The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance

Many business owners struggle to figure out which marketing strategies actually work. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, shares nine marketing lessons he's learned after nearly 12 years working with online businesses ranging from six figures to multi-seven figures. He explains why organic marketing channels often outperform paid ads, why tracking where your leads come from is essential, and how your business model should influence your marketing strategy. Parker also breaks down common mistakes business owners make, like confusing marketing with their sales funnel, overspending on advertising too early, or investing heavily in branding before their messaging is proven. He also explains how marketing decisions impact your financials, including why spending more than 30% of revenue on lead generation can make it difficult to maintain healthy profit margins. If you're trying to figure out which marketing strategies are actually worth your time and money, this episode will help you think more strategically about where to focus next. 02:36 Why organic marketing is often more profitable than paid ads 05:00 Why tracking where your leads come from is essential 07:07 The difference between marketing and your sales funnel 09:43 How your business model determines your marketing channels 13:18 Why paid advertising isn't right for every business 14:51 The marketing metrics every business owner should track 17:19 Why branding matters less than you think in the early stages 19:04 The 30% rule for marketing and lead generation costs 21:24 Why seven-figure businesses have a marketing advantage —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Have you ever looked at your tax bill and felt your stomach drop? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains how to avoid a surprise tax bill through proactive tax planning, accurate bookkeeping, and smart quarterly estimated tax payments. If you're a profitable business owner, understanding your tax liability before year-end is critical to avoiding penalties and cash flow stress. He breaks down the difference between tax compliance and tax planning, why waiting until tax season limits your options, and how strategies like S Corp elections and payroll setup must be implemented months in advance. Parker also explains how quarterly estimated taxes work, why clean financial reporting matters, and how better accounting support can dramatically reduce tax surprises. If you want to reduce your tax bill stress, avoid IRS penalties, and feel confident about what you owe, this episode is for you. 01:56 The 3 reasons you ended up with a surprise tax bill 02:19 How poor bookkeeping leads to tax surprises 04:46 Tax compliance vs. tax planning explained 05:31 Why S Corp strategy must be implemented early 08:04 The best time of year to do tax planning 10:21 Why profitable businesses should never be surprised by taxes 12:25 Why cheap accountants can cost you more 14:03 How quarterly estimated taxes reduce penalties 16:29 Why engaging with your accountant year-round matters —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Online businesses generating under $500,000 a year are struggling significantly more than high six- and seven-figure businesses, and the financial data clearly shows why. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down what the numbers from the Online Business Industry Report are revealing about revenue size and business stability. He explains why the $500K mark has become a major dividing line, why the $200K–$400K range can feel stable but remain vulnerable, and how scaling functions as risk management rather than ego-driven growth. You'll learn why smaller online businesses are feeling more pressure right now, how revenue scale impacts profitability and flexibility, and what it really takes to build a business that can absorb slower launches or shifts in buyer behavior without unraveling. If you want to build a business that can survive slower seasons without scrambling, this episode will show you why scaling matters. 1:22 Why businesses under $500K are struggling more 3:10 The profitability breakdown for smaller online businesses 4:14 How scaling creates financial buffer 6:26 The team and operational advantage at higher revenue levels 9:15 The hidden risk of the $200K–$400K "comfort zone" 13:04 Scaling as stability, not greed 16:26 The leadership shift from founder to CEO 18:49 Why long-term stability requires intentional growth 21:42 Building a more resilient online business —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Most online businesses don't need more complicated financial reporting. This episode of The Profit Pillars Show breaks down why adding more accounts, more detail, or more financial tools often creates confusion instead of clarity. Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains why growing businesses under $10 million frequently overbuild their bookkeeping systems and lose sight of the numbers that actually matter. As revenue increases, it's common to assume you need more detailed P&Ls, additional bank accounts, advanced dashboards, or even a fractional CFO but complexity alone doesn't improve decision-making. He walks through the difference between profit and cash flow, why profitable businesses can still feel tight on cash, and the specific transactions that reduce cash without reducing profit. He also explains how messy bookkeeping, excessive P&L detail, and switching to accrual accounting too early can distort financial visibility for service-based and online businesses. You'll learn what a clean profit and loss statement should actually show you, how to identify the expenses that most impact profitability, and why strong foundational bookkeeping makes tax planning and financial clarity much easier as your business grows. If you've ever felt like your financial reports are harder to understand than they should be, or like you're adding more systems without gaining more clarity, this episode is for you. 1:43 Why too much P&L detail creates confusion 3:56 The core financial metrics to focus on 6:42 Cash vs. accrual accounting for online businesses 9:49 Structuring your P&L for better financial clarity 13:28 Profit vs. cash flow explained 15:17 The biggest cash flow drains (that don't reduce profit) 16:44 Why proactive tax planning matters as you grow 18:57 How messy bookkeeping leads to expensive "fixes" 21:15 What a clean P&L should actually show you —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Most online businesses don't need more complicated accounting. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're explaining why accrual accounting is often unnecessary and how it can make your finances harder to understand. Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains the real difference between cash-basis and accrual accounting and why moving to accrual too early can increase cost, confusion, and risk for growing businesses. He walks through how accrual accounting changes the timing of revenue and expenses, why it often distorts cash flow visibility, and what actually makes sense for modern service providers, digital product businesses, and online entrepreneurs. He also covers the specific situations where accrual is required, including inventory-based businesses, investor-backed startups, and companies that hit IRS revenue thresholds. If you've ever felt confused by your financial reports, struggled to clearly see your cash flow, or questioned whether your accounting setup is making things harder than it needs to be, this episode will bring clarity. 1:38 Cash-basis vs. accrual accounting explained 4:01 How accrual changes revenue and expense timing 6:02 Why accrual adds complexity and cost 10:19 The cash flow visibility problem with accrual 13:00 The oversight most small businesses don't have 16:06 Why forecasting should be separate from bookkeeping 18:23 When accrual accounting actually makes sense 23:23 Why most online businesses should keep accounting simple —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

There's a profit killer hiding in a lot of small businesses and it's not your marketing, pricing, or ad spend. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're digging into how leadership directly affects profitability in online and modern small businesses. In this episode, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down the real connection between leadership and financial performance. He shares how issues like employee turnover, unclear roles, constant pivots, and indecision show up in your numbers (especially in growing six- and seven-figure businesses with small teams). If you've ever wished your team ran smoother, your labor costs felt more under control, or your business didn't feel so chaotic behind the scenes, this episode is for you. 3:41 Why leadership directly impacts profitability 4:49 The real cost of employee turnover in small businesses 8:06 Role clarity, inefficiency, and rising labor expenses 10:45 Why constantly changing strategies makes your business expensive 12:57 Why "boring" businesses scale better 14:22 Indecision, tough conversations, and protecting profitability 16:18 Leadership skills and scaling a six- or seven-figure business —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

