The Owner’s Brief

A Blog

What I learned from sending 20 personalized letters (with Starbucks gift cards)
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

What I learned from sending 20 personalized letters (with Starbucks gift cards)

Rejection hurts, especially in business.

In this behind-the-scenes story, I share what happened when I mailed 20 handwritten letters (and Starbucks cards!) to dream clients - and heard nothing back.

Here’s what the experience taught me about resilience, rejection, and why putting yourself out there is always worth it.

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How to grow your business *and* keep your margins
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

How to grow your business *and* keep your margins

Thinking about growing your firm but worried you’ll lose your profit margins?

You’re not alone. In this post, we share how one Saskatchewan business owner grew strategically - without sacrificing profitability - by evaluating three smart, data-backed growth options before making her next move.

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“Can I afford this?” Finally, a black-and-white answer
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

“Can I afford this?” Finally, a black-and-white answer

If you’re running a business without tracking expense ratios, you might be overpaying for rent, payroll, or marketing - and quietly draining your profits. Expense ratios show exactly how much of every revenue dollar goes toward major expenses, giving you a black-and-white answer to “Can I actually afford this?”

In this post, we’ll break down how to use industry benchmarks to protect your margins and finally pay yourself what you’re worth.

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Want more revenue in 2025? Start here.
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Want more revenue in 2025? Start here.

Most firms don’t realize their “quick daily meeting” could be costing them $60,000 or more every year in lost revenue. Meetings that drag on, include the wrong people, or repeat too often don’t just waste time—they erode profitability.

In this post, we’ll show you how to calculate the real cost of your meetings and the simple audit that can save your business tens of thousands annually.

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Second location not going so well?
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Second location not going so well?

Opening a second location should double your success - not drain your cash flow. Yet for many entrepreneurs, Location 1 ends up financing Location 2 for years, eroding profits and putting the whole business at risk.

In this post, we break down why second locations fail, the KPIs you must track, and the tough decisions that can save both businesses.

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No path? No loyalty.
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

No path? No loyalty.

The #1 reason top talent leaves your firm isn’t salary - it’s the lack of a clear growth path. If you’re not showing high-potential employees how they can one day become owners or partners, another firm will. In this post, we’ll walk through practical strategies to mentor future partners, reduce turnover, and protect your firm’s long-term growth.

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The day my dad offered to buy me jeans (a tale of cash flow)
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

The day my dad offered to buy me jeans (a tale of cash flow)

“How’s your cash?”

My dad asked me that once, thinking I was broke because of my ripped jeans (I wasn’t - it was fashion). But the question hit deeper than he knew.

In this blog, I’m breaking down 4 silent cash flow killers that quietly tank even high-revenue businesses — and what to do if you’re making $800k+ but still can’t confidently pay yourself.

If you’ve ever thought:

-“Is my bank balance enough?”

-“Why do I feel broke after a $100k month?”

-“What’s actually safe to spend?”

Then this one’s for you.

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Big fall goals?
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Big fall goals?

Not sure how to hit your fall revenue, team, or expansion goals?

We’ll show you how to prioritize, fix what’s not working, and grow profitably.

Clear decisions, custom plans, and zero fluffy advice - this is real Management Consulting.

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Are you chasing the wrong horse?
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Are you chasing the wrong horse?

Tired of growing your revenue but not your take-home pay?

You’re not alone - and there’s a fix.

This post breaks down where growth actually comes from.

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The hiring metric no one talks about
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

The hiring metric no one talks about

Hiring feels risky - but there’s one overlooked metric that shows when it’s time.

It’s called revenue per employee, and most business owners aren’t tracking it.

This blog post breaks it down and gives you the industry benchmarks you actually need.

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Time tracking is just the first step - how to use it to boost profitability
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Time tracking is just the first step - how to use it to boost profitability

You’re collecting your team’s time sheets — but are you using them to make smarter decisions?

In this post, I’m breaking down two simple but powerful metrics every service-based business should be tracking: utilization rate and realization rate.

Whether you bill hourly, earn commission or charge a fixed fee, these numbers tell you exactly how your team is spending their time - and how much of it actually turns into revenue.

