Budget Your Business

E#57: From Gut Instinct to Predictable Growth with Brittany Toler What separates companies that consistently grow from those that struggle to gain traction? In this episode, Scott Geller talks with Brittany Toler about building a business with intentional execution through EOS and the Outgrow framework. They discuss creating alignment around company priorities, building consistent sales processes,...

E#57: What does it take to keep your best leaders from leaving? In this episode, Scott Geller sits down with Devon Cury of Sasta Financial Group to discuss executive benefits and long-term incentive plans for small and mid-sized businesses. Devin explains how business owners can use customized retention strategies to reward key executives, protect company value, support succession planning, and cr...

E#56: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott Geller welcomes Bjarte Bogsnes, one of the leading voices behind the Beyond Budgeting movement, to challenge traditional budgeting and management practices. Throw out the old corporate and welcome a refreshing new approach for large and small businesses. They discuss why annual budgets often create unintended behaviors, how separating target set...

E#55: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott Geller sits down with Katy Whitehead to break down how ESOPs (Employee Stock Ownership Plans) work and why they are becoming an increasingly popular succession strategy for business owners. They discuss how ESOPs can help owners preserve company culture, reward employees, maintain independence, and create a long-term transition plan without sell...

E#54: In this episode, Scott sits down with Brant Lingle to unpack one of the most overlooked areas of business ownership: succession planning. They discuss why many owners delay or avoid these conversations, how early planning creates more options and better outcomes, and why communication with family, employees, and advisors is critical to getting it right. Brant shares practical ways to get sta...

E#53: In this episode, Scott Geller wraps up the series he conducted with banking experts. He distills conversations with bankers across community, regional, CDFI, and large institutions (via a new and unique conversation style) into one clear takeaway. He breaks down how different banks serve different stages of growth, highlights why relationships with proactive bankers matter more than most own...

E#52: In this episode, Scott sits down with Benny Bowman, a former president turned advisor who shares a real-world perspective on leadership, planning, and building a business that can outlast you. Drawing from a career that grew a company from $6M to $36M, the conversation focuses on succession planning, involving the entire organization in budgeting, and why starting with sales goals is critica...

E#51: In this episode, Scott brings in unbiased banking expert Damion McIntosh. Damion is a banking and financial systems expert who helps small business owners think more strategically about their banking relationships. The conversation goes beyond simply choosing a “big” or “small” bank and explores how owners should evaluate banks based on their business model, financial strength, industry fit,...

E#50: In this special 50th episode of Budget Your Business, Scott Geller hosts a roundtable with finance leaders:  Andrew Marianski Heather Tuason Terrye Enslow  They discuss key financial topics that small business owners should focus on as they operate their companies. The conversation covers the importance of understanding core financial metrics such as cash flow, profitability, and working cap...

E#49: In this solo episode, Scott breaks down how small business owners should rethink budgeting and planning. Traditional annual budgets still have value, but they quickly become outdated as conditions change. Instead, Scott explains the power of rolling forecasts and continuous planning—regularly updating assumptions, reviewing performance, and adjusting direction based on real data. He walks th...

E#48: This episode with Matt Paciocca explores what truly sets a community bank apart and why that difference matters for small business owners. Matt shares how New Horizon was built around old-fashioned service paired with modern, customer-driven technology by listening directly to customers and employees. The conversation highlights the value of hands-on banking relationships, where bankers act...

Digital accessibility means building a website that works for everyone—people with disabilities, seniors, and increasingly, AI. When a site is well-structured, easy to navigate, and free of technical barriers, it builds trust and removes friction that prevents people from buying. Accessibility isn’t just a compliance or “nice-to-have” issue; it directly impacts revenue because customers can’t conv...

E#46: Find Your Bank Series: CDFIs - Scott sits down with Leah Fremouw to unpack a part of the financial ecosystem most small business owners have never heard of: CDFIs, or Community Development Financial Institutions. Leah explains how CDFIs differ from traditional banks, why they exist, and how they’re designed to say “yes” in situations where banks often can’t. From small-dollar loans to layere...

E#45: In this episode, Scott sits down with Greg from ConnectivTech to talk about something every small business owner wrestles with—vendor selection, vendor management, and why choosing the wrong one can quietly drain your cashflow or derail your growth. Business owners think about their tech stack, software renewals, marketing partners, and operational vendors annually. But Scott and Greg dig de...

E#44: Find Your Bank Series: Regional Banks - Joe Ford from WinTrust represents what regional banks actually do for growing businesses and why the right bank (and banker) matters. Joe explains where WinTrust sits as a regional player with big-bank capabilities. We walk through who benefits most from a regional bank and who’s better off elsewhere. Joe shares how to find and vet a banker plus the co...

E#43: In this episode, I sit down solo to break down the world of payment processing with a behind-the-scenes look at PJ’s business. We dive into why 80–85% of small and medium-sized business revenue now comes through credit and debit cards, and what that really costs owners — roughly 3% per transaction. From interchange fees to integration with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and other systems, we cover th...

E#42: In this solo episode, Scott kicks off a new mini-series focused on one relationship every business owner has — their bank. Drawing on his background as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner and years as a fractional CFO, Scott breaks down the different types of banks, how they’re regulated, and what business owners should know when evaluating their banking partners. He also previews upcoming episo...

E#41: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott dives into the financial and strategic considerations of expanding through franchising with guest Gus Iurillo. They explore how business owners can leverage franchising to scale their operations or add complementary services under separate entities — without jeopardizing profitability or paying unnecessary royalties. Gus breaks down the key fact...

E#40: In this episode, Scott is joined by Theresa Caragol of AchieveUnite to explore what really makes business partnerships work. Teresa shares how a successful partnership works with marketing and internal sales or even reduce the reliance on internal sales. She shares how companies can measure and balance different trust-building styles, why the first 90 days set the tone for partnership succes...

 E#39: In this episode, Scott sits down with Kathy Hardy to explore how resiliency and clarity of purpose drive stronger business results. They discuss the importance of defining core objectives in plain language, aligning teams through shared commitments, and keeping goals relevant with regular forecasting. Kathy shares practical ways to build organizational resilience—from debriefing failures to...

E#38: In this solo episode, Scott breaks down how a CFO goes beyond “the numbers.” Far from just budget spreadsheets, a CFO can be a confidant, connector, and strategic advisor—helping owners navigate tough decisions, break down silos, and focus on priorities. Scott also shares how fractional CFOs make that expertise accessible to growing small businesses without the $300K+ price tag of a full-tim...

E#37: In this episode, Eric Ellington shares how discipline in financial management, strategic planning, and team training shape his company’s success. He emphasizes the importance of cash flow over vanity revenue, setting clear EOS-driven targets, and investing in marketing, branding, and customer experience to fuel long-term growth. Eric also highlights the value of trusting your gut, recognizin...

E#36: In this episode, Scott Geller talks with John McGann about how small businesses can smartly scale their internal software—from early no-code tools to fully custom systems. They break down the warning signs that it's time to upgrade, what it really costs, how to prepare, and why investing in the right tech at the right time can unlock growth rather than stall it. Whether you're buri...

Podcast questionnaire link (Thanks!!): https://bit.ly/bybSurvey   E#35: In this episode, Michael Barbarita shares how business owners can cut through the overwhelm by focusing on the 7 key drivers that make up 20% of their effort but generate 80% of their revenue. He breaks down each step of his "Pathway to Profit" formula—from attracting quality leads to increasing average sale value an...

  E#:34 Nick Loise with Sales Performance Team  Please take a few minutes to share your feedback about our podcast. You can use this link to complete the quick survey: https://bit.ly/bybSurvey . Thanks for helping us out. Now to the podcast notes … Growing sales isn’t about hiring a rep and crossing your fingers. In this episode, Scott sits down with Nick Loise to break down how to build a high-im...