The accounting world is changing fast, and most small business owners won't realize it until something breaks. Accountants are harder to find, firms are being bought up by private equity, and AI-powered accounting is being marketed as a cheaper, faster solution often without business owners understanding the risks. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down what's actually happening inside the accounting industry and how those changes affect small and online business owners. He explains why the accountant shortage matters, how burnout and broken firm culture lead to costly mistakes, and what private equity ownership really means for service quality and pricing. Parker also walks through the growing push toward AI-driven accounting and advisory services, clarifying when technology and higher-level support can be helpful and when they simply add unnecessary risk, cost, or complexity. If you're trying to make smart decisions about bookkeeping, taxes, and accounting support as your business grows, this episode gives you the context you need before choosing who to trust with your numbers. 1:38 The accountant shortage and what the data says 2:40 Why accounting firm culture is broken (and how that impacts you) 5:32 Private equity buying accounting firms and what it means for service and pricing 8:17 The AI arms race in bookkeeping and taxes 9:46 The shift toward advisory services (tax planning + CFO offers) 11:20 What these industry shifts mean for modern small business owners 13:08 The real risk of working with burned-out accountants 15:21 What to watch for if your firm is acquired by private equity 18:27 The biggest AI red flag accounting firms are using to sell 20:13 When tax advisory and fractional CFO services actually make sense 23:25 The takeaway: why cheap accounting creates expensive problems —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

A lot of online business owners are tracking numbers every day but still don't feel clear on their finances. Revenue looks good. Money is coming in. Yet cash feels tight and decisions still feel reactive. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down the core financial metrics that actually matter for online and modern small businesses. He explains what revenue really means on your P&L, why profit is the clearest signal of business health, and how cash flow fits into the picture. Parker also explains why most growing businesses don't need complicated financial systems or a fractional CFO. Instead, he walks through how tracking a small set of metrics creates clarity and better decision-making as a business scales. If you want to understand your numbers without overcomplicating your business and feel more confident about profit, cash, and growth, this episode is for you. 4:56 Metric #1: Revenue: why your P&L matters more than Stripe or PayPal 6:33 How revenue tracking should guide spending and hiring decisions 7:51 Metric #2: Profit: the fastest way to assess business health 8:48 How to diagnose whether profit issues come from sales or expenses 11:08 Metric #3: Cash flow: why profit doesn't equal cash in the bank 12:27 How distributions, loans, and taxes quietly drain cash 15:36 Metric #4: Cash reserves: why three months of expenses is the goal 18:11 How cash reserves change risk tolerance and decision-making 20:08 Metric #5: Labor and marketing costs: the biggest profit drivers 23:29 How labor costs reveal pricing and efficiency problems 27:36 Bonus metric: Average client value and why it matters for growth —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

A lot of business owners hire contractors because it feels easier, safer, and more flexible than hiring employees. The problem is that many don't realize when that setup starts creating legal risk, operational headaches, and long-term instability. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down the biggest red flags to watch for when hiring contractors. He explains why full-time contractors are often misclassified, how state employment laws factor into contractor risk, and why the responsibility always falls on the business owner (not the contractor) when things go wrong. Parker also walks through how leaning too heavily on contractors can increase turnover, slow down internal operations, and make it harder to build a strong company culture. He challenges the assumption that employees are dramatically more expensive and explains why, for core internal work, employees often deliver better long-term value as a business grows. If you're running a profitable online or modern small business and want fewer compliance surprises, better team stability, and a stronger operational foundation, this episode is for you. 1:04 Why employees often work better for internal operations 1:20 Which roles should remain contractors 2:07 The downside of running a business entirely on contractors 3:00 Why state employment laws matter 4:17 Why California contractor laws increase risk 5:17 The red flag of full-time U.S.-based contractors 6:49 How misclassification leads to audits and back taxes 7:01 Why employees reduce turnover 8:23 Why benefits matter for attracting talent 9:48 The real cost difference between contractors and employees 12:19 Why time zones matter for operations 13:21 Why culture is hard to build with contractors 16:01 Which work should stay project-based —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Most business owners think their accountant is the most important financial hire they'll ever make. The problem is that even the best accountant can only work with the numbers they're given. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains why the quality of your bookkeeping has a bigger impact on your taxes, profitability, and long-term growth than most business owners realize. Parker breaks down how bookkeeping mistakes quietly inflate tax bills, why balance sheets are often ignored, and how accurate monthly financials allow for real tax planning instead of last-minute compliance. He also explains why cheap, non-specialized bookkeeping becomes more dangerous as your business grows. If you're running a profitable online or modern small business and want cleaner numbers, lower taxes, and better financial decisions, this episode is for you. 1:17 Why bookkeeping is more important than most business owners think 3:23 How messy books limit what your accountant can do 6:41 Common bookkeeping mistakes that increase taxes 10:00 How accurate books enable proactive tax planning 11:20 Why the balance sheet matters more than you've been told 15:55 Why niche bookkeeping leads to better financial clarity 21:42 Why knowing your numbers is a competitive advantage —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Pricing is one of the most common things online business owners second-guess as their business grows. Many assume that switching to high ticket or low ticket offers will fix revenue issues, without fully understanding the tradeoffs involved. In this episode, Parker Stephenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down how high ticket and low ticket offers actually work in practice. He explains the advantages and drawbacks of each, and how factors like audience size, lead generation, and customer expectations should guide pricing decisions. If you sell courses, memberships, coaching, or services and aren't sure whether your current pricing still makes sense, this episode will help you think more clearly about your offer and what's sustainable long term.  1:40 Why "high ticket vs low ticket" is the wrong question to ask 2:47 The real advantage of low ticket offers 4:51 Why low ticket offers require volume to work 5:35 The real advantage of high ticket offers 6:07 The hidden costs of high ticket pricing 8:21 How audience size should influence pricing decisions 11:42 How lead generation affects offer sustainability 14:07 Why customer experience should drive price and delivery 17:33 Why complex problems usually require higher-priced offers 20:40 When economic conditions require offer or pricing changes 23:00 Why businesses struggle when offers are built around what the owner wants —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Running an influencer business isn't just about creating content or landing brand deals. As income grows, the financial side of the business gets more complex and that's where a lot of creators get stuck. In this episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) talks through what an influencer business really looks like behind the scenes and how to manage it more intentionally. He covers why influencers need to think like business owners, how to handle inconsistent income, and what actually helps create stability over time. If you have an audience and are trying to turn that into a real, sustainable business, this episode will help you think more clearly about your money and your next steps. 1:38 Why influencers must think like business owners 5:12 Treat your influencer business like a business, not a cash machine 6:46 Budgeting for expenses and building a team 8:36 Why most influencers don't need a business manager 14:16 Diversifying revenue beyond sponsorships 16:11 Building cash reserves for slow months 17:56 Turning influencer profits into investments 21:00 Final thoughts on freedom, flexibility, and long-term wealth —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Managing cash flow between launches can be one of the trickiest parts of running a digital product or online coaching business. This episode breaks down how to stay financially stable all year long. In the episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down what a launch really is in the online business world and why it creates such dramatic revenue swings. He explains how to build more financial stability by using cash reserves, annual launch planning, and a simple budget. He also shares why understanding your average monthly revenue and expenses is essential for staying profitable in the months between launches. If you've ever struggled with the slower months between launches or wondered how to keep your cash flow steady, this episode will give you the clarity you need. 0:30 What "launching" actually means in the online business space 1:20 How cash flow differs in service-based vs. launch-based businesses 2:04 How corporate launches compare to online launches 4:00 Why live launches outperform evergreen funnels 6:10 How launch spikes appear in your P&L 7:12 Why in-between months feel financially stressful 7:56 How saving three months of expenses stabilizes cash flow 10:23 Using strong launch months to build cash reserves 13:18 Why a yearly launch calendar reduces financial surprises 14:02 How forecasting and budgeting support predictable profitability 15:51 Why understanding your averages reveals sustainability 18:20 How averages clarify whether your launch strategy is working 19:05 The financial systems that make launch-based businesses less volatile —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

