Profit, Cash, and Clarity

Most entrepreneurs know they should look at their numbers — but fear, confusion, and "I'll deal with it later" keep getting in the way. In this hands-on 45-minute session, Stephanie Matlock breaks down the two reports every business owner needs to understand: the Profit & Loss statement and the Cash Flow worksheet. No accounting degree required. 

No balance sheets. Just real tools, plain language, and a simple framework you can start using the same week. You'll leave with a completed cash flow worksheet, a monthly money habit, and one rule that protects your income — so you can stop guessing and start leading with your numbers.

Key Takeaways

• How to read a Profit & Loss statement in plain English and the one question it can't answer on its own.
• Why profit and cash are not the same thing, and how understanding the difference can protect your business from an empty bank account even in a "good" month.
• A simplified cash flow framework you can do every month, inflows, outflows, and what's left, built around the way your business actually works.
• The Three Buckets habit has a simple, realistic system for setting aside money for taxes, paying yourself, and building a cushion, even if you're just starting out.

Speaker Bio

Stephanie Matlock is the Founder and CEO of Empower Bookkeeping Firm, with over 30 years in accounting and more than 20 years as an entrepreneur helping business owners move from financial chaos to clarity. 

She specializes in building practical financial systems that allow founders to understand their numbers, stay compliant, and make confident decisions — without living in spreadsheets. 

A Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses graduate and mentor for the One Million Black Women: Black in Business program, Stephanie is passionate about helping entrepreneurs think and operate like CEOs. Her mission is simple: We Educate. We Empower. You Succeed.