The boring sh!t in business Podcast with Amy Bajada

EPISODE 223 : Debt That Builds vs Debt That Bleeds (Know The Line Before It Costs You Everything)

Not all debt is dangerous.
And not all debt is smart just because the business can access it.
In this episode, we break down the very real difference between debt that strategically helps a business grow… versus debt that quietly keeps a struggling business alive while bigger problems build underneath.
This is an honest conversation about:
debt dependency
cashflow pressure
survival mode
operational gaps
reactive decision making
and the warning signs business owners often miss until it’s too late
Because sometimes debt creates leverage.
And sometimes debt simply delays the inevitable.
If you’ve ever felt like:
“We should be doing better than this financially…”
or:
“Why does cash still feel tight even though revenue is growing?”
This episode is one you need to hear.
Because debt itself isn’t always the issue.
But unclear financial visibility absolutely can be. Take a listen
EPISODE MENTIONS
Small Business Cashflow Course

EPISODE 222 : Profitable… So Where’s the Money?

Your accountant says the business is profitable…
So why does cash still feel tight?
Why are so many business owners making sales, growing revenue and technically turning a profit… while still feeling pressure every single week?
In this episode, I'll unpack one of the biggest misunderstandings in business: the difference between profit and cashflow.
Because a profitable business can still experience cash pressure — and this catches more business owners off guard than you might think.
We'll break down:
Why profit and cashflow are not the same thing
How growing businesses can still run into cash problems
Where cash quietly disappears inside a business
Why “we’ll catch up next month” can become dangerous
The hidden impact of timing, payment terms and growth
Why visibility matters more than panic
The key questions every business owner should be asking beyond profit
If you’ve ever looked at your numbers and thought: “Okay… so where’s the money then?” — this episode is for you.
This is a practical, honest conversation about what’s really happening behind the numbers and how understanding cashflow differently can completely change the way you make decisions in business.

EPISODE 221 : Don’t Plan Next Year Until You’ve Done This

We’re coming up to the end of the financial year here in Australia… and for a lot of business owners, the focus is already on what’s next.
New goals.New plans.A fresh start.
But before you jump into the new financial year… there’s something far more important to do first.
👉 Review what just happened.
In this episode, I break down why reviewing your year isn’t just about looking at your numbers — it’s about understanding the story behind your results so you can make better decisions moving forward.
Because without that clarity… you’re not planning.
You’re guessing.
In this episode, I cover:
Why “starting fresh” can actually hold your business back
What your numbers are really telling you (beyond profit and loss)
How your operations impact your financial results
What to look for when reviewing what worked (and what didn’t)
How to use your insights to set realistic, data-driven goals for the next financial year
Why reviewing your business once a year isn’t enough
This episode is for you if:
You’re heading into the new financial year without a clear plan
You feel like this year was “busy” but you’re not sure what actually worked
Your cash flow felt inconsistent or harder than expected
You want to make better decisions in your business next year
A new financial year doesn’t fix an unclear business.
Taking the time to understand your numbers, your operations, and your decisions from this year is what creates better results in the next one.
Want help making sense of your numbers?
If you’re looking at your business thinking “I have the numbers, but I don’t know what they’re telling me” — this is exactly the work I do with business owners.
You can:
Explore my Small Business Cashflow Course
Or reach out to work with me 1:1
🔗 www.amybajada.com.au

EPISODE 220 : Where Is the Cash Going? A Simple Leak-Spotting Framework

You’re making money… so why does it feel like there’s none left?
If you’ve ever looked at your bank account and wondered where your cash is actually going — this episode breaks it down in a way that finally makes sense.
In this episode of The Boring Sh!t You Need to Know About Business, we unpack one of the most common (and frustrating) challenges for small business owners: cash disappearing despite steady sales.
This isn’t about working harder or chasing more revenue.It’s about understanding what’s happening to your money after it comes in.
I'll walk you through a simple, practical leak-spotting framework to help you identify where your cash is being lost — and what to do about it.
What you’ll learn in this episode:
Why “making more money” isn’t always the solution to cash flow problems
The 4 key areas where cash leaks happen in a business
How pricing can quietly drain your cash (even when you’re busy)
The hidden impact of cost creep and small expenses over time
Why timing (not profit) is often the real cash flow issue
How everyday decisions influence your financial position more than you think
A simple way to start spotting leaks immediately — without overwhelm
This episode is for you if:
You’re generating revenue but not seeing it build in your bank account
You feel like your business is “busy but tight” financially
You want more clarity and control over your cash flow
You’re ready to stop guessing and start making informed financial decisions
Key Takeaway:
Your cash isn’t disappearing.It’s being allocated — intentionally or not.
Once you understand where it’s going, you can take control of what happens next.
Ready to get clearer on your cash?
If you’re done second-guessing your numbers and want a simple, structured way to understand your cash flow, check out the Small Business Cashflow Course.
Or reach out to work together — because this is exactly the work we do.
 