A lot of online business owners felt like 2025 was a rough year. Leads were harder to get, sales felt slower, and many people started questioning whether something was wrong with their business. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, looks at whether 2025 was actually a bad year for online businesses or if it just felt that way. Parker breaks down what he means by an online business and shares what he's seeing across the hundreds of businesses Evolved Finance works with. He explains why smaller businesses were hit the hardest, why mid-sized businesses held up better, and why many seven-figure businesses finally stabilized in 2025 after tough years in 2023 and 2024. The episode also covers why lead generation has gotten harder since the pandemic, why ads cost more, and what business owners may need to rethink heading into 2026. If you've been wondering whether your business is struggling because of something you're doing or because the market has changed, this episode will help put things into perspective. 0:00 Was 2025 the worst year for online businesses? 1:35 What counts as an online business 3:35 Why Evolved Finance created the industry report 4:46 Data vs how business owners feel 6:37 Why lead generation got harder 9:03 Why businesses under $500K struggled most 9:32 Why $500K–$1M businesses held up better 10:47 Why revenue drops hurt small businesses more 17:26 The biggest problem online businesses faced in 2025 21:36 The two paths businesses face in 2026 23:47 Why profitability may matter more than growth 25:25 Why more businesses are moving upstream 33:29 How AI could impact software costs —----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

If you've ever felt embarrassed, overwhelmed, or behind when it comes to the financial side of your business, this episode will show you how to finally build the skills you need to feel more confident with your money. In this episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) covers: Why your identity affects how you handle money The six core financial skills every entrepreneur needs How to build confidence with numbers even if it doesn't come naturally If you've been avoiding your numbers because you don't feel like a numbers person, this episode will show you how to change that and take control of your finances. [0:38] Why "I'm not a numbers person" hurts your business [1:55] Every entrepreneur needs some financial literacy [3:00] Parker's story of going from creative to CEO of an accounting firm [6:00] Learning spreadsheets and numbers through real-world experience [9:00] Entrepreneurship as problem solving and personal development [10:12] Tip #1: Separate business and personal finances [11:29] Tip #2: Take your bookkeeping more seriously [13:06] Tip #3: Learn how to read your P&L [15:45] Tip #4: Know your average monthly expenses [16:21] Tip #5: Know your average monthly revenue [17:52] Tip #6: Build a forecast and budget [22:08] Why shifting your identity makes financial skills easier [23:49] When forecasting becomes essential, especially around $500K —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Thinking about starting a coaching or consulting business? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, breaks down what these business models actually look like and what you need to consider before diving in. In this episode, Parker covers: • The real pros and cons of launching a coaching or consulting business • Why lead generation takes longer than most new coaches expect • The key questions to ask yourself before you go all in If you've ever wished you had real-world financial guidance and smarter business strategies, this episode is for you. 0:00 Should you launch a coaching or consulting business? 2:33 Why coaching and consulting have low startup costs 4:13 How these models generate high profit margins 5:08 The biggest challenges in today's coaching market 6:10 Why broad coaching niches are tough to break into 6:43 What it takes to scale beyond yourself 8:53 Why lead generation is the hardest part of coaching 11:19 Questions to ask before launching a coaching business 11:40 How content, networking, and outreach help you get clients 16:54 Why many coaches start on the side before going full-time —--------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —--------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —--------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —--------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Scaling an online business can feel confusing when every entrepreneur swears by a different "proven" model. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains what scalability really means for online entrepreneurs and how to choose a business model that truly fits your audience, your expertise, and your long-term goals. Parker dives into why so many business owners assume courses and memberships are the most scalable online business models, and why those offers only work when they align with the value of the problem you solve and the needs of your customers. He also shares how Evolved Finance discovered that their clients didn't want DIY resources (they wanted high-touch financial support) leading the company to scale through systems, trained account managers, and a service-first approach. You'll also learn the four key questions that reveal whether your current offer is actually scalable, how lead generation impacts your business model more than you might realize, and why every type of offer (courses, memberships, services, and hybrid programs) comes with its own challenges and advantages. If you've ever wished you had real-world financial guidance and smarter business strategies, this episode is for you. 2:35 Why online business owners are obsessed with scalability 3:39 Why your offer determines your ability to scale 4:57 The misconception about courses and memberships 6:41 What customers really want from you 9:59 How Evolved Finance scaled a service-based model 12:59 Four questions to find your ideal business model 19:20 Why lead generation must match your offer 24:39 Every business model has challenges —----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Ever wondered if now is the right time to launch a course or membership site? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're breaking down what it really takes to make these business models work as we head into 2026. In this episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) covers: Why courses and memberships were easier to run years ago and what's changed. The three key questions to ask before launching: audience size, customer demand, and lead generation. How to adapt your offer for 2026 with community, accountability, and clear results. If you've been thinking about adding a course or membership to your business, this episode will help you figure out if it's the right move and how to make it profitable in today's market. 00:00 When should you launch a membership site or a course? 01:08 Why the online education space has changed 05:32 Do you have a large enough audience? 09:00 Do your customers actually want a course or membership? 11:12 Why lead generation is key for long-term growth 14:34 How courses are shifting toward hybrid coaching programs 17:03 The importance of community in modern membership models 19:00 Why strong offers and real results matter most --------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. --------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn --------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. --------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

