The Only Four Things Any Business Does

(About a 3 Min Read)

The Only Four Things That A Business Does

Well, let’s fire the first shot across the bow to all those “experts” out there.

Business is not complex. There are only four things that any business does. 4 Things a Business Does

  1. Sells Goods and Services
  2. Gets Paid for Goods and Services
  3. Buys Goods and Services
  4. Pays For Goods and Services

That’s it. Simple. Straightforward.

Hiring Staff is Purchasing Labor, Payroll is Paying for Labor.

Taxes is only paying rent to the city, state or country. Dividends to shareholders is repaying a loan to a financial institution "roughly".

It is all quite straight forward.

If nothing else remember the four things a business does. As long as everything continues to flow, the business works fine.

But which of the four is the most important?

Ask yourself,"I am setting up a new business and putting systems into place. Which system should I tackle first?"

If an “expert” came in and started setting up your payroll first, how would you feel?

Hint! Now you know why the business owner feel edgy when the “systems expert” comes in. He started doing everything else BUT set up your invoices and sales processes. It follows that the business owner will be uneasy about any financial advice. The advice does not address the primary issue of making more sales.

Truth is if you do not make sales you have no money to pay for anything and the other issues are irrelevant. As , Peter Drucker (management consultant) said, “Nothing happens until someone sells something.” Critically then, you as the business owner, must focus on every aspect of making sales.

The most important one is “Sells Goods and Services”! WITHOUT DOUBT

Sales and the effort to create sales, marketing, go hand in hand. They are dance partners. They are the creative part of the business. They are the heart beat. When they are moving together, everything flows on from there. When they are out of step and the dance of sales is not working, everything stops.

The business owner controls the dance, sets the mood and makes sure the rhythm is right. When the business owner gets it right, the dance is beautiful to watch.

The business owner must understand the understand the message of the business. They must then choreograph that message into the dance.

A business coach helps with this creation. Success will mean improved cash flow through increasing sales. Cashflow creates time to improve margins and overheads.

To do otherwise is to create a communication gap.

The business owner must determine the nature of the business and set direction. This ensures effective sales and related marketing . Without which, nothing else happens in the business.

The business coach must work along side of the business owner.

Bookkeeper / accountant works in three areas:. monitoring cash outflows and collection, management reporting how monies and compliance. These are flow-ons from the successful sales-marketing dance.

The challenge is to make the coaching more effective and timely to assist the business owner.

Introducing Elements.app

David Seamans

Co-Founder at Elements, Retired CPA and Company Coach with 35 years of experience building better businesses.

Posted Apr 6, 2020