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When Steve Coughran started his first business at 16 from his sister's garage, little did he know this would lead to a career transforming how construction companies understand their finances. Today, as a fractional CFO who provides what he calls "CFO services reimagined," Steve brings a refreshing clarity to the often mystifying world of business finance.
The most eye-opening revelation from our conversation? Seventy percent of companies that go bankrupt actually show profit on their books when they close their doors. This paradox exists because profit on paper doesn't guarantee healthy cash flow – a distinction that has saved countless businesses Steve has worked with. Using vivid examples (including asking audience members for cash during presentations), Steve demystifies concepts like return on invested capital in ways that make immediate, practical sense.
We explore the concept of business "death zones" – those revenue thresholds where companies get stuck because their overhead structure doesn't align with their income. For construction businesses, these typically fall between $1-3 million, $3-10 million, and $10-25 million. Without proper financial planning, companies can find themselves trapped, unable to grow further or even maintain their position. One company Steve advised wanted to triple in size quickly – his financial models showed they'd be bankrupt within 18 months if they pursued that strategy.
Beyond the numbers, Steve offers refreshing wisdom on business growth itself. Having risen from blue-collar beginnings (much like myself) to advising billion-dollar companies, he emphasizes that bigger isn't always better. Sometimes your calling might be to build a $20 million company that blesses employees' lives, not to scale indefinitely. His "Boosting Your Financial IQ" podcast has reached over 1.3 million downloads worldwide, and he recently made his financial literacy course completely free – demonstrating his belief that money should be a vehicle to bless others' lives.
Connect with Steve on LinkedIn or visit cultivar.com to learn more about his approach to financial management. And if you're struggling with financial literacy, check out his free resources at byfiq.com – no strings attached.

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