One of the biggest expenses in any small business is your team, but how do you know if you're spending the right amount? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down how to analyze your labor costs, what healthy payroll percentages look like, and how to tell if your team expenses are hurting your profits. Parker explains why labor is one of the four key Profit Pillars, what benchmarks to use for online and service-based businesses, and how to separate your own salary from your team's costs to get a clear financial picture. He also shares how pricing, offer structure, and operational efficiency all affect your labor ratio and why tightening systems can often save more than cutting payroll. By the end of the episode, you'll understand how to evaluate your team expenses, set realistic payroll goals, and make smarter decisions about hiring, pricing, and profitability. If you've ever wondered whether your payroll is too high, or how to build a team without shrinking your margins, this episode is for you.  0:46 Why team spending has the biggest impact on profitability 1:33 How modern online businesses rely on teams to scale 4:39 Ideal labor-cost percentages for online vs. service businesses 7:21 How to calculate your labor ratio 8:09 Questions to ask if labor feels too high 10:14 How owner payroll affects your true labor costs 11:44 One-time projects vs. monthly contractors 12:57 How pricing impacts your ability to hire profitably 14:13 Why too many offers inflate expenses 16:06 When marketing overload spreads your team thin 19:38 Overpaying for roles that don't add revenue 23:19 Contractors vs. employees: which model lowers costs 25:00 The hidden downside of profit-sharing 26:49 How better systems reduce the need to overhire --------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. --------------- 📘 Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn --------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. --------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance 🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Hiring your first employee can feel like one of the biggest and scariest steps in entrepreneurship. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down exactly how to know when it's time to move from using contractors to bringing someone on your team full-time. Parker explains the legal, financial, and operational signs that you're ready for that next stage of growth. You'll learn how to recognize when you're legally required to classify someone as an employee, why too many contractors can actually cost more than one dedicated team member, and how building culture early helps your business run more smoothly. He also shares practical insights on how hiring a "right-hand" person can transform your day-to-day operations—freeing you up to focus on revenue, strategy, and long-term growth. If you've been juggling contractors, feeling stretched too thin, or wondering how to build a real team culture, this episode will help you take that next confident step toward sustainable success. If you've ever wanted clear, real-world guidance on when to hire, how to stay compliant, and how to build a stronger foundation for your small business, this episode is for you. 2:00 Legal obligation: contractor vs employee (and state-by-state risk) 3:40 Why stricter rules (e.g., California) make misclassification expensive 6:38 Too many contractors? When one employee is cheaper and more efficient 8:20 What to keep as contractors vs bring in-house for daily operations 10:30 Do you need a right-hand person to reduce overwhelm? 12:40 Building culture in a small business and why it matters 15:32 Leadership & culture development lessons from Evolved Finance 16:18 Stepping out of day-to-day delivery to scale your service 18:45 Evolved Finance's first hire and path to a 15-person team 20:08 The 5-question checklist to decide if you're ready 21:06 Payroll made easy (tools Parker recommends) ----------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Should your business accountant be a CPA, or is an Enrolled Agent (EA) a better fit for your small business taxes? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're breaking down the real differences between these accounting designations so you can choose the right professional for your business. In this episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) covers: Why not every great tax professional is a CPA and what the CPA designation really means. The key differences between a CPA, Enrolled Agent (EA), tax attorney, and PTIN holder. How to choose the best accountant for your small business based on experience, responsiveness, and year-round tax planning. If you've ever struggled to understand the difference between a CPA, Enrolled Agent, or tax attorney, this episode breaks it all down so you can choose the best fit for your small business taxes. 0:27 – Why "CPA" became shorthand for "accountant" 1:13 – What the CPA designation means (and doesn't mean) 2:53 – How CPAs fit into corporate roles vs. tax prep for entrepreneurs 4:10 – What is an Enrolled Agent (EA)? 5:42 – When a tax attorney makes sense—and when it's overkill 7:26 – What a PTIN allows (and doesn't) 8:53 – Why DIY or unlicensed tax filing is risky 11:24 – Risks of volume-based, low-fee firms 12:10 – How proactive planning saves you more at filing   ----------------------- 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------------- 📌 About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------------- 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