EPISODE 219 : You Built the Business… So Why Aren’t You Getting Paid?

You’re working. You’re selling. You’re growing.
So why does paying yourself still feel inconsistent… or worse, something you “get to later”?
In this episode, we’re unpacking one of the most common (and overlooked) challenges in small business — actually paying yourself in a way that is intentional, consistent, and sustainable.
Because here’s the truth… If your business only works when you come last financially, it’s not working as well as you think.
We dive into:
Why “it’s not consistent enough” is keeping you stuck
The hidden cost of underpaying yourself
How lack of structure leads to reactive decisions
Why paying yourself isn’t a reward — it’s part of the business model
Simple ways to start building consistency (even when income isn’t perfect)
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about structure, clarity, and making decisions that actually support you.
If you’ve been leaving your own income until last… this episode will challenge that.

EPISODE 218 : GUEST EPISODE : Alikki Russell from The Hummingbird Centre

What happens when a business owner goes from making financial decisions based on gut feel… to using their numbers to confidently grow?
In this episode, I sat down with Alikki Russell, founder of The Hummingbird Centre — a thriving psychology practice that has grown from a single room to 40+ staff across multiple clinics.
But this isn’t just a growth story.
It’s a story about what happens behind the scenes when:
You don’t understand your numbers
You’re making decisions based on gut feel
And you’re carrying the weight of a growing team without clarity
Alikki shares the moment everything shifted — when she realised that avoiding finances wasn’t sustainable… and made the decision to lean in.
What followed wasn’t just better cash flow.
It was:
Better decisions
Less stress
More confidence
And the ability to grow — even in uncertain times
If you’ve ever looked at your reports and thought “is this good?”… this conversation is for you.
What we cover in this episode:
The reality of growing a business without financial clarity
Why having a finance team doesn’t replace your responsibility as the owner
The shift from reactive, gut-based decisions → informed, confident ones
How cash flow forecasting changes the way you lead your business
The hidden costs that quietly drain your cash (subscriptions 👀)
Why “feeling settled” is one of the most underrated outcomes of understanding your numbers
How financial clarity impacts your team, your family, and your ability to grow
The difference between “hoping it works” vs actually knowing
Connect with Alikki Russell and The Hummingbird Centre
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alikki/
Company LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/33456951
Instagram: @the.hummingbird.centre 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the.hummingbird.centre.nsw
Web: https://www.hummingbirdcentre.com.au/ 
Ready to get this clarity in your business?
If this episode hit home… it might be time to stop avoiding the numbers and start understanding them.
👉 Check out my Small Business Cashflow Course
 

EPISODE 217 : What Turning 50 Has Given Me (And What It’s Taught Me About Business)

This episode is a little bit different.
Because it’s my 50th birthday.
And instead of putting together a list of “50 lessons”… I wanted to focus on what actually matters.
Because over time, you start to realise something…
Not all lessons carry the same weight.
Some are interesting.Some are nice to know.
But then there are the ones that genuinely change how you think, how you make decisions, and how your business runs.
In this episode, I share the patterns I’ve seen over and over again after years of working with business owners across different stages and industries.
The things that quietly shape:
how your business feels day to day
how decisions get made
and why some businesses feel in control… while others feel constant pressure
We talk about:
Why revenue doesn’t always mean strength
What cashflow pressure is really telling you
The difference between making decisions and making informed decisions
Why growth doesn’t fix problems (and what it actually does instead)
How pricing quietly impacts your ability to move forward
The role of systems in creating clarity and calm
And why understanding your numbers changes everything
This isn’t about getting things “perfect”.
It’s about having enough clarity to make your next decision with confidence.
Because when you can see what’s really happening in your business…You lead differently.
And that’s where things start to shift.
🎯 If you’re ready to get clearer on your numbers and feel more in control of your business decisions…
Check out my Small Business Cashflow Course, where I walk you through exactly how to understand, structure and use your numbers to lead your business with confidence.
Or reach out if you’re looking for more personalised support.
🎧 If this episode resonated, make sure you subscribe and share it with another business owner who needs to hear this.
 

