 GMTWhen cash gets tight, most business owners start making decisions based on the one number they trust most: their bank balance. The problem is, it may not be telling you what you actually need to know. https://agileplanners.com/blog/youre-growing-so-why-doesnt-it-feel-like-it/https://agileplanners.com/blog/youre-growing-so-why-doesnt-it-feel-like-it/Fri, 24 Jul 2026 12:00:00 GMTA client asked me a question recently that has stayed with me. “Monica, we’re making more money than we’ve ever made. So why does it still feel so hard?” At first glance, everything looked great. Revenue was up, the team was growing, and they had landed several new clients. https://agileplanners.com/blog/halfway-there-is-your-business-on-track-for-the-year-you-planned/https://agileplanners.com/blog/halfway-there-is-your-business-on-track-for-the-year-you-planned/Wed, 17 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMTJanuary is full of optimism. New goals. New initiatives. New revenue targets. Business owners start the year energized and focused on what they want to accomplish. Then reality happens. Clients change. Markets shift. Opportunities emerge. Priorities evolve. Before you know it, six months have passed, and you’re so busy running the business that you haven’t stopped to ask a critical question: Are we actually on track? https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-waiting-why-growing-businesses-delay-the-decisions-that-could-c/https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-real-cost-of-waiting-why-growing-businesses-delay-the-decisions-that-could-c/Mon, 25 May 2026 12:00:00 GMTThere comes a point in business where the issue is no longer effort. The business is generating revenue. Clients are coming in. The team is busy. From the outside, things look successful. But internally, many business owners are still hesitating. https://agileplanners.com/blog/you-reviewed-your-numbers-now-what-how-to-turn-financial-data-into-decisions/https://agileplanners.com/blog/you-reviewed-your-numbers-now-what-how-to-turn-financial-data-into-decisions/Thu, 16 Apr 2026 12:00:00 GMTYou reviewed your numbers. You ran the reports. Maybe you even blocked time on your calendar to “look at your financials.” And then… nothing. You’re not alone. This is where most business owners get stuck. It’s not that they don’t have the numbers. It’s that they don’t know what to do with them. https://agileplanners.com/blog/want-to-feel-like-you-have-a-cfo/https://agileplanners.com/blog/want-to-feel-like-you-have-a-cfo/Mon, 23 Mar 2026 12:00:00 GMTIf you’re leading a growing business, there’s a good chance you’ve outpaced your systems, especially when it comes to your financials. And when things are moving fast, reviewing your numbers can feel like just another task on a never-ending list. https://agileplanners.com/blog/profit-vs-revenue-why-high-revenue-business-owners-still-feel-broke/https://agileplanners.com/blog/profit-vs-revenue-why-high-revenue-business-owners-still-feel-broke/Wed, 18 Feb 2026 12:00:00 GMTYou’re making strong revenue, but your bank account isn’t reflecting it. Many founders in the $500K–$2M range hit record months and still feel cash-strapped. The issue usually isn’t sales. It’s visibility. From cash flow timing to rising delivery costs and margin blind spots, profit can quietly leak even in high-earning businesses. Here’s why it happens, and what to fix so your numbers actually support your growth. https://agileplanners.com/blog/do-you-really-need-a-cfo-heres-how-to-tell-even-if-youre-not-at-1m-yet/https://agileplanners.com/blog/do-you-really-need-a-cfo-heres-how-to-tell-even-if-youre-not-at-1m-yet/Wed, 14 Jan 2026 12:00:00 GMTYou’re a busy business owner. The kind who sets the alarm early, determined to get a head start on the day. You wake up motivated, ready to dive into that big project that’s been waiting for your attention. https://agileplanners.com/blog/build-now-exit-later/https://agileplanners.com/blog/build-now-exit-later/Mon, 15 Dec 2025 12:00:00 GMTYou’re a busy business owner. The kind who sets the alarm early, determined to get a head start on the day. You wake up motivated, ready to dive into that big project that’s been waiting for your attention. https://agileplanners.com/blog/stay-out-to-scale-up/https://agileplanners.com/blog/stay-out-to-scale-up/Thu, 13 Nov 2025 12:00:00 GMTYou’re a busy business owner. The kind who sets the alarm early, determined to get a head start on the day. You wake up motivated, ready to dive into that big project that’s been waiting for your attention. https://agileplanners.com/blog/marketing-cant-save-a-flawed-business-model-heres-what-will/https://agileplanners.com/blog/marketing-cant-save-a-flawed-business-model-heres-what-will/Mon, 20 Oct 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-owner-trap/https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-owner-trap/Thu, 11 Sep 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/big-sales-small-margins/https://agileplanners.com/blog/big-sales-small-margins/Thu, 07 Aug 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/if-the-business-cant-run-without-you-its-not-a-business-its-a-job/https://agileplanners.com/blog/if-the-business-cant-run-without-you-its-not-a-business-its-a-job/Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/can-you-really-afford-that-hire/https://agileplanners.com/blog/can-you-really-afford-that-hire/Mon, 16 Jun 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/how-to-pay-yourself-as-a-business-owner/https://agileplanners.com/blog/how-to-pay-yourself-as-a-business-owner/Thu, 22 May 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-the-books/https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-the-books/Fri, 11 Apr 2025 12:00:00 GMTThey keep your books in order, categorize transactions, and help ensure that the money coming in and the money going out of your business is. https://agileplanners.com/blog/done-for-you-vs-done-with-you/https://agileplanners.com/blog/done-for-you-vs-done-with-you/Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:00:00 GMTAs a business owner, managing the company’s finances effectively is essential to your success. For many, that means outsourcing to an expert. https://agileplanners.com/blog/building-bridges-not-barriers/https://agileplanners.com/blog/building-bridges-not-barriers/Tue, 18 Feb 2025 12:00:00 GMTAs the year quickly comes to a close, it’s important to focus on finishing strong and the fourth quarter is a critical time for businesses. https://agileplanners.com/blog/important-lessons-from-the-bench-co-shutdown/https://agileplanners.com/blog/important-lessons-from-the-bench-co-shutdown/Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:00:00 GMTAs the year quickly comes to a close, it’s important to focus on finishing strong and the fourth quarter is a critical time for businesses. https://agileplanners.com/blog/your-2024-year-end-review/https://agileplanners.com/blog/your-2024-year-end-review/Wed, 18 Dec 2024 12:00:00 GMTClosing the chapter on 2024 is the perfect time to take a look at your business’s performance over the past 11 months. https://agileplanners.com/blog/transparent-faqs-on-the-corporate-transparency-act/https://agileplanners.com/blog/transparent-faqs-on-the-corporate-transparency-act/Fri, 22 Nov 2024 12:00:00 GMTIn business today, the term “transparency” has become more than just the latest buzzword. It provides the basis for building trust. https://agileplanners.com/blog/harnessing-your-cfos-expertise-for-a-strong-q4-finish/https://agileplanners.com/blog/harnessing-your-cfos-expertise-for-a-strong-q4-finish/Mon, 28 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMTAs the year quickly comes to a close, it’s important to focus on finishing strong and the fourth quarter is a critical time for businesses. https://agileplanners.com/blog/monica-roca-quesada-honored-at-hispanic-heritage-business-reception/https://agileplanners.com/blog/monica-roca-quesada-honored-at-hispanic-heritage-business-reception/Mon, 21 Oct 2024 12:00:00 GMTImagine spending two weeks in Europe. Now imagine being at ease, knowing that your business is running smoothly in your absence. https://agileplanners.com/blog/five-tips-to-step-away-from-your-business-and-truly-unplug/https://agileplanners.com/blog/five-tips-to-step-away-from-your-business-and-truly-unplug/Tue, 24 Sep 2024 12:00:00 GMTImagine spending two weeks in Europe. Now imagine being at ease, knowing that your business is running smoothly in your absence. https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-pivotal-role-cfos-play-in-protecting-business-legacy/https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-pivotal-role-cfos-play-in-protecting-business-legacy/Sat, 24 Aug 2024 12:00:00 GMTA business legacy is the lasting influence or impact a business and its leaders leave on their industry, employees, customers, and the community after the business has been handed down to new leadership or has ceased operations. It encompasses the relationships built with all stakeholders, including employees, third parties, and the community, an unwavering commitment to excellence, and a strong vision, mission, and values. It’s about the values, principles, reputation, contributions, and cultur https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-cash-flow/https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-cash-flow/Tue, 23 Jul 2024 12:00:00 GMTIf you own a business, you probably agree that driving cash flow is essential. Who wouldn’t want to enhance cash flow? Like any machine, many different parts contribute to making it run seamlessly and efficiently. For your business, this means having the components that generate revenue, the elements that boost profit, and the strategies that drive cash flow. To operate successfully, you need to focus on driving cash flow along with increasing revenue and profit. https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-profit/https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-profit/Mon, 24 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMTYou’re a business owner. You naturally want to have a growing and successful venture. To do so, you need to transform it into a money-making machine. Just like all machines, your business has a primary purpose—to make money. After all, that’s really what it all comes down to. We can have all the passion in the world; we can have a great product or service, but if the business is not making money, it will not survive. But the opposite is also true—if it can make money, you’ll have a financially s https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-revenue/https://agileplanners.com/blog/driving-revenue/Tue, 28 May 2024 12:00:00 GMTYou’re a business owner. You naturally want to have a growing and successful venture. To do so, you need to transform it into a money-making machine. Just like all machines, your business has a primary purpose—to make money. After all, that’s really what it all comes down to. We can have all the passion in the world; we can have a great