No business owner wants to be surprised by a big tax bill at the end of the year. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're breaking down how to plan ahead, save strategically, and work with your accountant to avoid tax season stress. Parker Stevenson, CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars, explains why quarterly estimated tax payments are the key to staying ahead, how accurate monthly bookkeeping gives you the clarity to forecast taxes with confidence, and why separating your tax savings from your regular business savings helps protect your cash flow all year long. If you've ever wished you had real-world financial guidance and smarter business strategies, this show is for you. 1:52 Why quarterly estimated taxes prevent year-end panic 3:32 Using monthly bookkeeping to estimate your tax bill 4:43 How much of your profit to save for taxes 10:11 Why proactive tax planning starts mid-year 12:12 The truth about big tax bills and what they really mean ----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Understanding quarterly tax estimates is one of the biggest challenges small business owners face. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) explains exactly how quarterly taxes work, how accountants calculate them, and what you can do to avoid IRS penalties while protecting your cash flow. Parker walks through why taxes feel so different once you start running your own business, how the IRS safe harbor rule keeps you compliant, and why overpaying your estimates can actually hurt your bottom line. He also shares what to do if your income drops mid-year and how to plan ahead when your profits start to grow. By the end of the episode, you'll know how to manage your quarterly estimates with confidence and keep more of your money working for your business. If you've ever felt confused or stressed about quarterly taxes and just wanted someone to break it all down in plain English, this episode is for you. Timestamps: 1:41 The risks of trying to calculate and pay taxes on your own 4:08 How accountants determine your quarterly tax estimates 7:07 Understanding the IRS safe harbor rule 9:07 Why paying more than required can hurt cash flow 9:35 What to do if your business earns less than the previous year 14:01 Why estimates don't need to be recalculated every quarter 15:08 Planning ahead when your income is growing quickly 16:39 How estimates reduce stress and avoid penalties 🔔 SUBSCRIBE Subscribe to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. 🤝 Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Bookkeeping mistakes cost small business owners time, money, and peace of mind, but they're easy to avoid once you know what to watch out for. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) reveals the most common mistakes small business owners make when working with a bookkeeper and how to avoid them. From relying too much on bookkeeping software to paying for unnecessary weekly updates, Parker explains how these missteps waste money, create stress, and leave you with unreliable numbers. You'll learn why cash-based bookkeeping keeps things simpler in the early stages, why separating business and personal finances is a non-negotiable, and why choosing the cheapest bookkeeper almost always backfires. By steering clear of these mistakes, you'll protect your business from messy records, costly cleanups, and unnecessary headaches — and set yourself up with clear, trustworthy financial data you can actually use to grow.  0:00 Why most small business owners struggle with bookkeeping 1:43 Mistake #1: Expecting bookkeeping software to handle everything 6:08 Mistake #2: Moving to accrual accounting too early 9:47 Mistake #3: Paying for weekly bookkeeping when monthly is enough 10:54 Why monthly bookkeeping is the right cadence for most businesses 16:07 Mistake #4: Mixing business and personal finances 17:18 Mistake #5: Choosing the cheapest bookkeeper available 18:14 Why quality bookkeeping saves time, money, and stress ----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Virtual accounting firms have become increasingly popular, offering convenience and tech-enabled solutions for business owners. But are they always trustworthy? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) explains what to watch for before handing your books over to a remote provider. You'll hear the story of a well-known tech-backed firm that collapsed, leaving clients with incomplete records, and learn why the real issue isn't whether a firm is virtual, but how it's structured. Parker breaks down five major red flags: not owning your bookkeeping data, overreliance on AI without skilled oversight, heavy overseas outsourcing, pricing that raises questions about quality, and firms that only communicate by email. He also highlights what reliable providers do differently, secure systems, strong U.S.-based teams, and proactive communication. If you've ever questioned whether a virtual accounting firm can truly support your business, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need. 0:32 How a tech-backed accounting firm failed its clients 2:22 The real issue with virtual accounting isn't being remote 3:03 Red flag #1: Not owning your bookkeeping data 5:42 Red flag #2: Overreliance on AI instead of skilled humans 8:41 Red flag #3: Heavy outsourcing of accounting work overseas 10:56 Red flag #4: Pricing that's too good to be true 13:35 Red flag #5: Only communicating by email ----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Think bookkeeping is just about tracking expenses? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) explains exactly what a professional bookkeeper should be doing each month for your online business. You'll learn why categorizing transactions requires nuance, why reconciliations are non-negotiable, and which adjustments most bookkeepers miss (like payroll, merchant fees, and refunds). Parker also breaks down what your bookkeeper shouldn't be doing and how to know if your current setup is giving you the clarity you need. If you've ever wondered whether your bookkeeping is really supporting your business growth, this episode will show you what to expect. 1:42 The essential monthly bookkeeping process explained 4:28 Why proper transaction categorization matters 7:55 Reconciling accounts the right way 11:10 Adjustments most bookkeepers overlook 16:48 Delivering reports you can actually use 20:15 What your bookkeeper shouldn't be doing 23:40 Signs your bookkeeping setup isn't working —----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —-----------------------  Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Aiming for the right profit margin is one of the biggest questions online service-based business owners face. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down what healthy margins really look like for these types of businesses, how they shift as your business grows, and why tracking them consistently matters. Discover how team costs shape profitability, the role bookkeeping plays in smart decision-making, and what makes service businesses stable and sustainable over the long run. If you've ever wondered whether your profit margins are where they should be, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need. 0:00 Profit margins for online service businesses vs. digital products 2:15 How team costs impact your bottom line 4:30 Early-stage margins when you're doing all the work yourself 6:40 What margins look like as you grow and hire a team 8:30 Why bookkeeping and P&L reviews matter most 11:20 Applying the Profit Pillars framework to service businesses 14:05 The stability and long-term value of service-based businesses ----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Are you making enough profit in your online business or just spinning your wheels chasing revenue? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, we're breaking down what a healthy profit margin looks like specifically for digital creators and online businesses, and why this number tells you far more about the health of your business than revenue alone. In this episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) explains what defines a digital creator or online business and why that matters for your margins. He also shares the profit margin benchmarks we recommend after working with hundreds of entrepreneurs in this space and shows why focusing on profitability is far more valuable than obsessing over top-line revenue. By the end of this episode, you'll know exactly what profit margin range to aim for in your business, how to calculate it, and what that means for your growth. 0:00 Intro / Welcome 0:00:56 What defines a digital creator or online business 0:04:57 The profit margin benchmark for digital creators and online businesses 0:05:40 Why profit margin is more important than your revenue number alone 0:06:27 How to calculate your profit margin 0:08:21 Common expenses that erode profit margins for online entrepreneurs 0:16:24 Why cutting expenses isn't always the best path to improving profitability —----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. —----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

A financial forecast isn't just a spreadsheet, it's a strategic plan that helps you see where your business is headed and make decisions with confidence. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down how coaching business owners can create a realistic and useful forecast, even if numbers aren't your favorite part of running your business. You'll learn why forecasting matters, how to approach it without overcomplicating things, and how it can guide everything from your spending to your growth goals. 0:00 Why financial forecasting matters for coaching businesses 1:43 What Parker learned about forecasting from corporate finance 3:15 How forecasting for an online business is different from product-based businesses 6:21 Setting clear revenue goals to guide your forecast 10:34 Mapping out offers, pricing, and realistic sales volume 12:09 Why your personal income needs should shape your forecast 14:34 A simple way to estimate taxes and account for expenses 18:07 Why forecasting is more than just plugging numbers into a spreadsheet 22:02 Accounting for seasonality and client demand fluctuations —----------------------- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence → https://www.youtube.com/c/YourChannelName?sub_confirmation=1 —----------------------- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn —----------------------- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. —----------------------- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ  

Hiring a bookkeeper isn't just about data entry, it's about having a financial partner who helps you stay organized, informed, and ready to make confident business decisions. In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) explains exactly what to look for when choosing a bookkeeper for your business. You'll learn the key services they should provide, the red flags to watch out for, and how the right bookkeeper can work hand-in-hand with your tax accountant to set your business up for success. If you're wondering when to hire a bookkeeper, what they should actually be doing for you, or how much to budget, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence to make the right choice. 0:00 Why choosing the right bookkeeper matters for your business 0:50 What a bookkeeper actually does and when to hire one 5:09 Certifications, budgeting, and how much bookkeeping should cost 9:10 Why DIY bookkeeping and cheap providers can hurt your business 11:54 What should be included in professional bookkeeping services 15:28 Security, organization, and responsiveness — signs of a good bookkeeper 21:28 Why your bookkeeper and tax accountant should work together (but stay separate) ----- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn ----- About the Show The Profit Pillars Show by Evolved Finance gives entrepreneurs the guidance and clarity they wish they had sooner. Each episode delivers actionable advice based on Parker's years of experience helping business owners grow stronger, more profitable businesses. ----- Other Ways to Connect with Us 📸 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ 💼 LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/company/evolved-finance🎧 Listen on Spotify → https://open.spotify.com/show/6ggjihbD5VfKhhjkth32pZ

Looking for a tax accountant who does more than just file your taxes? In this episode of The Profit Pillars Show, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) breaks down what small business owners should look for when hiring a tax accountant, whether you're just starting out or managing a thriving 6-figure online business. Discover how to identify the right financial partner for your business, what qualifications actually matter, and how to avoid common pitfalls when bringing on accounting support. If you've ever felt unsure about how to pick the right tax accountant, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need. 0:00 Why hiring a tax accountant is different from hiring other contractors 2:56 What tax accountants actually do for small business owners 5:58 How much to budget for an accountant at different stages of business growth 8:30 Tax planning vs. tax prep and why great accountants go beyond form-filing 10:50 CPA vs. EA - what the differences are and what really matters 16:34 Tax preparer vs. tax strategist and how to know which one your business needs 20:03 Solo accountant vs. tax firm and the pros and cons for entrepreneurs ----- SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn

We're back! 🎉 Welcome to The Profit Pillars Show, the podcast for online entrepreneurs and small business owners who want straight-to-the-point advice on money, operations, and strategy. In this first episode, Parker Stevenson (CEO of Evolved Finance and author of Profit Pillars) shares why we rebranded the podcast, what's been happening behind the scenes, and what you can expect moving forward. If you've ever wished you had real-world financial guidance and smarter business strategies, this show is for you. 00:00 Welcome back to The Profit Pillars Show 01:07 Why we took a break & what's been happening at Evolved Finance 03:03 How the Profit Pillars book inspired the rebrand 05:38 What to expect from future episodes 09:41 Our commitment to actionable, no-fluff advice for entrepreneurs ------ SUBSCRIBE to The Profit Pillars Show for new episodes on money, operations, and strategy designed to help you grow your online or modern small business with confidence. ----- Resources & Links From This Episode 📘 Profit Pillars Book → https://evolvedfinance.com/book 💼 Learn more about Evolved Finance → https://evolvedfinance.com/services 📚 Finance Tools & Courses → https://evolvedfinance.com/learn

"I still learn every day. I haven't figured it all out yet, but I definitely am in a way better place than when I started." This week, Parker chats with Annie Frisbie about her financial journey. Annie Frisbie MA, IBCLC has been a lactation consultant in private practice in New York City since 2011. She is the author of Paperless Private Practice for Lactation Consultants, creator of the Lactation Private Practice Essential Toolkit, co-host of the Lactation Business Coaching Podcast, and produces online continuing education for lactation and birth professionals and clinicians. In 2018 Annie was honored with the US Lactation Consultant Association's President's Award, "awarding those that demonstrate extraordinary service to the association and profession." Annie has a BA from Franklin and Marshall College with a double major in American Studies & Theatre, Dance, and Film, and an MA in Cinema Studies from New York University. She lives in Queens, New York with her husband, their two children, and their two cats. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: https://https://www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Annie and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://instagram.com/paperlesslactation Download her free Nurture Your Business with Boundaries workbook: https://learn.paperlesslactation.com/course/boundaries

"Making sure that you make more than you spend, it is not always easy though, it's easier said than done. But that's how I managed my finances." This week, Parker chats with Kimberly Wilson about her financial journey. Kimberly is a psychotherapist in private practice, president of the Pigs & Pugs Project, and the designer of an eco-fashion line. For over 20 years, she's studied, practiced, and taught the art of tranquility to global audiences. As the host of the Tranquility du Jour podcast, author of multiple lifestyle-focused books, and creator of online courses and events, her mission is to help midlife women find more balance and beauty in their everyday. Kimberly has a master's in women's studies and social work and has been featured in The Washington Post, Cosmopolitan, Washingtonian, Huffington Post, US News & World Report, Yoga Journal, and Bella Grace. She lives in Washington, DC with rescue pugs and a longtime partner while also dreaming of Paris. Kimberly's obsessions include ballet, matcha lattes, snail mail, and buying more books than she could ever read. Join the tranquility movement and enjoy ongoing inspiration through her Love Notes. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: https://www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Kimberly and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tranquilitydujour/ Subscribe to her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/tranquilitydujour Listen to her podcast: https://kimberlywilson.com/podcast/

"Money will fuel things, just like food will fuel things. So I see money as an energy source now rather than something that should be feared." This week, Parker chats with Melissa Dlugolecki about her financial journey. Melissa Dlugolecki is a "regular person" who has created "irregular results". As a bereaved mother, she worked through the overwhelming pain of her grief and now hosts a globally top-ranked podcast, Grief and Guts, which is designed to show people what is possible for them, no matter what their circumstances are. Her work's mission is to show people their possibility through entrepreneurship, as she coaches and consults on business strategy, bringing creative ideas and always grounds into authenticity. She has built her own 6 & 7-figure businesses and has coached over 1000 others into their dream life. Melissa's entrepreneurial journey is both fascinating and full of surprises. Not only did she start amidst a painful grief journey, she was 100K in debt at the time she invested in her first business coach. As a former high school educator, her knowledge of business, blended with her resilience and ability to teach others, has been the perfect recipe for an incredibly unique, and powerful, path. In addition to building a business empire, she signed a publishing contract with Mike Michalowicz, New York Times best-selling author who has built several multi-million dollar companies and is currently working on her second book. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Every other week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: https://www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Melissa and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melissadlugolecki/ Visit her website: https://www.speakingofmelissa.com/

"I love numbers, analytics, the whole shebang. It's fascinating to me because with school it's either right or wrong, you get 1 answer. But in business, you get an answer and it may not be the answer you want but you can fix it, you can change it." This week, Parker chats with Mike Meiers about his financial journey. Mike is the founder of Songwriting for Guitar. His ultimate goal upon creation was to help songwriters, guitarists, and musicians alike hone in on their skills and monetize their creations! As the CEO, Mike offers coaching resources, hosts a podcast dedicated to this same goal (also entitled "Songwriting for Guitar"), and collaborates with other talented industry professionals to share as much knowledge with aspiring artists as possible! The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Mike and his business: Songwriting for Guitar: https://www.songwritingforguitar.com Follow Mike on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/songwritingforguitar/ Subscribe to Songwriting for Guitar Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/songwriting-for-guitar-podcast/id1527820620

"I had built great relationships and I had always operated with integrity and still do. And I really think those things pay off when you start your own business because people are ready to support you." This week, Parker chats with Richelle Fredson about her financial journey. Richelle is a book publishing coach and consultant who works with aspiring and published authors to create impactful book concepts & competitive book proposals. Many of Richelle's clients go on to receive multiple six-figure offers from their dream publishers. Her clients include Farnoosh Torabi, Chrissy King, Jennifer Racioppi, Terri Cole, Jen Winston and many more! She's also the host of the Bound + Determined podcast and the founder of The Book Proposal Blueprint Comprehensive Program. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Richelle and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richellefredson/ Sign up for her Insider's Guide to Getting Published, FREE training: https://richellefredson.com/training/

"As time goes on, you understand how to start reading the data and you get a sense of the levers you can pull if you need to change something, like if you need to make more money or if you need to cut expenses." This week, Parker chats with Becca Brown about her financial journey. Becca is the founder and CEO of Uppercase Industries, a consumer insights and marketing strategy company that specializes in building highly customized business growth and marketing launch plans that help clients reach and exceed their goals. Uppercase works with big-name brands such as Applegate and King Arthur Flour and small startups alike to grow their businesses with smart consumer targeting and creative messaging. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Becca and her business: Follow Uppercase Industries on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uppercase.industries/ Follow Becca on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/becc_brown/ Subscribe to Uppercase Industries Newsletter: https://www.uppercaseindustries.com/newsletter

