Ep 258 Scaling Success: Transforming Your Business into a Powerhouse with Courtney De Ronde

03/04/25 • 41 min

Profit Answer Man: Scaling with Profit First & Beyond

Scaling Success: Transforming Your Business into a Powerhouse with Courtney De Ronde

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Profit Answer Man! In this episode, we sit down with Courtney De Ronde, CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting, to discuss the crucial intersection of financial management and business growth. Many businesses struggle not with generating revenue but with understanding what their numbers mean and how to take action on them. That’s where Courtney and her Simple ScaleUp SystemTM come in, helping business owners move from financial confusion to confident decision-making.

If you’re looking to scale your business while keeping financial clarity, this episode is a must-listen.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How your financials tell the story of your business and why most accountants stop short of helping you act on them.
Why management consulting and financial expertise should go hand in hand for business success.
The Simple ScaleUp SystemTM and how it helps entrepreneurs translate financial insights into action.
How small businesses can bridge the gap between financial data and strategic decisions.
The key factors that separate thriving companies from those that struggle financially.

Key Takeaways:

Financial Reports Are Just the Beginning. Most business owners get financial reports but struggle to act on them. Courtney highlights how her firm goes beyond the numbers, ensuring business owners understand the "why" behind their profit margins.
The Missing Piece in Accounting – Business Strategy. Many accountants provide historical financial data but don’t connect the dots to operational decisions. Courtney’s firm helps entrepreneurs answer the big question: "Now that I know my financials, what should I do next?" This bridges the gap between data and strategy.
Scaling Requires Systems, Not Just Growth. Scaling a business isn’t just about increasing revenue—it’s about ensuring your systems, leadership, and financial clarity grow alongside it. The Simple ScaleUp SystemTM provides a structured framework for making scaling intentional and profitable.
Profitability Isn’t Just a Math Problem – It’s a Leadership Issue. Your profit and loss statement won’t explicitly tell you if you have poor leadership, a toxic culture, or inefficient systems—but it will show up in your bottom line. Courtney shares how business leaders can spot these inefficiencies early and take action before they eat away at profits.
CFO Services Aren’t Just for Big Companies. Many small businesses think they can’t afford financial leadership, but outsourced CFO services provide big-business financial strategy on a small-business budget. Whether through bookkeeping, tax strategy, or high-level consulting, having a financial expert on your team is a game-changer.

About Courtney De Ronde:

Courtney De Ronde is the CEO of Forge Financial and Management Consulting and the creator of the Simple ScaleUp SystemTM. With 20+ years as a CPA and 15 years in leadership, she helps business owners understand their numbers and take action toward growth. Her firm provides a mix of financial expertise and management consulting to help businesses and nonprofits scale successfully without financial blind spots.

When she’s not helping businesses thrive, Courtney enjoys road-tripping with her husband and three kids from their home base in Des Moines, Iowa.

Conclusion:

Scaling a business isn’t just about making more money—it’s about making smart, sustainable financial decisions. Courtney De Ronde delivers a refreshing perspective on the power of financial clarity, showing how combining numbers with strategy is the ultimate formula for success.

If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in financial reports but don’t know what to do next, this episode is for you.

Links:

Website: ForgeAhead.com

LinkedIn: in/CourtneyDeRonde

Facebook: /ForgeFMC

https://www.forgeahead.com/resources/simple-scaleup-system-e-book/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page

Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst

Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prof...

Scaling Success: Transforming Your Business into a Powerhouse with Courtney De Ronde

If you’re looking to scale your business while keeping financial clarity, this episode is a must-listen.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

How your financials tell the story of your business and why most accountants stop short of helping you act on them.
Why management consulting and financial expertise should go hand in hand for business success.
The Simple ScaleUp SystemTM and how it helps entrepreneurs translate financial insights into action.
How small businesses can bridge the gap between financial data and strategic decisions.
The key factors that separate thriving companies from those that struggle financially.

