It’s always the same story.
Revenue looks fine. Maybe even great. But cash is missing and nobody’s sure what went wrong… until it’s too late to fix it.
By then, it’s Q4. The numbers are messy, the tax bill is ugly, and someone’s scrambling.
This is why June matters. It’s the halfway point. You still have time to adjust and avoid a financial mess later.
Here are the five things every business owner should check now before the second half of the year catches up to them.
1. Cash Flow: Is There a Leak in the Bucket?
You might be bringing in revenue, but if cash is disappearing faster than a plate of donuts in the breakroom, it’s time to check your flow.
- Are you collecting payments fast enough?
- Are you paying bills too early?
- Are there subscriptions quietly draining your account?
If your bank balance and profit report never seem to agree, this is the first thing to check.
2. Profit Margins: Are You Still Making Money, or Just Working Harder?
Margins shrink when you’re not watching. Vendors raise prices. Payroll grows. Small expenses add up. If you haven’t looked at your margins since spring, it’s time.
You might be undercharging, overdelivering, or spending like your accountant is on vacation.
Know your numbers now, before you hit the fourth quarter wondering where all the profit went.
3. Owner’s Pay: Are You Paying Yourself, or Just Surviving?
If you’re living on scraps while the business looks “fine on paper,” something’s off.
You should know exactly how much you’re paying yourself, and whether it’s sustainable. Especially if you’re an S Corp… the IRS wants to see “reasonable compensation,” and so do we.
Don’t make yourself the unpaid intern in your own company.
4. Budget vs. Reality: Are You Actually Following the Plan?
Pull up that budget you made in January. (Yes, that one.)
Compare it to what’s actually happened. Are you overspending? Underspending? Did you plan to hire and never did? Did you launch something new without planning for the cost?
It’s not about shame. It’s about making adjustments while you still have runway.
5. Taxes: Are You About to Get Whacked With a Surprise Bill?
If your business is growing and you haven’t sent in estimated tax payments, that “profit” you’re feeling might already belong to the IRS.
June is a great time to look at how much you’ve made, how much you’ve paid in, and whether you need to adjust your strategy before Q4 taxes creep in with a surprise.
We see it every year.
Great businesses hitting a wall late in the year because they missed these five silent killers of year-end profit. Cash gets tight. Tax bills hit harder than expected.
And suddenly the panic call comes in.
Let’s skip that part.
Book a check-in with us now to go through the five checkpoints together. It could save you a world of stress come fall.
