Books & The Biz

Dan Paulson and Richard Veltre

Finance and Operations need to work together.

Often they don’t.

Join Richard Veltre and myself for discussions about business (the BIZ) and finance (the BOOKS).

About Rich: He has served in executive leadership positions at finance consulting firms focusing on the development, implementation, and management of the full spectrum of financial systems. Rich started his career at Price Waterhouse and now acts at a fractional CFO for companies in healthcare, finance, logistics, and construction.

About Dan: He built his career working key leadership positions for several large corporations such as Menards and Lands’ End. In 2005, Dan decided he no longer wanted to continue on the corporate executive path and launched InVision. He now helps owners and executives improve operational performance and workplace culture in the areas of manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and finance.

Books & The Biz is a podcast where we talk about our experiences, what’s happening in the world today, and how it impacts companies.

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24 episodes
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Avg 31 min
English

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S4 · E35
Thursday · 20 min
Getting Your People to Perform Better
Business owners are often challenged with individual performance. What happens when it seems like every task is done through shortcuts, completed incorrectly, or never finished at all? This is a common complaint heard from all levels of leadership. The old method of, "The beatings will continue until morale improves," doesn't work. Nor does being complacent and hoping the problem fixes itself. It's conditioning. Today we will address sub-par performance and steps you can take to fix it. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe!
S4 · E34
September 10 · 24 min
The New Reality: Is Your Business Ready for What's Next?
Higher costs, tighter margins, and changing market conditions are creating a new reality for business owners. The question isn't whether things have changed—it's whether your business is prepared to adapt. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich discuss affordability, rising operating costs, interest rates, and why planning ahead matters more than ever. They explore practical ways to improve efficiency, protect cash flow, and make smarter investments so your business is ready for whatever comes next. The businesses that prepare today will be in the strongest position tomorrow.
S4 · E33
September 3 · 24 min
Are the Warning Signs Already Here? What Business Owners Should Be Watching
Is the economy beginning to slow down, or are these just isolated warning signs? More importantly, how should business owners respond? In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich discuss what they're seeing across construction, commercial real estate, lending, tariffs, AI, and cash flow. They explore the early indicators of a changing economy, why every business owner should revisit their forecasts, and what steps you can take now to become leaner, stronger, and better prepared for whatever comes next. Waiting for certainty may be the biggest risk of all.
S4 · E32
August 27 · 31 min
Why Good Employees Get Frustrated (And Eventually Leave)
Good employees rarely become frustrated overnight. More often, it's the result of unclear expectations, inconsistent communication, and leadership habits that slowly wear people down. In this episode of **Books & The Biz**, Dan, Rich, and HR expert Kelly Murphy discuss why employee frustration is usually a symptom of deeper operational and leadership issues. They explore the importance of setting clear expectations, improving communication, and creating an environment where good employees can succeed before turnover becomes an expensive problem. If you're wondering why your best people seem disengaged, this conversation is a great place to start.
S4 · E31
August 21 · 27 min
The Experience Gap: When Saving Money Costs You More
Saving money is important—but hiring the wrong expertise can become one of the most expensive decisions a business makes. In this episode of **Books & The Biz**, Dan and Rich discuss real-world examples of how inexperience in accounting, payroll, bookkeeping, and financial leadership can create costly mistakes that go unnoticed for months. They also explore the risks of outsourcing, relying too heavily on AI, and why business owners need to ask better questions before trusting someone with critical functions. Experience doesn't guarantee success—but a lack of it can be very expensive.
S4 · E30
August 16 · 34 min
The Race to the Bottom: Why Competing on Price Never Ends Well
Competing on price might win you a job today, but it can cost you your business tomorrow. In this episode of **Books & The Biz**, Dan and Rich discuss the race to the bottom after seeing competitors slash prices to win work. They explore why discounting is rarely a long-term strategy, the hidden costs of competing on price, and how businesses can stand out by delivering value instead of becoming just another commodity. If your only competitive advantage is being the cheapest, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.
