Olive Insights

Do your numbers feel overwhelming instead of helpful? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty breaks down why so many capable business owners still feel tension and uncertainty around their finances, even when revenue is growing and the business looks healthy on paper. The problem usually is not effort or ambition. It is a lack of structure. Without a clear rhythm for reviewing cash, profi...

What if your business could grow without burning you out? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty takes you behind the scenes of how she built Olive Business Partners and shares the real story of scaling a service based, fractional CFO business without sacrificing her lifestyle. After leaving corporate, Sarah was warned that business ownership would mean longer hours and constant hustle. I...

Why does running a “fine” business still feel so stressful? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty talks about a type of stress that rarely gets discussed but is incredibly common among business owners. That constant, low level anxiety that lingers in the background, even when sales are steady and nothing seems obviously wrong. From the outside, everything looks okay. Clients are happy, r...

Does growing your business feel heavier instead of easier? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty explores how successful entrepreneurs grow their businesses with clarity and calm rather than constant stress and exhaustion. Drawing on her experience working with founders across all stages of growth, Sarah explains why ease in business is not about slowing down or lowering ambition. It is...

Do you know the early warning signs of a cash crunch before panic sets in? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty tackles one of the most stressful and common challenges in business: running out of cash. While many business owners believe cash crunches happen suddenly, Sarah explains why most financial pressure builds quietly over time and how the warning signs often appear months in adva...

What actually separates successful CEOs from busy business owners? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty breaks down the financial habits she has seen consistently across successful CEOs, from early-stage founders through to leaders of multibillion dollar organisations. While many people assume success comes from bold moves or big moments, Sarah explains why it is often the quiet, consis...

Are you really building a business that pays you well or just keeping it afloat? In this solo episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty challenges one of the most ingrained beliefs in small business: that paying yourself properly is something you earn later. Too many founders normalise underpaying themselves, skipping wages altogether, or treating owner pay as whatever’s left at the end of the month....

In this episode, host Sarah Petty unpacks how chaos creeps into growing businesses and why it’s such a common experience for founders. She walks through the seven common ways chaos shows up , why they’re so easy to ignore at first, and what they’re really costing you as the business scales. You’ll also hear practical ways to start regaining control. This episode is for founders who feel busy, stre...

Are you creating real financial direction in your business? As the year wraps up, it’s the perfect time to pause and reflect on your business’s financial health. In this solo episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty walks you through a practical framework to assess how your business is tracking, from cash flow and profitability to risk and growth planning. Sarah shares eight key areas every busines...

Travel is often one of the biggest expenses for business owners. But could you be getting far more value out of it? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty speaks with Gagan Gupta , founder of Turn Left for Less , about how business owners can turn everyday spending into premium travel experiences. A listener asked: “I travel a lot as a business owner and it is a large expense in my busine...

Creating Clarity and Profitability in Your Business Feeling like the day-to-day noise is drowning out clarity in your business? You’re not alone. This episode of Olive Insights tackles a listener question: “How do business owners create a clear direction in their business, including financial profitability?” Sarah Petty sits down with Paul Farmer, Founder and Managing Director of Mentoris Group, t...

Funding Business Growth the Smart Way As your business grows, you may reach a point where extra funding is needed, whether it’s for inventory, tech upgrades, or hiring. But with so many options available, how do you choose the right one? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty speaks with finance broker Katherine Looke from Finweb to answer a listener question from Silvia, an e-commerce bu...

Struggling with inconsistent sales even though your clients love working with you? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty sits down with Dipti Pandit, CEO of Sales Pundit Consulting, to unpack why positive client feedback doesn’t always translate into steady revenue. They explore what really makes a sales process effective, how to secure larger and longer-term clients, and how to sell wit...

Are you charging what you’re really worth? In this solo episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty unpacks one of the most powerful yet uncomfortable levers in business: pricing. From overcoming the fear of charging more, to understanding your value beyond just the hours worked, Sarah shares practical strategies to make pricing less awkward and more strategic. Drawing from her own journey and client...

Is your brand just looking good or is it actually making you money? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty is joined by Kylie D’Costa, CEO and owner of Beyond The Logo, to unpack how branding can become your most valuable business asset. They explore how to measure the financial value of branding, common mistakes to avoid, and the right time to refresh your brand. From shifting the mindse...

Want to scale your business but worried about breaking what already works? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty speaks with Nicole Smith, founder of The Artisans Business Solutions, about how to scale with confidence without compromising service quality or overwhelming your team. Nicole shares how to strengthen your operational foundations, streamline processes, and prepare your busines...

Thinking about selling your business? Wondering if it is truly ready for the market? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty talks with Michael Kerr, founder of Kerr Capital, about what makes a business “sellable” and how to maximise its value before going to market. They cover the key factors buyers look for, the steps to prepare for a sale, and how to reduce risk for potential buyers. Mi...

Is social media really worth the investment? Or is it just draining your time and budget? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty chats with Bec Stenner, founder of Creative Seed Co., to unpack what small business owners really need to know about social media strategy. From choosing the right platforms to measuring ROI and improving engagement, Bec brings her no nonsense approach to help b...

Equity can help launch your business, but what happens when you want some of it back? In this episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty is joined by Adele Anthony, Principal Lawyer at Adele M Anthony Legal, to unpack a listener question from Dan, a tech founder who gave away 40% equity for a $100K investment. Fast forward a few years: the business is thriving, the investor is now weighing in on day-...

Are you wearing too many hats in your business? Whether you're still doing it all yourself or you're juggling a small team, chances are your resourcing model is holding back your growth. In this solo episode of Olive Insights , Sarah Petty unpacks one of the biggest levers for scaling your business: resourcing and how to do it strategically. Sarah breaks down the three stages of resourcing that mo...

Thinking about buying a business? If you’re considering growth through acquisition, whether it’s buying a competitor or expanding into a new service area, this episode of Olive Insights is packed with practical advice to help you make an informed decision. Sarah Petty and Kerrie McGilvray kick off the conversation by answering a listener question from Sean, a business owner exploring his first acq...

In this episode of the Olive Insights podcast, Sarah Petty interviews Jehan Perinpanayagam, CEO of Infomate, about the benefits of outsourced finance resourcing. They discuss the various services offered by outsourced finance teams, the challenges of finding good talent, and how virtual finance support can help small businesses manage their financial functions more effectively. Jehan shares insigh...

In this episode of the Olive Insights podcast, Andrew Jepson, founder of The FBP Team, shares his journey from a traditional finance role to becoming a finance business partner. He discusses the importance of effective communication between finance professionals and non-finance stakeholders, the critical role of cash flow management in small businesses, and the tools that can enhance finance busin...

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty interviews Kiran Bhullar, Private Client Advisor at UniSuper, to discuss the critical importance of retirement planning for business owners, particularly focusing on superannuation. Kiran shares insights on the risks of relying solely on business success for retirement, the necessity of diversifying financial strategies, and the importance of developi...

In this episode of Olive Insights, Sarah Petty chats with Steve Grace, CEO & Founder of The Nudge Group, who shares his extensive entrepreneurial journey, discussing the various businesses he has built and the lessons he learned along the way. He talks about the importance of taking entrepreneurship seriously, understanding cash flow, and the value of community and mentorship. Steve also refle...