"When I was younger I always wanted to save the money and then buy the thing. Now as a business owner sometimes that's challenging. Sometimes there's just things you need to do in your business that require a "now" moment." This week, Parker chats with Jordan Duvall about her financial journey. Jordan works with women-led personal brands to create dynamic visual brands that get them noticed so they can position themselves for next-level impact and income. She is an award-winning creative director who has worked for top Los Angeles entertainment advertising agencies, The Ant Farm, BLT & Associates, NBC & Universal and has consulted for celebrities, networks and some of the world's most recognized brands. Her work has been used to market blockbuster hits such as Lord of the Rings, Spider-Man, and The Voice. Jordan is the founder of Ignite Your Soul Brand, a consulting company that combines big agency strategy with neuro linguistic programming, ancient wisdom and color energetics so that business owners can build an in-demand brand with the perfect combination of personality and purpose – expressed in pics and pixels. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Jordan and her business: Follow her on Facebook: ​​https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100085043425296 Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/igniteyoursoulbrand/ Download the Brand Essence Guide: https://igniteyoursoulbrand.com/brand-essence-guide

"I just don't feel like the education was there from school, family, anything… Money just wasn't a topic people talk about." This week, Parker chats with Brooke Van Sickle about her financial journey. Brooke is the owner & founder of Journey to Kidlit, the online resource that teaches thousands of aspiring children's book writers from over 35 countries around the world about how to write and publish a children's book based on her own award-winning writing journey. She's also the owner of BiblioKid Publishing, an American hybrid publishing house that specializes in producing quality books for kids. As the senior editor of BiblioKid Publishing, Brooke has helped over 30 titles go on to receive 5-star reviews from children's book professional sites like Reader's Favorite, Reader's Choice, and Mom's Choice. She's also an award-winning picture book author, whose book received the 2020 Distinguished Favorite Preschool Picture Book. Learn more about Brooke and how to start your own publishing journey at journeytokidlit.com. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Brooke Van Sickle and her business: Like Journey to KidLit on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/journeytokidlit Follow Journey to KitLit on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/journeytokidlit/ Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/journeytokidlit

"I realized the massive potential, and the freedom and flexibility, that came from starting a business and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat." This week, Parker chats with Jamie DuBose about her financial journey. Jamie is an Email Revenue Strategist and the Founder and CEO of ZenplicityNow.com, a digital marketing agency that helps business owners monetize their email list -- without being weird or pushy. She helps service providers create and implement marketing strategies that are aligned with their vision and values instead of following a "one size fits all" approach to digital marketing & sales. Jamie is also a Navy wife and mom to 3 kids and 4 dogs and 1 cat, all of whom keep her lots of company while she's supporting clients from her home office in San Diego, CA. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Jamie DeBose and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamiedubose/ Follow Zenplicity on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Zenplicity/ Visit her website to get the Zen Marketing Method Cheat Sheet: https://zenplicitynow.com/

"In the online space I feel like there's a lot of women who, for some reason, are ashamed of their money or don't want to talk about it or even try to hide the success of it, so I try to be really open about finances." This week, Parker chats with Lauren Litt about her financial journey. Lauren is the owner and lead Social Media Manager at Lil Shameless Plug. Lil Shameless Plug is a social media management company dedicated to the curation and creation of quality content. If you don't like social media but know you need it for your business Lauren can help you create a masterful social media plan. Since opening, Lil Shameless Plus has had the pleasure of working with a variety of independent entrepreneurs, brick and mortars and even an Oscar Qualifying Film Festival! Lauren recently moved to Portland, OR with her hubby and 2 fur babies. Follow her on social! The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Lauren and her business: Take her quiz - Discover Your Social Media Cocktail!: https://www.lilshamelessplug.com/social-cocktail-quiz/ Check out her website: https://lilshamelessplug.com/ Follow her on Facebook: www.facebook.com/LilShamelessPlug Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lauren.litt/ Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauren-litt

"I was willing to always forgo money for the sake of doing the right thing… and I think having good principles and having good ethics has helped me stay in business." This week, Parker chats with Jess Tyson about her financial journey. Jess is a mother, author, speaker, community builder, and proud Director of Calm at Don't Panic Management. She founded Don't Panic in 2011, and became the first virtual assistant company to take a people-first approach to matchmaking between overworked executives and talented assistants. She's been growing her team of kind, generous, brilliant task-kickers ever since. In 2018, she wrote and published Panic Proof: How the Right Virtual Assistant Can Grow Your Business and Save Your Sanity, and has since launched Panic Proof Radio, the podcast, and the Panic Proof Blueprint, the one-day intensive, for struggling owners who need a hand with delegation best practices. Her life is often a whirlwind of wrangling her two young kids, speaking at events, organizing meetups, and building out her latest project, the Georgetown Collective, which is a carefully curated coworking and community space in the heart of Georgetown, CT. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Jess and her business: Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessostroff/ Sign up for the Panic-Proof Blueprint: https://dontpanicmgmt.com/panic-proof-blueprint/ Check out her podcast, Panic-Proof Radio: http://panicproofradio.com Download the mini-workbook: https://dontpanicmgmt.ac-page.com/blueprint-mini-workbook

"I was so passionate about the changes that I was able to create in my own family, that I felt this call to be able to help other people do the same thing and then I realized that I could make money doing it." This week, Parker chats with Tosha Schore about her financial journey. Tosha is on a mission to create a more peaceful world, one sweet boy at a time by supporting her clients to care for themselves, connect with their boy(s) deeply, set limits lovingly, and play wildly! She brings a burst of energy and optimism to parenting, and is an expert at simple solutions to what feel like overwhelmingly complicated problems. Through her online community and courses, Tosha helps break the isolation of modern parenting and lifts her client's confidence so they're better equipped to face the challenges of raising young boys. Tosha is the creator of all things Parenting Boys Peacefully, including her signature course, Out With Aggression, a six-week sprint to stop your boy's explosions and lift your parenting confidence. She is also co-author of Listen: Five Simple Tools to Meet Your Everyday Parenting Challenges, and a frequent guest expert on podcasts and at online and in-person conferences. You can find her at www.parentingboyspeacefully.com. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Tosha and her business: Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toshaschoreyourpartnerinparentingboys/ Subscribe to her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/ToshaSchoreYourPartnerInParenting Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toshaschore/ Sign up for The 10-Day Reconnect: https://parentingboyspeacefully.com/reconnect/

