Episode 264 - Optimize Your Finance Stack or Risk Going Broke

How is your finance stack?

We all love to talk about our tech or marketing stacks, but the financial side gets less attention.

Heck, you might not even know for sure what your finance stack is! 

My guest today is an eComm legend, Bill D'Alessandro. Bill is the founder and CEO of Elements Brands. He's built or acquired 8 brands and sold 7. 

Before his time in eComm, he spent 5 years in the investment banking and private equity world. 

Talking about ad creativity or the latest case studies on scaling with Facebook ads is more of a dopamine hit than talking about finance. BUT, knowing what levers to pull, what to do, and what NOT to do as it relates to your finance stack can instantly add $100s or thousands to your bank account. 

Here are the 4 components of your finance stack that Bill and I dive into today. Trust me, this interview is fast-paced, interesting and guaranteed to put more cash in your bank account.

1. Banking
2. Credit Cards
3. Working Capital
4. Debt

You don't need to be a CFO or a CPA to get value here. You just need the 80/20 of how to optimize your finances. Here's a look at what we cover in this episode:

• Why it's not always best to maximize assets and reduce liabilities; for example, accounts receivable are an asset, but they're also NOT cash in your bank.
• When it's "OK" to use Debt and when you shouldn't.
• What's essential and what's not when it comes to a bank?
• How 2 simple shifts in credit card usage can add $10s or $100s of thousands in your pocket…money you will NOT receive a 1099 for.
• Why working capital is the blood of your business. 
• A few simple tips for accounts payable - when you do this right, this is the cheapest form of "debt" you can use
• Why Merchant Cash Advances so commonly start a death spiral and what to do if you're in this trap.