S4 · E29
August 6 · 35 min
The Fractional Boom: Who's Qualified and Who's Pretending?
The fractional executive market is growing fast—but so is the number of people claiming expertise they haven't earned. In this episode of **Books & The Biz**, Dan and Rich discuss what separates a true fractional executive from someone with a new title. They cover the experience, leadership, and real-world results business owners should look for, along with the questions to ask before trusting someone to help lead your company. If you're considering hiring a fractional executive, this conversation could save you time, money, and costly mistakes.
S4 · E28
July 30 · 32 min
When Costs Keep Rising: Raise Prices or Fix the Business?
Costs are rising, margins are getting tighter, and business owners are being forced to make decisions without a clear playbook. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich talk through pricing, cash flow, tariffs, healthcare costs, and the operational waste that often gets ignored when expenses climb. Raising prices may be part of the answer, but better financial visibility, stronger processes, and more efficient operations matter just as much. If everything is costing more, the real question is what you can control before the pressure starts showing up in your margins.
S4 · E27
July 24 · 43 min
AI Knows a Lot. Experience Knows What's Right.
AI can generate answers in seconds—but that doesn't mean those answers are correct. In this episode of **Books & The Biz**, Dan, Rich, and Kelly Murphy discuss where AI adds real value and where experience still matters most. They explore why asking better questions leads to better results, how industry knowledge helps you recognize bad answers, and why human judgment is still essential when making business decisions. If you're relying on AI to help run your business, this conversation will show you how to get better results without replacing the expertise that matters most.
July 17 · 32 min
Growing Your Business Shouldn't Create More People Problems
Why growth often creates chaos. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich welcome HR expert Kelly Murphy to discuss why adding more employees doesn’t automatically make a company stronger. As businesses grow, communication breaks down, expectations become unclear, and informal processes that worked with five employees begin to fail with twenty-five. If your business is growing—or you’re planning for it—this episode will help you build a stronger foundation before growth starts working against you.
S4 · E25
July 3 · 42 min
Want More Freedom? Start With These 10 Changes
This Independence Day, we’re talking about a different kind of freedom—the freedom to step away from your business without everything falling apart. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich share 10 practical ways business owners can gain more freedom, from outsourcing bookkeeping and building a trusted inner circle to setting boundaries with clients, protecting personal time, charging for the value you deliver, and creating systems that reduce owner dependency. If your business can’t run without you, this episode will help you start changing that.
S4 · E24
July 2 · 29 min
The High Cost of Unrealistic Expectations
Business owners often want better forecasts, stronger profits, and a clear growth strategy. The problem? Those goals depend on having accurate information to begin with. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich discuss what happens when years of neglected accounting, incomplete records, or operational issues collide with unrealistic expectations for immediate results. They explore why professionals often have to rebuild the foundation before they can provide meaningful advice—and why trying to rush that process usually costs more in the long run. If you’ve ever wondered why “simple fixes” sometimes take weeks instead of days, this conversation explains what really happens behind the scenes. Please Like, Share, and Subscribe.
S4 · E23
June 18 · 37 min
The Great Ownership Transfer: Why So Many Businesses Won’t Survive the Next 10 Years
This is becoming one of the biggest business stories that almost nobody is talking about. Millions of business owners are approaching retirement, but many have no succession plan and no realistic buyer lined up. Studies suggest millions of businesses could change hands over the next decade, while a large percentage of owners still aren’t prepared for transition. What we will discuss: Why revenue is not the same as business value Why many businesses are “owner-dependent” The difference between a job and a sellable company Internal succession vs outside buyers What owners should be doing 5-10 years before exit
S4 · E22
June 12 · 25 min
75% of Businesses Overpay! What Your Worker's Comp Could Cost You