EPISODE 216 : BAS Doesn’t Hurt — Avoiding It Does

Let’s be honest…
BAS isn’t what creates stress in your business.
👉 Avoiding it does.
In this episode, we unpack why BAS feels overwhelming for so many business owners — and why the real issue isn’t the ATO, compliance, or even the payment itself.
It’s the gap between knowing something needs to be dealt with… and actually facing it.
Because when you avoid your BAS:
You lose visibility over what you owe
You make decisions without full information
You risk spending money that was never yours (GST)
And the problem compounds over time
This episode reframes BAS for what it really is:
👉 A report. A reflection. A scoreboard of what has already happened in your business.
And more importantly — it gives you practical ways to stop BAS from feeling like a shock every quarter.
This episode isn’t just about BAS.
It’s about how you lead your business when there are numbers you don’t want to look at.
Because clarity creates control.
And control allows you to make better decisions — without the stress.
Want help getting your cash sorted ... www.amybajada.com.au/cashflow
Want to chat ... www.amybajada.com.au/discoverycall

EPISODE 215 : What to Track in Your Business Weekly vs Monthly (Stop Checking Everything)

If your business finances have been feeling overwhelming lately… you’re not alone.
Right now, most small business owners are sitting in one of two camps:👉 avoiding their numbers completely👉 or checking everything constantly… and still feeling out of control
And neither of those approaches is giving you clarity.
In this episode, we break down what to track in your business weekly vs monthly, so you can stay connected to your numbers without burning yourself out.
Because this isn’t about tracking more…
It’s about tracking the right things, at the right time.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
✔️ What numbers to check weekly to stay across your cash flow✔️ What to review monthly to make smarter financial decisions✔️ Why checking your numbers more often isn’t the answer✔️ How to simplify your financial management (without it taking over your week)✔️ The simple rhythm that gives you clarity, control, and confidence
You don’t need more data.
You need better structure.
If you’re ready to take this further…
💻 Small Business Cashflow CourseLearn how to manage your cash flow, understand your numbers, and make confident financial decisions in your business.👉 www.amybajada.com.au/cashflow
📞 Discovery & Clarity CallLet’s map out where your business is at right now — and what to focus on next.👉 www.amybajada.com.au/discoverycall

EPISODE 214 : GUEST EPISODE : Alan & Jess Howle from Triple Effect Media

What happens when your business is making money… but you still feel like you're going backwards?
In this episode, I sit down with Alan and Jess from Triple Effect Media — a husband-and-wife team who built a successful video marketing agency… but found themselves facing a $100K+ tax bill, cashflow pressure, and the very real fear of losing it all.
This isn’t a story about failure.
It’s a story about what happens when you finally get clarity over your numbers — and start making decisions from that place.
We talk about:
The moment they thought their business might not survive
Why “just making more sales” actually made things worse
The shift from reactive → proactive decision-making
What really changes when you understand your finances
How confidence is built through small, consistent action
And what business looks like when it actually supports your life
This episode is real, honest, and one that so many business owners will see themselves in. Because this isn’t uncommon.
But what happens next? That’s the difference.
Key Episode Takeaways:
Profit ≠ cashflow (and why that matters more than you think)
More sales won’t fix broken financial foundations
Visibility creates confidence — even when things aren’t perfect
Systems and structure remove emotional decision-making
Growth isn’t always about doing more — sometimes it’s about doing better
You don’t need to have it all figured out… but you do need to start
About Triple Effect Media:
Triple Effect Media is a boutique video marketing agency helping service-based businesses including wealth, manufacturing and trade service businesses stand out online and attract better-qualified buyers using video content.  Triple Effect Media build real connections through strategic, authentic video content — from scripting and filming through to publishing and performance.
To see more or download a product guide for their services head to: www.tripleeffect.com.au