Welcome back to the Suite Spark Podcast!

This episode is a goldmine for founders, operators, and leadership teams trying to scale without losing their sanity. Danielle McCormick (co-founder of Suite Solutions and a fractional COO/CPO) breaks down 6 key places where you're likely bleeding revenue—and what to do about it.

✨ What You'll Learn:

• The REAL reason your pricing may be killing your growth (and how to fix it)

• How to go up and down the value stream to unlock new customers

• Ways to use unused assets and legacy systems to generate cash

• Real stories of businesses that turned cost centers into new revenue

• The #1 shift to make your business acquisition-ready

• Why collaboration is the new currency (and how to use it)

Whether you're in defense tech, SaaS, services, or manufacturing, you're leaving money on the table, and this episode helps you get it back.

00:00 - Intro: Are you underperforming? 01:35 - Danielle explains “hidden revenue” 04:15 - Revenue Stream 1: Value-based pricing 07:32 - Revenue Stream 2: Tiered service models (up/down market) 10:08 - Revenue Stream 3: Strategic partnerships 12:47 - Revenue Stream 4: Unused assets = overlooked cash 16:04 - Revenue Stream 5: Internal data as product 18:28 - Revenue Stream 6: Cost savings + automation 21:05 - Collaboration as an exit strategy 24:02 - The “forest for the trees” founder trap 27:00 - Real example: Turn your lab into a revenue center 30:00 - Why being just 4% ahead is enough 33:14 - Danielle's final takeaway: “Everything is figureoutable” 34:10 - What's next on Suite Spark

Welcome to SuiteSpark — the podcast for business owners ready to build with strategy, scale with intention, and sell on their terms.

In this episode, Danielle and Stephanie break down the 6 most common — and most overlooked — hot spots that quietly erode business margins, morale, and growth potential.

If you've ever asked yourself:

Why are my margins so thin (even when we're busy)?

Why do my people seem disengaged or underperforming?

Why am I constantly putting out fires in operations?

This episode is for you.

You'll learn:

Intro: Are you underperforming and don't know why?

02:30 - What margins say about your business health

04:15 - The #1 mistake owners make with pricing

07:20 - How “nice culture” becomes toxic

10:45 - What to watch in your org's behavior & mindset

14:00 - The law of lids: why you may be the bottleneck

17:50 - Decision velocity: the silent killer of growth

22:00 - Why metrics (and the right metrics) matter

27:30 - First fix: raise prices and empower your people

31:00 - Final words: no shame, just clarity + action

Tax talk that won't put you to sleep? It's here.

In this week's Suite Spark episode, we break down the Top 4 Tax Strategies smart business owners are using to legally keep more of what they earn.

This isn't boring bookkeeping — it's your future, funded.

Listen now and start building the tax plan your CPA isn't talking about.

00:00 Introduction and Guest Introduction

00:27 Recap of Financial Independence Number

00:54 Top Four Tax Strategies Overview

01:57 Tax Strategy 1: Employing Family Members

04:19 Tax Strategy 2: Cost Segregation

09:10 Tax Strategy 3: Oil and Gas Investments

13:00 Tax Strategy 4: Travel and Investment

15:55 Conclusion and Next Week's Topic

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and not financial advice. Please consult a licensed tax professional or schedule a time to chat with us so we can tailor a plan to your business and goals.

What's your Financial Independence Number (FIN)?

If you don't know it — or you're guessing — you're not planning your future. You're gambling with it.

This week on the Suite Spark Podcast, we break down how to calculate your FIN and why it's the foundation of a real exit strategy.

➕ Why 42% of business owners think their business will fund retirement (and why most are wrong)
➕ What math has to do with peace of mind
➕ The biggest mistake we see every week

Don't miss it. Your future self will thank you.

Meet the Founders of Suite Solutions: From Financial Empowerment to Business Efficiency

In the inaugural episode of the Suite Spark Podcast, co-founders Danielle McCormick and Stephanie Georgakopoulos introduce themselves and their backgrounds.

Stephanie shares a poignant story about her upbringing in Greece and how personal tragedy motivated her to pursue a career in finance and help female business owners.

Danielle talks about her extensive experience as a business consultant focused on improving workplace efficiency and employee well-being, driven by a personal loss.

Together, they discuss their shared mission to guide small business owners through mergers, acquisitions, and successful exit strategies, emphasizing the importance of efficiency, resilience, and financial preparedness.

Welcome to SuiteSpark, the podcast designed to illuminate your journey through the complex world of business exits, mergers, and acquisitions. Join co-founders Danielle McCormick and Stephanie Georgakopoulos as they share their personal stories, insights, and expertise to empower business owners like you. Each episode delves into the challenges and triumphs of navigating transitions, offering practical advice and strategies to help you achieve a successful exit while preserving your legacy. Whether you're contemplating retirement, preparing for a sale, or looking to merge, SuiteSpark is your go-to resource for turning your business dreams into reality. Subscribe now and spark your path to a brighter business future!

We firmly believe that aiming for contentment is a recipe for disaster and we're here to talk about how you can overcome the lies you've been told about aiming for "just being happy." We're running into this new year with renewed energy, excitement and goal-crushing enthusiasm, join us for another episode of real talk as we gear up for this next chapter. Let's kick off 2023 with massive action and motivation!