Workers' Compensation is often viewed as just another cost of doing business. But what if you're paying more than you should? In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich sit down with Bobby Giurintano of Premium Recovery Experts to discuss a problem many business owners don't realize exists: workers' compensation audit errors. Bobby shares why these mistakes occur, where overpayments are commonly found, and how businesses can identify opportunities to recover money that may have been lost for years. If you're looking for practical ways to reduce costs, improve cash flow, and make sure you're not leaving money on the table, this is a conversation worth hearing. Please like, share, and subscribe!
S4 · E20
May 28 · 29 min
Keep It Practical: Why Businesses Overcomplicate What Should Work
In this episode of Books & The Biz, we break down why simple processes, clear accountability, and practical execution outperform bloated systems and unnecessary complexity every time. From overloaded SOPs to too many meetings and titles with no ownership, we discuss why businesses slow down as they grow — and how to fix it before the owner becomes the bottleneck again. #BusinessLeadership #Operations #ConstructionBusiness #Manufacturing #LeadershipDevelopment #Entrepreneur #SmallBusiness #EscapeTheOwnersTrap
S4 · E19
May 14 · 32 min
Broken Process, Broken Numbers
Most businesses do not fail because people are lazy. They fail because process breaks down under pressure. Bookkeeping falls behind. Reports become inconsistent. Teams stop following procedures. Leadership starts making decisions using incomplete or inaccurate information. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan Paulson and Rich Veltre break down how weak process quietly damages operations, finance, accountability, and long-term business performance.
S4 · E18
May 7 · 32 min
Dead Inventory: The Silent Profit Killer Sitting on Your Shelves
Inventory is supposed to generate cash, not collect dust. In this episode of Books & The Biz, Dan and Rich take a hard look at dead inventory—products, materials, and stock that sit too long, tie up cash, consume space, and quietly erode profitability. Many businesses don’t realize how much money is trapped in slow-moving inventory until margins tighten, cash flow gets squeezed, or warehouse space starts disappearing. What often begins as “just in case” purchasing or inaccurate forecasting can quickly turn into a costly operational problem. If your shelves are full but cash still feels tight, this episode will help you understand where the problem starts—and what to do before it gets worse. Like, share, and subscribe for more conversations on the financial and operational realities of running a business.
S4 · E17
April 30 · 30 min
Process Breakdown! When Procedures are Missed.
Most companies think their processes are well documented and followed. But what happens when the systems fail? In this episode, we discuss common mistakes businesses make and their impact on growth and profitability. Also be sure to order your copy of Escape The Owner's Trap now available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0GWB33F63?ref_=cm_sw_r_ffobk_cp_ud_dp_WGZ9JX679D4JJYS80C2J_3&bestFormat=true Be sure to Like, Share, and Subsribe
S4 · E16
April 24 · 30 min
Not all HR tasks need to be outsourced. When to hire a consultant.
HR usually gets attention after something breaks—and by then, it’s already costing you time, money, and people. Kelly talks about three simple buckets of HR work: what should stay with you and your managers, what needs more structure, and what’s easier with a second set of eyes. Kelly offers a starting point so you can see what’s fine to keep doing it yourself and where outside help actually takes some of the HR burden off your plate. If your HR feels reactive or disorganized, this conversation will help you get ahead of it—and yes, the HR Snapshot is free. Please Like, Share, and Subscribe!
S4 · E15
April 16 · length unknown
Taxes After the Fact: What Now and What’s Next
Taxes are either filed or pushed to extension—but that doesn’t mean you’re done. In this episode, we break down what business owners should still be paying attention to after the deadline has passed, especially if your return isn’t fully finalized yet. There are still decisions, adjustments, and opportunities that can impact what you ultimately pay. We also take a look at how the “Big Beautiful Bill” is affecting businesses right now. What actually changed, what’s getting misunderstood, and where it may create either advantages or unexpected costs depending on how your business is structured. Then we shift forward. What should you be doing today to prepare for 2026 so you’re not reacting again next year? From entity structure considerations to timing of income and expenses, we walk through practical ways to reduce tax burden while aligning with how your business is actually operating. If you’ve ever felt like taxes are something that just happens to you instead of something you can plan for, this episode will help you start thinking differently about how to take control. Be sure to Like, Share, and Subscribe.

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