Your business made money, but did you? In this episode, Brian Thompson walks through three numbers that reveal the financial health of your business before the year ends: profit margin, owner's compensation, and cash reserves.

Brian has worked with many entrepreneurs who bring in impressive revenue and still feel anxious about money. They wonder whether they can afford to pay themselves, whether they will have enough for taxes, and how they will cover expenses at the end of the month. This episode gives you a simple way to look past the revenue total and understand how much of it actually supports you.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to calculate your profit margin and what it tells you about your financial health

• Why revenue alone does not show whether your business supports the life you want

• How to set an owner's compensation target and identify the gap between what you need and what the business pays

• How the Profit First system helps you pay yourself intentionally

• How to calculate your cash runway and why three to six months is a useful starting point

• How cash reserves give you the flexibility to say no to the wrong projects

• A 15-minute profitability checkup you can complete before the end of November

• How to choose one specific action to strengthen your financial foundation before 2027

A healthy profit margin, a fair owner's compensation, and strong cash reserves give you options. They let you make decisions based on your mission, vision, and values rather than on what you need to survive. Whether you are just getting started or have been in business for years, grab your financial statements and follow along.

Next up in the series, Brian takes a broader look at 2026 with five questions to ask yourself before starting another year in business.

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Brian Thompson, JD/CFP®, is a tax attorney and Certified Financial Planner® who specializes in providing comprehensive financial planning to LGBTQ+ entrepreneurs who run mission-driven businesses. The Mission Driven Business podcast was born out of his passion for helping social entrepreneurs create businesses with purpose and profit.

On the podcast, Brian talks with diverse entrepreneurs and the people who support them. Listeners hear stories of experiences, strength, and hope and get practical advice to help them build businesses that might just change the world, too.