The One Plan Every Successful Business Has

Table of Contents

• 🏆 This Week’s Profit First Club Newsletter

  • 📊 The Numbers Plan: Why It Matters

  • 🏠 A Real-World Analogy

  • 🔢 Simple Example:

  • Let’s say you run a £100k construction business:

  • 📈 Why Profit First Is the Perfect Tool

  • 🧠 Action Step: Start Your Numbers Plan

  • 📞 Let’s Talk

🏆 This Week’s Profit First Club Newsletter

Estimated Read Time: 4 mins

Hey Profit First Champions 👋

It’s Stephen Edwards from We Are Gro Accountants, and welcome to this week’s edition of the Profit First Club Newsletter. Whether you’re joining us from the podcast, YouTube, or our Beehive newsletter, we’re glad to have you here.

This week, we’re diving into a critical concept: Having a Numbers Plan. It’s a topic I’ve been talking to a lot of clients about recently—and it’s foundational whether or not you’re using Profit First (though we obviously think you should be 😉).

📊 The Numbers Plan: Why It Matters

When many of us started our businesses, the “numbers plan” was as simple as: Can I pay the mortgage this month? Over time, the business grows, revenues increase—but profitability often gets pinched. That’s where Profit First shines, giving us structure and intention. But the real magic comes from zooming out and asking: Do I have a clear, intentional numbers plan guiding my decisions?

If you’re just winging it—taking on any job, hiring without a plan, pricing based on guesswork—you’re likely stuck in amateur mode. We all start there. But the pros? They know their numbers. They forecast. They budget. They pay taxes on time. They track progress. That’s what transforms a business into a tool for life freedom.

🏠 A Real-World Analogy

Think of your business like a house. Ours is a 1930s home that’s had a few extensions over the years—lovely character, but you’d never design it this way from scratch. The same is true for most businesses. If you were starting fresh, would you run things the same way?

That’s why building a numbers plan is about intention. Want to take home £50,000 a year? Great. Now work backwards: What revenue do you need? What are your costs? Taxes? Marketing spend? Map it all out.

🔢 Simple Example:

Let’s say you run a £100k construction business:

• Cost of sales = 30% → £30k

• Gross profit = £70k

• Need £60k pre-tax income to net £50k

• That leaves only £10k for overheads

That’s tight! Without a numbers plan, you won’t spot this problem until it’s too late.

📈 Why Profit First Is the Perfect Tool

Profit First gives you benchmarks to aim for—and it works whether you’re at £80k or £800k revenue. We help clients work toward their life number—what they need to live the life they want. Combine that with industry benchmarks, strategic tweaks, and a commitment to small, consistent improvements, and you’ll be amazed at the transformation.

The numbers don’t lie. But they do need a plan.

🧠 Action Step: Start Your Numbers Plan

Here’s how to get started:

• Define your life number (e.g. £50k take-home)

• Map your revenue and cost targets backward

• Build a simple budget or forecast model

• Review and refine it monthly

If you’re unsure where to start, that’s what we’re here for.

📞 Let’s Talk

Want to see what it looks like to build a numbers plan with our team? Drop us a message or visit our site: wearegro.co.uk

Until next time, keep putting Profit First.

Warm regards,
Stephen Edwards
Founder & Profit First Coach
We Are Gro Accountants

P.S. If this helped you, forward it to a fellow business owner—it might be the nudge they need. 🚀

📗 Haven’t read my book yet?
Get your copy of How to Build a Business That Runs Without You on Amazon now.

Want some help?

3 Ways I can help you.

1. Book a Tax Diagnostic Discovery Call To See if we think we can save you money?If you are not a client, then you can book a call HERE so we can learn more about your business.

2. If you are a client and we don’t already help you with Profit First or you taxes, email me via [email protected] to arrange a chat about the Profit First System and how it can increase your cash balance and profits (guaranteed)

3. Get some tax tips from my TikTok HERE