"Now money is just a tool to be able to do the things that I want to do, you know I may lose money but I'm going to make more money along the way." This week, Parker chats with Elizabeth Burrows about her financial journey. Elizabeth is an alumnus of North Vermillion High School and graduated magna cum laude from DePauw University with a degree in Political Science and Communications where she studied abroad at Oxford University. She went on to receive her Doctor of Jurisprudence from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. In 2014, after working in healthcare administration for eight years, Elizabeth started her own business, Burrows Consulting, Inc. where she has assisted numerous rural health clinics, federally qualified health centers, institutions of higher education, critical access hospitals, rural health associations, and other non-profits attain over $135,000,000 in grant funding and over $300,000,000 in enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement and 340B Shared Savings. She has worked with health care facilities in over 30 states and helped create over fifteen new federally qualified health center entities. Elizabeth was named a Fellow for the National Leadership Academy of Public Health and is a member of the Indiana State Bar Association. Elizabeth resides near her family farm in rural Indiana and enjoys spending time with her husband, Steve, and daughters, Eleanor age 12 and Amelia age 10. Together they love to travel anywhere! The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Every other week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Elizabeth Burrows and her business: Follow Burrows Consulting Inc. on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burrowsconsulting Follow Burrows Consulting Inc. on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/burrowsconsulting/ Follow Burrows Consulting Inc. on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/elizabethburrowsconsulting/ Follow Burrows Consulting Inc. on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/burrows-consulting-llc/ Visit Burrows Consulting Inc.'s Website: www.burrowsconsulting.net

"I was the type of person that going into debt was the only way that I could get to where I am today… now I have a much different view, I am definitely a saver nowadays." This week, Parker chats with Katie Glassman about her financial journey. Katie is that rare musician who possesses a combination of instrumental virtuosity and powerful musical expression. Holding six national championship titles, she is one of the country's most renowned and decorated Texas-style and swing fiddlers, as well as an accomplished songwriter, singer, and a highly sought after teacher. Over the years touring included playing at the Library of Congress, Festivals for the National Coalition of Traditional Arts, Australia, Italy, and France, and, oh a different state or country every weekend. Over this time, Katie recorded and released 5 full length albums! In 2018, Katie opened FiddleSchool.com as a resource to make the art of fiddling more accessible. Gaining so much fulfillment from teaching, she decided to take a break from touring and performing to build Fiddle School into a thriving community. Today, Fiddle School is a complete method for learning how to play the fiddle with an international community spanning the United States and four countries. Fiddle School has brought fiddling into the hands of folks who've dreamed of playing all their life, played as a kid and are returning to the instrument, and experienced players ready to level up. In 2023, Katie will be releasing Fiddle School Kids with a formal teacher training program. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Every other week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Katie and her business: Follow Fiddle School on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fiddle_school/ Follow Fiddle School on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LearntoFiddle Visit her website to sign up for a free fiddle tune lesson: https://fiddleschool.com/

"I knew I had to start investing time into becoming financially literate and regularly checking in with my numbers." This week, Parker chats with Belinda Weaver about her financial journey. Belinda (from Copywrite Matters) is a copy coach helping aspiring and working copywriters supercharge their income, create financial stability, and avoid career burnout. She believes the whole point of being your own boss is to create a job that's better than the one you left. With 10 years in the business of writing, Belinda has courses, coaching and mentoring that builds skills and confidence so more writers can ditch hustle and burnout and enjoy the journey of their work. An Aussie living in California with her pug, two daughters and husband (listed in order of neediness)… Belinda is obsessed with Doctor Who, English murder mysteries and making the perfect lemon curd. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Belinda and her business: Follow Copywrite Matters on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/copywritematters/ Follow Copywrite Matters on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copywritematters Connect with Belinda on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindaweaver/ Subscribe to Belinda's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/copywritematterstv Take her copywriter quiz: https://www.copywritematters.com/copy-biz-shortcut-quiz/

"I would not consider myself a numbers person… but now as a business owner, I'm slightly obsessed with numbers. I've been quickly learning to utilize numbers and analytics to my advantage." This week, Parker chats with Amanda Rango about her financial journey. Amanda is the Founder and CCO (Chief Creative Officer) of ARD Fashion Consulting in Columbus, Ohio. She is a well-rounded, accomplished Fashion Designer, leader, and lifelong learner. With over 20 years of industry experience, she climbed the corporate ladder while demonstrating drive, adaptability, and grit. Her background spans a variety of apparel categories, custom print development, and dynamic graphic artwork. Her top technical strengths are in trend forecasting, collection design, streamlining product development efficiencies and advocating for 3D Digital Product Creation for a more sustainable future of fashion. As an avid yogi and mother of three, she brings creativity, balance, and positive energy to her career and home life. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Amanda and her business: Visit her website: https://ard-consulting.com/ Follow ARD Fashion Consulting on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ard-fashion-consulting/

"You can't just build a system and think it's going to magically make things happen in your business… you have to actually use it." This week, Parker chats with Molly Mahoney about her financial journey. Molly Mahoney (known as The Prepared Performer) is a digital growth strategist who specializes in creating authentic video content and leveraging organic social and chat automation marketing to skyrocket client sales. After creating a video that reached one million people organically, she developed her signature "Go Live And Monetize" method. It combines her social media expertise, talent for scaling one-on-one relationships, and twenty years of performance experience on stages from New York to Las Vegas. Molly is the host of "Camera Confidence Live" and has hosted shows for content creator tools like Be.live, ManyChat, and InVideo, has been a speaker at events like Social Media Marketing World, Traffic & Conversion Summit, and the Conversations Conference, and has been featured in Inc magazine, Forbes, Entrepreneur and more. Her Children's book Finding My Awesome allows kiddos of all ages to celebrate their unique sense of awesome and live a life of confidence and joy. When she's not helping her clients attract a flood of leads, you can find her singing jazz with her bass-playing husband or teaching her kids #stand4joy from their home in California. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Molly and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepreparedperformer/ Like The Prepared Performer on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThePreparedPerformer/ Subscribe to her YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/thepreparedperformer Molly's Free Social Media Engagement Guide: https://molly.live/parker

"I've realized that I can make money and also do the things that I love." This week, Parker chats with Lisa Nunamaker about her financial journey. Lisa teaches budding designers about the beautiful world of garden design and landscape graphics in a fun and simple way. She is a garden design educator, writer, illustrator and speaker. After ten years of practicing as a landscape architect she realized that even though she adored designing, she loved inspiring others to design even more through her company: Paper Garden Workshop. The Bottom Line by Evolved Finance explores the financial journeys of some of the most successful online educators, thought leaders, influencers, and service providers in the online space. Each week, Parker sits down with a current Evolved Finance client to talk about their relationship with money and how their mindset has changed as their business has grown. To learn more about Evolved Finance: Follow us on iTunes and leave a review: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/evolved-finance/id1227529139 Download our free audio course: www.evolvedfinance.com/audiocourse Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/evolvedfinance/ To learn more about Lisa and her business: Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paper.garden.workshop/ Subscribe to her newsletter The Pencil Case: https://www.papergardenworkshop.com/pencil-case-opt-in