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“It’s lonely at the top”
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

“It’s lonely at the top”

Even with a profitable, growing business, it’s common to feel stuck - unsure whether to hire, expand, or just finally act like the CEO instead of the operations mgr.

In this post, I’m sharing:

  • Why successful owners still feel overwhelmed

  • How to know when it’s actually time to hire

  • What to do with that extra $80K sitting in your chequing account

If you’re running a business that looks good on paper but still feels heavy, this one’s for you.

Plus: Get the details on The Monthly Reset — the strategy support you didn’t know you needed.

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‘Back of the napkin' expansion plans
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

‘Back of the napkin' expansion plans

Thinking of opening a second location? Read this first.

At a backyard BBQ, I met a business owner who’d recently opened a second clinic… without ever running a cash flow projection. Let’s just say - it wasn’t going well.

In this post, I break down the risks of expanding on gut instinct alone, what happens when growth quietly drains your first location’s profits, and how a simple projection could save you from million-dollar regret.

If you’re planning to scale - or already feeling the pressure of a new location - this one’s for you.

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Not your ‘tax season’ CPA
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Not your ‘tax season’ CPA

What does a management consultant actually do?

(Hint: it’s more than spreadsheets.)

If you’re staring down a big decision — like opening a second location, restructuring your team, or trying to figure out why your clinic’s profitable on paper but not in real life — this is for you.

Inside, I’m breaking down the real behind-the-scenes work we do with founders and EDs to clean up cash flow, raise profit margins, and make growth decisions that actually make sense.

Click to read the full post.

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Before you give up 50% of your business..
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Before you give up 50% of your business..

When a key employee starts asking for partnership — but isn’t quite ready — what do you do?

In this post, I break down three real options beyond “just give them half”:

→ Commission models that actually incentivize the right behaviour

→ Cost-sharing arrangements that protect your brand and bottom line

→ Small equity stakes with performance-based growth

If you’re a founder navigating the sticky side of employee retention, ownership, and sustainable growth, this is a must-read.

Click to read the full post — and yes, there’s a Suits reference. Obviously.

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You're over-spending on payroll
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

You're over-spending on payroll

Is your payroll way too high? (Spoiler: probably.)

If your income statement looks fine but your profit margins are thinner than they should be, it might be time to ask a better question:

Are my payroll expenses normal for my industry?

In this post, we break down benchmark wage ratios by industry (accounting, law, physio, design + more), the hidden reasons service businesses overspend on payroll, and the operational fixes that actually move the needle.

If you’re bleeding cash and not sure why, start here.

Click to read the full post - and find out if your business is the outlier.

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Let's talk about low hanging fruit..
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Let's talk about low hanging fruit..

Still not using AI in your business? It’s costing you — big time.

From manual appointment booking to over-engineered spreadsheets and email replies written from scratch — there are simple, low-effort ways to automate and streamline your operations today.

In this post, I break down three real examples where service-based businesses are overspending (by $43K+/year!) and how AI can help fix it — fast.

If you’re ready to save money without sacrificing quality or control, start here.

Click to read the full post — and let’s get your ops out of 2015.

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Let's talk biz owner versus operations manager
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

Let's talk biz owner versus operations manager

If your days are full of meetings, admin, client follow-ups, and answering “quick questions” — you’re not leading your business, you’re running it.

In this post, I share why so many owners stay stuck in the weeds, how we help clarify what a CEO should be doing (spoiler: not Summer Party planning), and how a CEO Functions Doc can transform your day-to-day.

If you want to lead your business like an actual CEO — not its head admin — this is where you start.

Click to read the full post — sangria optional, clarity guaranteed.

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You + me = patio sangria 🍹
Tanya Budd Tanya Budd

You + me = patio sangria 🍹

What’s on your Summer Projects list?

If you’re still holding onto a post-it that says “revamp org chart” or “finally figure out second location” — this one’s for you.

In this post, I’m sharing the low-lift, high-impact projects my consulting team helps business owners tackle during summer, from updating admin workflows with AI to creating strategic hiring/firing plans and redefining the CEO’s role.

Bonus? It might all start with patio drinks.

Click here to read the full post — and let’s turn your “someday” list into done.

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