Key Takeaways:

Financial Reports Are Just the Beginning. Most business owners get financial reports but struggle to act on them. Courtney highlights how her firm goes beyond the numbers, ensuring business owners understand the "why" behind their profit margins.
The Missing Piece in Accounting – Business Strategy. Many accountants provide historical financial data but don’t connect the dots to operational decisions. Courtney’s firm helps entrepreneurs answer the big question: "Now that I know my financials, what should I do next?" This bridges the gap between data and strategy.
Scaling Requires Systems, Not Just Growth. Scaling a business isn’t just about increasing revenue—it’s about ensuring your systems, leadership, and financial clarity grow alongside it. The Simple ScaleUp SystemTM provides a structured framework for making scaling intentional and profitable.
Profitability Isn’t Just a Math Problem – It’s a Leadership Issue. Your profit and loss statement won’t explicitly tell you if you have poor leadership, a toxic culture, or inefficient systems—but it will show up in your bottom line. Courtney shares how business leaders can spot these inefficiencies early and take action before they eat away at profits.
CFO Services Aren’t Just for Big Companies. Many small businesses think they can’t afford financial leadership, but outsourced CFO services provide big-business financial strategy on a small-business budget. Whether through bookkeeping, tax strategy, or high-level consulting, having a financial expert on your team is a game-changer.

About Courtney De Ronde:

When she’s not helping businesses thrive, Courtney enjoys road-tripping with her husband and three kids from their home base in Des Moines, Iowa.

Conclusion:

If you’ve ever felt like you’re drowning in financial reports but don’t know what to do next, this episode is for you.

Links:

Website: ForgeAhead.com

LinkedIn: in/CourtneyDeRonde

Facebook: /ForgeFMC

https://www.forgeahead.com/resources/simple-scaleup-system-e-book/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page

Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst

Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/prof...

Previous Episode

Ep 257 The Most Important Numbers and Drivers with Lee Benson

The Most Important Numbers and Drivers with Lee Benson

Welcome to another episode of The Profit Answer Man, where we dive deep into the strategies and mindsets that drive business profitability and sustainable growth. Today, we’re joined by Lee Benson, a serial entrepreneur who has successfully built and sold multiple businesses, including a nine-figure exit to Textron.

Lee brings decades of experience in business strategy, leadership, and value creation. His passion for helping organizations increase their impact and profitability is evident in his work as the CEO of Execute to Win, a firm dedicated to enhancing organizational effectiveness.

If you’re a business owner looking to scale profitably while navigating growth challenges, you won’t want to miss this episode!

In this episode, you will learn:

How Lee took a failing company, assumed its debt, and turned it into a highly profitable venture.
The key lessons from scaling a business from $0 to a nine-figure exit.
Why hitting plateaus in business growth is normal and how to break through them.
The importance of aligning leadership with the needs of the company at different stages.
How to develop a sustainable growth strategy that maintains profitability.
The biggest mistakes entrepreneurs make when scaling and how to avoid them.

Key Takeaways:

Take Smart Risks and Own the Outcome – Lee turned a struggling company around by assuming its debt, securing customers, and focusing on value creation. Many entrepreneurs hesitate at the idea of taking on debt, but when done strategically, it can be a powerful tool for business growth.
Growth is Not Linear – Scaling a business involves hitting revenue plateaus before making the next big leap. Lee experienced these plateaus, such as being stuck at $8 million for a few years before unlocking the next growth phase.
Be the CEO Your Company Needs – One of the biggest lessons Lee shared is that business owners must evolve as leaders. Each stage of business growth requires different skills, mindsets, and strategies.
Focus on Profitability Over Revenue – A mistake many business owners make is chasing top-line revenue without ensuring profitability. Lee emphasized the importance of maintaining strong profit margins while scaling.
Execution is Everything – Scaling isn’t just about strategy; it’s about execution. Lee’s company maintained a 20%+ annual growth rate by continuously refining operations and executing with discipline.

Guest Bio:

Lee Benson is the founder and CEO of Execute to Win, a company dedicated to helping organizations maximize their value. He is a serial entrepreneur who has started and grown multiple businesses, including Able Aerospace, which he successfully sold to Textron in a nine-figure deal.

Lee is also a sought-after speaker, author, and podcast host of Show Your Value. His expertise lies in value creation, leadership, and execution, and he has been featured in major publications like The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and Inc.

