One of the most interesting parts of working with so many different clients is spotting the money mistakes that everyone seems to make — no matter the industry, experience or size of the business.

The good news?
These mistakes are totally normal. And totally fixable.

Here are the 10 financial slip-ups I see most often, along with simple ways to avoid them.

1. Mixing up revenue and profit

Just because money is coming in doesn’t mean you’re actually earning anything. A big sale might look exciting, but once the costs go through… not so much.

How to avoid it:
Use accounting software to track your real profit. Check your reports regularly so you don’t get fooled by big shiny numbers that don’t mean much.

2. Not keeping an eye on cashflow

You can be profitable and still run out of money. Seriously, it happens more than you think.

How to avoid it:
Have a simple cashflow forecast. Then do a quick check every week — five minutes is enough — to see what’s coming in and what’s going out.

3. Blurring business and personal spending

Using your business account like a personal wallet leads to messy books, tax problems, and stress you really don’t need.

How to avoid it:
Keep business and personal separate. Pay yourself a proper salary or transfer instead of “borrowing” from the business.

4. Forgetting about tax until panic mode kicks in

Leaving tax until the last minute is a guaranteed way to cause yourself stress (and sometimes penalties).

How to avoid it:
Put aside 20–30% of every payment into a separate account. And ask your accountant to help you plan your bills in advance — that alone removes MOST tax stress.

5. Paying for things you don’t even use

Old subscriptions, random tools, things you signed up for ages ago… they quietly drain your money each month.

How to avoid it:
Do a quick monthly “expense tidy.” If you haven’t used it for three months, cancel it.

6. Not invoicing on time (and not chasing late payers)

If you don’t send invoices, you don’t get paid. And if you don’t chase late payments, some people will take advantage.

How to avoid it:
Send invoices as soon as the work is done. Use reminders in your accounting software so it chases for you. Automate what you can.

7. Underpricing yourself

Most people underprice because they want to be “fair” or worry about scaring off clients. But underpricing only leads to burnout.

How to avoid it:
Base your prices on your costs, your time and the value you provide — not fear. Review your prices at least once a year.

8. Thinking profit = cash in the bank

Your profit number might look great, but your bank balance tells the real story. Profit is theory. Cash is reality.

How to avoid it:
Make cashflow your number-one financial metric. Always check what’s actually available, not just what the P&L says.

9. Doing everything yourself

If you’re juggling every role in your business — finance, admin, operations, marketing — no wonder you’re exhausted.

How to avoid it:
Start outsourcing the tasks that take up the most time or drain your energy. Even small bits of help make a big difference.

10. Avoiding financial reports

If your financial “system” is just checking your bank balance and hoping for the best, we need to talk.

How to avoid it:
Spend 15–20 minutes a week checking your key numbers: profit, cashflow, bank balance and upcoming bills. It’s far easier to catch small problems early than clean up big messes later.

The Best Part? You Can Fix All of These.

Every one of these mistakes can be sorted with a few better habits, clearer systems, and a little bit of support. No shame, no judgement — just progress.

If you want help untangling your finances, setting up better systems, or making your business feel less stressful, I’m always here to help.