It’s a story I hear all too often.
On paper, things look great. Revenue’s increasing. Margins are solid. The business is “successful.”
Yet they are constantly battling cashflow problems.
When we dig a little deeper, the same pattern keeps showing up.
They’ve funded their growth with debt.
Here’s how it usually plays out:
Sales start to pick up. You need more people, more tools, maybe a bigger space.
So you borrow.
A new vehicle here, a bit of extra equipment there, maybe a lease on a bigger space. It all makes sense at the time, especially when business is booming. The repayments feel manageable. And growth is exciting, right?
But a few months down the track, the repayments start stacking up.
Cash that should be going toward wages, materials, or building a buffer… is disappearing fast.
And you are stressed, under pressure, and working harder than ever… with less money!
A client summed it up in one sentence:
“Every time we grew, the repayments grew faster.”
They weren’t being careless, but like a lot of business owners, they hadn’t stopped to look at the full picture. The P&L said ‘profit’, but the cash wasn’t there.
It turns out the business’s loan repayments were higher than what they were actually generating. They were profitable; but only on paper.
I’m not anti-growth. Far from it.
But growth shouldn’t make things harder. It shouldn’t leave you wondering how to pay wages or when you’ll next get paid yourself. It should give you breathing room.
If your business is growing, but you’re still broke, it’s not just frustrating! It’s a sign that something needs to shift.
Because if nothing changes, nothing changes.
5 things to check before you grow any further.
🟠 What are you actually repaying?
It sounds simple, but a lot of owners don’t know. Add up all your repayments, even the small ones, and get a clear monthly total.
🟠 Can your business afford it in a quiet month?
What happens if sales dip? If a big invoice gets delayed? If a key staff member is off for two weeks? Always stress test your growth decisions.
🟠 Are you tying up cash in the wrong places?
If all your cash is going to loan repayments, there’s nothing left to pay yourself properly, build a buffer, or invest in the next opportunity.
🟠 Is this growth improving cashflow or draining it?
Growth isn’t worth it if it’s just making life harder. It should give you more flexibility, not lock you into a financial corner.
🟠 Do you need a fresh set of eyes?
Sometimes, you’re too close to the problem to see what’s really going on. A quick review of your numbers with someone outside the business can make all the difference.
If this hits close to home, you’re not alone. And it’s not about blame, it’s about clarity.
You didn’t build your business to feel stuck, broke, or burnt out.
Let’s make sure growth actually takes you forward.
Ready to Get Clear and Take Action?
Everything I do is about helping business owners build a business (and life) that gives them more time, more money, and a lot less stress.
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