Conclusion:

Scaling a business isn’t just about growth—it’s about profitable growth. Lee Benson’s journey demonstrates the importance of strategic risk-taking, leadership evolution, and disciplined execution.

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to break through revenue plateaus and build a high-value business, start by implementing the key lessons from this episode.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lee-j-benson/

https://www.etw.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ETW.executetowin

https://www.instagram.com/executetowin/

https://www.youtube.com/@execute-to-win

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page

Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst

Profit Answer Man Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/profitanswerman/

My podcast about living a richer more meaningful life: http://richersoul.com/

Music provided by Junan from Junan Podcast

Any...

Next Episode

Ep 259 Profitable Entity Structures with Alex Langan

Profitable Entity Structures with Alex Langan

In this episode of The Profit Answer Man, we sit down with Alexander Langan, an attorney and financial advisor who brings a unique perspective to wealth management and strategic financial planning. As the Chief Investment Officer of Langan Financial Group, Alex is well-versed in helping business owners build sustainable financial strategies.

Our conversation covers the importance of aligning financial, tax, and legal strategies, the impact of business entity structures on profitability, and how business owners can adopt a Profit First mindset—even if they don’t realize they’re already doing it.

If you're looking for ways to improve your business's financial health, ensure your advisors are working together effectively, and make smarter financial decisions, this episode is for you.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

Why business owners need a cohesive financial team consisting of a CPA, attorney, financial planner, and a business strategist.
How entity structures impact tax savings and long-term financial growth.
The hidden financial pitfalls that could be draining your profitability.
Why a Profit First approach can simplify financial management—even if you don’t formally follow the system.
How to set up multiple bank accounts to manage cash flow more effectively.
How financial advisors and business strategists can work together to maximize your bottom line.

Key Takeaways:

Your Business Needs a Financial Dream Team. Alex emphasizes that business owners should have a CPA, attorney, financial planner, and profit coach who communicate regularly. Without alignment, owners can end up making costly decisions—like structuring their business in a way that benefits their CPA or attorney but hurts their long-term wealth.
Entity Structures Can Make or Break Your Finances. Choosing the right business entity isn’t just a legal decision; it’s a profitability decision.
Financial Planning Isn't Just About Investments. Most business owners think of a financial advisor as someone who just manages stocks and retirement funds. But Alex brings a broader perspective—financial planning should start at the business level.
Optimizing tax strategies, structuring cash flow, and ensuring liquidity in business operations are just as important as planning for personal wealth.
Profit First Is a Mindset, Not Just a System. While Alex wasn’t formally using Profit First, he realized he was already following many of its principles. Even if you’re not implementing Profit First exactly as written, adopting a cash flow allocation strategy ensures you’re setting aside money for taxes, profit, and future growth before spending.
Simplicity Wins When Managing Finances. A complicated financial plan is one that doesn’t get followed. Whether it’s investing, tax strategies, or cash flow management, the simpler the system, the more effective it is.

Guest Bio:

Alex Langan is the Chief Investment Officer of Langan Financial Group, a leading financial planning and wealth management firm. As a second-generation leader in the family business, Alex specializes in strategic investments, business finance, and wealth-building strategies.

Alex holds a Doctor of Law from Widener University and serves as an Adjunct Professor of Law. He has been featured in major media outlets, including MarketWatch, Yahoo Finance, and ABC 27. Beyond his work in financial planning, Alex is also a Board Member for multiple nonprofits and is passionate about helping business owners build long-term financial success.

Conclusion:

If you’re a business owner struggling to connect the dots between accounting, legal strategy, financial planning, and business growth, this episode is a must-listen. Aligning your advisors, choosing the right business structure, and adopting a Profit First mindset can transform your financial success.

Links:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexander-langan-26017b40

https://langanfinancialgroup.com/

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@profitanswerman

Profit First Toolkit: https://lp.profitcomesfirst.com/landing-page-page

Relay Bank (affiliate link): https://relayfi.com/?referralcode=profitcomesfirst

Profit Answer Man Facebook group: