Lever 1 — Visibility

I have a live dashboard with key metrics (cash, margins, revenue).

My books are updated monthly and reconciled.

I can access performance data within minutes — not days.

Lever 2 — Forecasting

I forecast cash flow regularly.

I track actual vs. forecast monthly.

My leadership team makes decisions based on the forecast, not guesswork.

Lever 3 — Structure

Our financial systems (QuickBooks, payroll, reporting) are integrated.

There’s clear accountability for budgets and spending.

We have written SOPs for financial processes.

Lever 4 — Efficiency

We review vendor costs quarterly.

We track margins by product or service.

We identify and eliminate unprofitable activities.

Lever 5 — Profitability

We know our true gross margins.

We’ve modeled profit per client/product line.

We measure contribution margins, not just revenue.

Lever 6 — Cash Flow

We manage AR/AP with clear terms.

We monitor runway and burn weekly.

We maintain a cash reserve equal to 2–3 months’ expenses.

Lever 7 — Strategy

Our financial goals tie directly to company OKRs.

We review and adjust quarterly strategy based on metrics.

We understand how today’s choices impact valuation and exit readiness.