The secret to making your business finances actually interesting
My wife Thelma is obsessed with tennis.
Wimbledon fortnight? Practically a sacred holiday in our house. She knows all the players, all the stats, and exactly why the umpire raised an eyebrow in the second set.
Me? I don’t get it.
The scoring makes no sense (love means zero… which sounds nice, but isn’t?), the matches go on for hours, and frankly, I can’t tell my forehand from my Federer.
So when it’s on the telly — or when Thelma gives me a breathless rundown of a “thrilling” five-setter — I nod, smile…
…and completely zone out.
It’s only natural, right? We all tend to switch off from things we don’t fully understand.
And I see the same thing happen with business owners — especially when it comes to their finances.
Last week, I wrote about the ones who over-involve themselves — micro-managing every invoice, transaction and bank feed.
But there’s another type entirely: the owner who avoids the numbers altogether.
They run their business on gut instinct. They think a product is profitable… or that a new hire will probably pay off. But they’ve never actually checked the numbers.
Their accounts? Barely touched. Their bottom line? A bit of a mystery.
And the bookkeeper or accountant they pay each month? Ignored — until the last-minute scramble at year-end.
It’s not that they’re lazy, or bad managers, or financially irresponsible.
The truth is, they behave this way for the same reason I tune out of tennis:
They don’t understand it — so they quietly pretend it’s not happening.
And I get it. For many, the financial side of the business feels intimidating.
You didn’t start your company because you’re brilliant with spreadsheets. You started it because you love what you do — and you’re great at it.
So it’s no wonder the numbers don’t excite you… or even make much sense.
Unfortunately, tuning out of the financial side of your business is just as risky as micro-managing it.
When you don’t know your numbers, you can’t make confident decisions. You’re left guessing — hoping a product is profitable, or assuming you can afford that new hire or office move.
You’re flying blind.
And as the CEO, that’s a dangerous place to be. It’s like trying to steer a ship in thick fog, with no compass and no idea how close you are to the rocks.
Worse still, you’re opening yourself up to nasty surprises…
A product that’s quietly been losing money for months.
A service that’s become unprofitable without you realising.
A tax bill you didn’t see coming.
Or one day, you glance at your bank account… and realise there’s not enough left to make payroll. (This has happened to several business owners I know.)
None of this happens overnight. The warning signs were probably there — in the margins, in the cash flow, in the monthly reports.
But if you’re not looking, you’ll never see them.
And that’s how good businesses, run by smart, passionate people, end up failing.
If you’ve been tuning out of your finances, it’s not your fault — but it is holding your business back.
At Insight Associates, we can help.
When we work together, we take full ownership of your finance function — from bookkeeping and management accounts to strategic finance director support.
You’ll be able to safely ignore the day-to-day basics — like invoicing, bank reconciliations, and payroll — because we’ll manage them all to world-class standards. No chasing. No firefighting. No stress.
But we won’t stop there.
You’ll also get accurate, up-to-date numbers, clear forecasts, and regular reports you can actually use. And we’ll walk you through what they mean — in plain English — so you can make smart, confident decisions.
And here’s the twist: you’ll actually find it interesting.
Not because you’ve suddenly fallen in love with spreadsheets — but because the numbers will finally speak your language.
We’ll use them to explore the things you do care about: how to grow faster, make more money, and build a better business.
And over time, the mystery fades. The numbers stop being something to tune out of — and start becoming one of the most powerful tools in your business.
We’re not just your accountants. We’re your financial partners — helping you take control, gain clarity, and reach your business goals.
Ready to talk about how we can help you?
== > Email garry@insightassociates.co.uk to book a consultation with me or one of our specialists
== > Call us on 01279 647 447 to find out more
Warmly,
Garry
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