The Fuel Accounting blog page

Can Profit First Help You Avoid The 5 Most Common Cash Flow Mistakes Small Businesses Make??
Cash flow is the lifeblood of your business—but for many small business owners, it’s also the greatest source of stress. You may be hitting your revenue targets, landing new clients, or working harder than ever—yet still wondering:
“Where did all the money go?”

The Power of Niching Down: How Specialization Drives Profit
When you’re running a small business, it can feel counterintuitive—even risky—to turn away potential clients. But here’s the truth: trying to serve everyone is the fastest way to blend in, burn out, and bottom out. On the other hand, niching down—focusing your services on a specific audience or problem—can actually unlock higher profits, stronger referrals, and easier marketing. In this article, we’ll break down why specialization works, and how you can niche down with clarity and confidence.

Your First 30 Days with AI: A Beginner’s Guide for Business Owners
AI is no longer a luxury reserved for tech giants—it’s a practical, affordable, and game-changing tool for small business owners. But knowing where to start can be overwhelming. This guide is designed to help you spend your first 30 days with AI in a way that’s strategic, manageable, and impactful. Whether you run a boutique, a café, a consulting practice, or a local service business, here’s how to confidently begin your AI journey.

Why is it so STINKING HARD to learn something new?
Have you ever tried to learn something new—whether it’s a skill, a concept, or a habit—only to feel like you’re running in circles? I read an article from Dave Jennings on Linked In about the subject. Dave shared some profound insights he learned recently. So I credit part of the content from this article to what he shared.

Profit First for Seasonal Businesses: How to Stay Sane and Profitable All Year Long
So, let’s be real for a second: do you run a seasonal business? One that makes it rain money in July but feels like tumbleweeds and toast crumbs in February? If that sounds familiar, you’re not alone — and you’re definitely not doing anything wrong. Seasonal income is...

Let’s Build Something Better
If you haven’t yet, pick up a copy of “The Goal” by Eliyahu Goldratt. I spent a fair amount of time with the Golratt organization studying Eli’s Theory of Constraints, which fundamentally changed the way I thought about business and life. Eli had some unique views about business and relationships.

Recent Google AI Developments: What Small Businesses Need to Know
Staying ahead in technology can feel daunting for small business owners—but Google’s latest AI initiatives offer powerful, user-friendly tools that could streamline workflows, boost productivity, and even spark new ideas. Here’s a look at Google’s upcoming Gemini language model and three related AI efforts—Google AI Studio, Google Labs, and Notebook LM—and why they should matter to smaller organizations.

How Small Businesses Can Safeguard Against Evolving Cybersecurity Threats in 2025
As we step into 2025, small businesses with fewer than 10 employees face an increasing number of sophisticated cyber threats. The H1 2025 Threat Horizons Report from Google Cloud sheds light on how cybercriminals are targeting organizations of all sizes, but small businesses are especially vulnerable due to their limited resources.

How do Tariffs impact your Profit First process?
Applying Profit First principles can offer powerful strategies for small business owners navigating the cost pressures of tariffs. Here’s how the Profit First framework can help mitigate risk and maintain financial health in uncertain trade environments.

One Prompt to Rule Them All: The One Thing I Add to Every ChatGPT Prompt to Make It More Powerful
In the realm of artificial intelligence, guiding and shaping responses through specific framing is a potent tool. One effective approach is initiating a prompt with a clear and specific framing statement, such as “You are an expert in business strategy.” This technique unlocks AI’s potential to generate responses tailored to precise needs and contexts by setting parameters for behavior and expectations.