Many founders hit $3M in revenue and stall out. In this episode, Dan and Greg Crabtree break down why—and how to fix it. They discuss “profit truth”, how to spot financial red flags, and what metrics to track to scale beyond the messy middle. 
Plus: we’re looking for listener stories. Have you implemented a system or framework that changed your business? Tell us about it. Your story could help 1,000s of entrepreneurs. 
Links from the episode: 
Form: <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdPXbgWniCDhLpt4QPvOvoXPHRRwDYw-izZszc92qAuMPnhhQ/viewform?usp=sharing&ouid=101528162047962210125" rel="nofollow">Share your story / sponsor the pod</a> 
<a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kuJAqNkX_qncqp3qYtT27z9R5IpJTYeMIZtzMRMSV7A/edit?usp=sharing" rel="nofollow">Labor Efficiency Ratio Summary</a>
CHAPTERS 
(00:00:14) Introduction and the Death Zone 
00:09:37) The Impact of Paying a Market-Based Wage 
(00:11:03) Behavioral Economics and Profit Truth 
(00:14:38) The Definition of a Fully Capitalized Business 
(00:16:49) Transitioning through the Death Zone 
(00:17:26) The Three Steps to Business Success 
(00:18:51) Remaining Profitable in the Death Zone 
(00:19:48) Different Capital Profiles and Cashflow 
(00:21:04) The Emotional Challenge of Spending in the Death Zone 
(00:24:03) The Executional Problem of Growth 
(00:24:24) Getting Through the Black Hole 
(00:27:02) The $3 Million Mark 
(00:28:25) The Worth of Going Through the Zone 
(00:31:32) Managing a Marketing Agency Past $5 Million 
(00:36:26) Common Mistakes Made by Founders 
(00:38:36) Understanding Profit Truth 
(00:45:33) Investing in Finance and Accounting
CONNECT 
Dan “at” tropicalmba dot com 
Ian “at” tropicalmba dot com
LINKS 
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<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/resources" rel="nofollow">Free resources for business owners</a>
MORE EPISODES
<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/7-figure-productized-business" rel="nofollow">The Roadmap for Turning a Skill Into a $1M Business</a>
<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/exit-founders-disappointed" rel="nofollow">The Unexpected Downsides of Selling Your Business</a>
<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/success-without-sacrifice" rel="nofollow">Success Without Sacrifice?</a>
<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/shiny-object-syndrome" rel="nofollow">Shiny Object Syndrome</a>
<a href="https://tropicalmba.com/episodes/anti-agency-high-roi" rel="nofollow">The Anti-Agency Agency + High ROI Customer Service Strategies</a>

Dan Andrews

#809 Financial Traps, Profit Truths, and What’s Next at TMBA

Many founders hit $3M in revenue and stall out. In this episode, Dan and Greg Crabtree break down why—and how to fix it. They discuss “profit truth”, how to spot financial red flags, and what metrics to track to scale beyond the messy middle. Plus: we’re looking for listener stories. Have you implemented a system [&hellip;]