product or service, but if the business is not making money, it will not survive. But the opposite is also true—if it can make money, you’ll have a financially s https://agileplanners.com/blog/am-i-charging-enough/https://agileplanners.com/blog/am-i-charging-enough/Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:00:00 GMTThe first obstacle is that the more difficult the situation, the more unlikely you are to have these conversations. And unfortunately, these are the times when you need them the most. The second is that even if you decide to talk about it, you often don’t have anyone to talk to. https://agileplanners.com/blog/can-i-take-time-off-without-my-business-collapsing/https://agileplanners.com/blog/can-i-take-time-off-without-my-business-collapsing/Sun, 24 Mar 2024 12:00:00 GMTI often hear from business owners who are struggling and stressed. They are either burnt out or approaching burnout very quickly. They need to take some time off both for personal and professional reasons. But they hesitate, worrying that if they do, their business will fold, and they will have nothing to come back to. Take it from someone who has seen it work—it can be done, with even more benefits than most can imagine— if it is done correctly. https://agileplanners.com/blog/am-i-going-to-run-out-of-money/https://agileplanners.com/blog/am-i-going-to-run-out-of-money/Sat, 24 Feb 2024 12:00:00 GMTAs someone who is deeply passionate about helping business owners understand how to make their money work for them, I have learned the incredible value of open, honest dialogue. We need to have the often difficult, sometimes embarrassing, and hopefully always empowering conversations about money to truly get to the heart of the matter. But this can be challenging for several reasons. The first obstacle is that the more difficult the situation, the more unlikely you are to have these conversation https://agileplanners.com/blog/deciphering-money-scripts/https://agileplanners.com/blog/deciphering-money-scripts/Tue, 23 Jan 2024 12:00:00 GMTWe all tend to feel certain ways about money. Some worry about it, some worship it, others have a great respect for it, and still others fear it. But what most don’t understand is that these perceptions, regardless of where they fall on this scale, are not random. Rather, they are our money scripts—core beliefs about money that were developed in our childhood and influence financial behaviors throughout our lives. These beliefs are typically unconscious, yet they have the ability to profoundly s https://agileplanners.com/blog/new-year-new-money-mindset/https://agileplanners.com/blog/new-year-new-money-mindset/Mon, 18 Dec 2023 12:00:00 GMTAs we begin the transition from one year to the next, we inevitably find ourselves looking at things with a renewed perspective. We tend to think about both all that we are grateful for and all that can be improved upon. And for many business owners, one area of improvement relates to their mindset surrounding money. With another tax season just on the horizon, it is even more of a priority to shift the historically negative money mindset of business owners and begin to have the conversations th https://agileplanners.com/blog/celebrating-decade-financial-empowerment/https://agileplanners.com/blog/celebrating-decade-financial-empowerment/Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:00:00 GMTAs we mark our 10th year in business, it’s impossible not to reflect on the incredible journey that has brought us to this milestone. We are well aware that celebrating a decade in business is a significant achievement, especially given the fact that nearly 80% of businesses don’t make it past the five-year mark. So, on this momentous occasion, we want to take the opportunity to express our heartfelt gratitude to all our clients—many of whom have been with us nearly every step of the way. We kno https://agileplanners.com/blog/closing-the-fourth-quarter-strong/https://agileplanners.com/blog/closing-the-fourth-quarter-strong/Wed, 25 Oct 2023 12:00:00 GMTIt’s that time of year again. Yes, the holidays are nearly upon us, but so is the closing of the fourth quarter. And while closing every quarter is important to the financial success of a business, closing the fourth quarter accurately is even more critical. Not only does it represent the final stretch of the fiscal year, but it also sets the tone for the year ahead. Further, as the fourth quarter encompasses the busy holiday shopping season, many companies (not limited to retail) see significan https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-accounting-industry-and-ai/https://agileplanners.com/blog/the-accounting-industry-and-ai/Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00:00 GMTArtificial Intelligence (AI) is a phrase that is heard regularly in our technologically advanced world. Whether you are working in tech, accounting, health, or any other industry, you have likely heard all about it by now. That’s because while AI has been around for some time, organizations are just recently starting to explore how it can benefit them in their own industries. The ability to streamline work and create a more efficient and profitable workforce is one of the primary reasons organiz https://agileplanners.com/blog/maximizing-your-extension/https://agileplanners.com/blog/maximizing-your-extension/Fri, 25 Aug 2023 12:00:00 GMTFor business owners, staying organized with financials is about more than spreadsheets lining up nicely or thoroughly reconciled accounts (although both are important). It’s about the crucial role organized bookkeeping plays in the actual tax filing process. Simply, organized records both save time and reduce errors during tax preparation. For those who filed an extension this year, this means getting organized now, as those due dates are quickly approaching. https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-financial-statements/https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-financial-statements/Thu, 20 Jul 2023 12:00:00 GMTWhen we think of financial reporting, our minds tend to drift automatically to the preparation of the three primary financial statements—the income statement (also known as the profit and loss statement or P&L), the balance sheet, and the cash flow statement. And while these statements provide incredibly valuable insights into different aspects of the company’s financial health, financial reporting is about much more than the numbers on these three documents. https://agileplanners.com/blog/cash-flow-vs-profitability/https://agileplanners.com/blog/cash-flow-vs-profitability/Wed, 21 Jun 2023 12:00:00 GMTWith all the turbulence in the economy over the past several years, there have been increasing discussions about our impending down economy. Experts are seeing us head toward (or already in) a period of economic contraction or decline. After all, down economies are typically marked by various negative indicators, including reduced economic growth, decreased consumer spending, rising unemployment rates, a decline in business activity, and rapidly declining stock markets, and aren’t we seeing much https://agileplanners.com/blog/cfos-role-in-a-down-economy/https://agileplanners.com/blog/cfos-role-in-a-down-economy/Thu, 25 May 2023 12:00:00 GMTWith all the turbulence in the economy over the past several years, there have been increasing discussions about our impending down economy. Experts are seeing us head toward (or already in) a period of economic contraction or decline. After all, down economies are typically marked by various negative indicators, including reduced economic growth, decreased consumer spending, rising unemployment rates, a decline in business activity, and rapidly declining stock markets, and aren’t we seeing much https://agileplanners.com/blog/fractional-cfo-help/https://agileplanners.com/blog/fractional-cfo-help/Fri, 21 Apr 2023 12:00:00 GMTNavigating the economic uncertainty we are facing has been like navigating a river’s tumultuous rapids—twists and turns that blind you from seeing what is coming next, with the constant threat of a dangerous impending drop up ahead. https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-the-profit-and-loss-statement-pt-2/https://agileplanners.com/blog/beyond-the-profit-and-loss-statement-pt-2/Wed, 22 Mar 2023 12:00:00 GMTLast month, we took a deep dive into the revenue portion of the profit and loss statement (P&L), but that is only half the equation (pun intended). As discussed, revenue is always where any financial analysis should begin because business owners and CFOs need to know how much money is coming in before they can start looking elsewhere. But a close second is then understanding how much money is going out of the business. https://agileplanners.com/blog/evaluating-revenue/https://agileplanners.com/blog/evaluating-revenue/Tue, 28 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMTIt’s not uncommon that a business owner thinks they have an understanding of their financials because they vaguely know the numbers on their profit and loss statement (P&L). And while, yes, that’s a great start, it’s not enough to truly understand what’s behind the numbers generated neatly on that common—and crucial—financial report. How did the numbers get there? What do they really mean? https://agileplanners.com/blog/financial-review-how-to-be-proactive-in-2023/https://agileplanners.com/blog/financial-review-how-to-be-proactive-in-2023/Thu, 23 Feb 2023 12:00:00 GMTBeing proactive is one of the fundamental keys in business. “Acting in anticipation of future problems, needs, or changes,” as the definition of the term tells us, is crucial for any business owner. We shouldn’t sit idly by and wait for something to occur in order to prepare an appropriate (or at stressful times, an inappropriate) response. While those situations may be unavoidable from time to time, most often, they’re not … when we’re appropriately anticipating them. https://agileplanners.com/blog/2022-reflections/https://agileplanners.com/blog/2022-reflections/Thu, 22 Dec 2022 12:00:00 GMTDecember always seems like an appropriate time for reflection. As we close out one year and look optimistically to the next, we can’t help but consider how we got here to plan where we’re going. For us, as we reflect on the past twelve months, we are incredibly thankful for all our clients, strategic partners, and the incredible opportunities that presented themselves to us. https://agileplanners.com/blog/e-commerce-bookkeeping/https://agileplanners.com/blog/e-commerce-bookkeeping/Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:00:00 GMTWhen business owners hear the word “bookkeeping” (or any variation thereof), they automatically think balance sheets and profit and loss statements. They wouldn’t necessarily be wrong, as bookkeeping is inextricably tied to those important reports. But more and more today, there is another meaning attached to the term — a meaning with roots in something that has become a new norm in business and society — e-commerce.