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The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: Using Tax Tools the Right Way
I recently served as a panelist discussing the new 2025 tax law, formally known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), and its sweeping changes for small and mid-sized businesses. The room was filled with sharp business owners and seasoned advisors: manufacturers, contractors, healthcare operators, and professional service leaders. Everyone wanted to understand how the new rules might affect their next move. Here is the truth I shared: new deductions are not strategy; the
ES Raphael
Nov 55 min read


Execution Wins: Why Financial Discipline Beats Strategic Brilliance
Growth rarely fails because of bad strategy. It fails because of weak financial execution. This blog shows how disciplined financial...
ES Raphael
Oct 73 min read


What Business Leaders Can Learn from the Hebrew Calendar: Renewal as a Strategic Mindset
Let me start with a fact in case my Rabbi happens to read this: I did not come up with this idea for a blog during his meaningful and...
ES Raphael
Sep 253 min read


When Data Conflicts: Make Decisions Like a Chess Master
How many times have you stared at a spreadsheet where half the numbers scream “Expand now!” and the other half whisper “Hide under your...
ES Raphael
Aug 104 min read


Don’t Let Growth Kill Your Business -Think: Cash, Capacity, Control
When an entrepreneur launches a new business, s/he imagines growth to be natural and logical—almost inevitable. The orders come in, the...
ES Raphael
Jun 243 min read


Fast vs. Slow Cash Flow Fixes in Manufacturing
When facing cash flow challenges, it's critical to understand which strategies can provide immediate relief versus those that require...
ES Raphael
May 143 min read


Are You Managing Your Cash Flow—Or Is Your Cash Flow Managing You?
For business owners running companies with $5 million to $40 million in annual revenue, few things are more frustrating than watching the...
ES Raphael
Apr 175 min read


You Can’t Steer with the Rearview: Why Leading Indicators Matter Most
Imagine driving a car with a perfectly clean rearview mirror but a dirty windshield. You can see every turn you had made, every pothole...
ES Raphael
Apr 143 min read


Over Time, Over Budget—Now What?
I was recently brought into a business that found itself in deep water. A major product launch, full of promise and potential, had...
ES Raphael
Apr 53 min read


Grow Your Service Business Through Acquisitions: A Playbook for Smart Expansion
If you already own a successful service business—whether it’s in HVAC, IT, legal, medical, healthcare, landscaping, or consulting—you’ve...
ES Raphael
Mar 313 min read


Why I Became an Ambassador for DailyGiving.org
Small Donations + Collective Giving = Massive Impact. That’s the formula behind DailyGiving.org , and it's nothing short of inspiring....
ES Raphael
Mar 283 min read


Claps Do Not Mean Cash
Recently, I watched a thought-provoking YouTube video by Mark Firth, where he described an intriguing scene in a restaurant. Picture...
ES Raphael
Mar 243 min read


Help Your Controller Succeed
I once advised a capable controller who struggled—not because he lacked skill, but because he was constantly derailed by last-minute...
ES Raphael
Mar 112 min read


Borrowing Money? Get a CFO First
For many business owners, seeking a loan seems like the natural next step when cash runs tight. Whether it’s to fund growth, cover...
ES Raphael
Mar 44 min read


The 30-Second Speech That Could Transform Your Business
Last week, I was sitting with a friend—a highly experienced consultant who has helped countless businesses succeed. He’s built an...
ES Raphael
Feb 182 min read


Your Business Has Profits, But Where’s the Cash?
If you’ve ever looked at your company’s profit and loss statement and thought, “Well, we’re making money—so why is the bank account...
ES Raphael
Feb 114 min read


Why I Never Skip a Coffee Meeting—And You Shouldn’t Either
Many years ago, my friend Rich in Dallas confidently told me that Starbucks would never make it in Texas. His rationale? He believed...
ES Raphael
Feb 52 min read


Charge What You’re Worth: Pricing Lesson from Picasso
There’s a story about Pablo Picasso that I love because its lesson is timeless. As the tale goes, Picasso was sitting in a café when a...
ES Raphael
Jan 313 min read


Minority Status: A Game-Changer for Jewish Entrepreneurs
In a significant decision, the U.S. Department of Commerce recently granted minority status to Jewish-owned businesses. This designation...
ES Raphael
Jan 263 min read


How "Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?" Shaped My Approach as a Fractional CFO
Few books have left as profound an impact on me as Lou Gerstner’s “Who Says Elephants Can’t Dance?: Leading a Great Enterprise through...
ES Raphael
Jan 153 min read
Take Control of Your Cash Flow (Free Template Access)
Cash flow isn’t just important — it’s everything!
Stay ahead with our free 13-Week Cash Flow Forecast Template.
Project your inflows and outflows, spot challenges before they become emergencies, and steer your business with greater confidence.
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