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Is your business helping you build the life you actually want?

Is your business helping you build the life you actually want?

As a business owner, it's easy to measure success by the obvious things: turnover, growth, number of clients, or how busy you are.

But here's the question that often gets missed:

Is your business helping you build the life you actually want?

Because real success isn't just what your business achieves, it's what your business makes possible for you.

And when you're clear on what you want personally, you can make better decisions in your business (and have much more useful conversations with your accountant too).

Success is personal and it can change!

You're not failing if your goals have shifted.

You might have started out wanting rapid growth, a bigger team, or a packed diary. But now you may want something different, like:

  • More time and flexibility
  • More stability and peace of mind
  • Better work/life boundaries
  • A business that doesn't rely on you for everything

That's not “thinking small”, that's building something sustainable.

Get clear on your version of success

Here are 5 questions to help you get clear on what you would like personally from your business and what success looks like for you.

You don't need perfect answers - just honest ones.

1) What do you want more of (and less of)?

  • What do I want more of in my life this year?
  • What feels good and enjoyable?
  • What do I want less of?
  • What drains my energy in the business right now?

2) What does a “good week” look like?

  • How many days/hours do I want to work?
  • What time do I want to finish most days?
  • What boundaries do I want to protect?
  • What do I want more space for outside work?

3) What do I want the business to give me personally?

  • Do I want time freedom, money freedom or mind freedom most right now?
  • What do I want to feel more of (calm, confidence, pride)?
  • What would make the business feel lighter?
  • What holidays do you have planned this year and when?

4) What does financial success look like in real terms?

  • How much do I want to pay myself each month?
  • What would make me feel “comfortable”?
  • What would make me feel “secure”?
  • What's my “enough” number?

5) What would success look like if nobody else was watching?

  • What would I choose if I wasn’t trying to impress anyone?
  • What would I stop doing?
  • What would I do more of if I trusted my own judgement completely?
  • What do I actually want my business to look like?

Bring this into business planning (and your accountant conversations)

Once you know what success means to you, your accountant can help you turn it into a plan, such as:

  • Setting realistic profit and income targets
  • Improving cashflow and stability
  • Planning for hiring or outsourcing
  • Adjusting pricing to match your lifestyle goals
  • Reducing tax surprises and financial stress

Useful questions to ask your accountant might be:

  • “I want to pay myself £X per month. Is that realistic?”
  • “I want to work 4 days a week. What would the numbers need to look like?”
  • “Can I afford to hire support, and when would be the right time?”
  • “How much cash buffer should I aim for to feel safe?”

A simple reminder

Success doesn't have to mean “more.”

Sometimes success means calmer, clearer, and more in control.

And you're allowed to build a business that supports your life. Not one that takes it over.

If you would like support with any of the above, click here to get in touch with us.

Moving to Panthera is easy

It’s a big decision to move accountants. We get it. That’s why we have a clearly defined process in place to make it as straightforward as possible.

Step 1: We have a short initial discovery meeting to understand your needs so we can create the perfect service package for your business

Step 2: You receive your tailored proposal with one simple monthly fee and you e-sign the letter of engagement

Step 3: You provide your current accountant with notice – and you leave the rest to us!

We liaise directly with your previous accountant regarding the transfer of information. We request authority from HMRC to act on your behalf. We handle as much of the admin as possible, so you can get on with running your business – safe in the knowledge that everything is going on in the background. And if there’s any action for you, we let you know.

Contact us to find out how we can help you

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