Know Your Numbers or Bust: Why Bookkeeping Beats “More Marketing” (with Melissa Brockton)

We talk a lot about business development and marketing on The Seed—but here’s the truth: businesses rarely fail because of marketing. They fail because the owner doesn’t know the numbers.

This week I’m joined by Melissa Brockton, founder of Busy Bee Advisors. With a background in corporate accounting and auditing, Melissa has a gift for translating bookkeeping into plain English for small business owners and solopreneurs—so you can make decisions with confidence.

What We Cover

• The #1 reason businesses fail (hint: it’s not “no leads”)
• Exactly what bookkeeping should give you every month—without the jargon
• Simple reports to review (start with Profit & Loss by Month) to spot trends and red flags
• How Melissa left corporate, landed 26 clients in month one, and built a team of 17+ bookkeepers
• Why “absentee owner” is a myth—and what a healthy owner-finance rhythm looks like
• How bookkeeping protects you from cash leaks, fraud, and redundant costs
• Quick Wins You Can Do Today
• Pull a P&L by Month for the last 12 months. Circle any weird spikes/dips.
• Book a weekly Money Date (30 minutes) to review cash, AR/AP, and upcoming taxes.
• Separate business/personal accounts; pay yourself consistently.
• If books are behind, outsource (often <$250/month beats a $60k hire).
• Build a simple cash reserve (1–3 months of expenses).

Why It Matters

Marketing fuels growth; bookkeeping sustains it. If you don’t know your numbers, you can’t set targets, price correctly, or keep what you earn.

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Let’s keep cultivating growth and empowering women in business—together.