For years, bankruptcy was seen as the only “serious” path when a business was overwhelmed by debt. But that landscape is shifting fast.  According to S&P Global, nearly 63% of bankruptcy filings in 2024 were reorganizations, not liquidations. The trend is clear: companies want to survive, not shut down. But here’s the part most business owners... Read More

You’ve poured years, maybe decades, into building your business. It’s more than a company; it’s your legacy, your life’s work. But most small business owners aren’t prepared to step away.  Nearly 70% of businesses don’t have a successor, no buyer, and no exit plan. That means no retirement. If your business isn’t financially healthy or... Read More

In the first three parts of this series, we’ve shown you why most businesses fail, how to understand and control your numbers, and the 16 elements of a complete financial system. But knowing all this is only half the battle. If you’re like most owners, your time is limited, and trying to do it all... Read More

In Part 2, we talked about the importance of knowing your numbers and how most business owners are flying blind with incomplete or inaccurate financial information. Now it’s time to take that a step further. Having clean books is only the beginning. If you want to grow your business you need a complete financial system... Read More

In Part 1, we talked about the odds being stacked against business owners and how most failures come down to poor financial management, not bad ideas. The good news is, those odds aren’t fixed. Just like in Vegas, you can study the game and improve your chances. In this next part, we’ll dig into what... Read More

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 20% of new businesses fail within their first year and nearly 50% close within five years. While we were researching this, we also found out out that a total novice in Las Vegas sitting down at the blackjack table has about a 16% chance of winning—meaning your... Read More

Everyone knows the old saying: “You have to spend money to make money.” But when your business is already struggling, that phrase feels like a cruel joke. You look at the books and think, “There’s nothing left to spend. I can’t afford to take another risk.”  But let’s be honest—not taking a risk is what’s... Read More

A recent Bloomberg Law article, “Covid Loans That Boosted Businesses Now Push Them to Bankruptcy,” shines a spotlight on a troubling trend: the very pandemic relief meant to sustain small businesses is now contributing to their collapse. Businesses that took EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) funding, often with generous terms and deferred payments, are now... Read More

Introducing Profit and Peace – the new program from Investor Direct Funding and Cultivating Bricolage, helping business owners fix their numbers and their nerves.   Running a business is hard enough when things are going great, but when cash flow is tight, bills are piling up, and every decision feels urgent, stress can turn into a... Read More

When people think of business failure, they often picture companies that ran out of money or couldn’t compete with bigger rivals. But some of the most famous business failures in history didn’t happen because of lack of resources. They failed because they waited too long to act.  These stories may involve billion-dollar corporations, but the... Read More