Your bank balance is a snapshot, not a scorecard. It doesn't separate money you've earned from money you owe — payroll taxes, vendor bills, loan draws. A business can look flush and still be losing money every month. Knowing the difference between cash and profit is where real financial control starts."

The 3 Numbers Every Owner Should Know Cold

1. Gross Margin by Job

2. Break-Even Point

3. Cash Conversion Cycle

Here's the truth nobody tells you upfront: a good exit doesn't start the year you decide to leave. It starts five years before that