Nathan let the silence stretch until David finally snapped. “Fine! If it’s not Finance, then what about Sales?”
Nathan smirked slightly. “How’s Sales holding up?”
“We’re busting our asses. It’s like a revolving door. We bring in new customers fast, but as soon as their contracts end, they’re gone. They chase the cheapest option.”
“Why do they leave?” Nathan asked, voice cold and measured.
“Because we can’t compete on price! I’ve already cut rates, offered discounts—nothing works. I even outsourced customer service to save costs.”
“And how did that go?”
David sighed. “A disaster at first, but we managed.”
“And that subscription model you canned?”
David tensed. “It wasn’t worth the risk. New licensing, new systems—it was too expensive. The ROI wasn’t guaranteed.”
Nathan slowly tapped his croissant against the plate, making no comment.
David narrowed his eyes. “You think it’s a vendor? I’ve been through every audit. Everything checks out.”
Nathan stayed silent, his gaze unwavering.
David leaned in. “Look, I know this business inside out. Our biggest client—30% of revenue—demands me personally. No one else can handle their projects. Sure, I work weekends and holidays, but keeping our top accounts happy is my job.”
“And you’re proud of that?” Nathan asked, his tone now razor-sharp.
David hesitated. “Of course. They trust me with their biggest projects.”
Nathan leaned forward, voice cold as ice. “David, add up everything your business has paid you—salary, perks, dividends—from day one.”
David blinked. “Alright… I’ve got a number.”
“Now let me tell you how much you’ve already lost… and who’s really been stealing from you.”
David’s jaw tightened as Nathan’s words cut through the air.
To Be Continued.
P.S. I’m not the “systems guy”, process guy” or the “finance guy”. I’m the “start living your best life today” guy, helping you grow a business that gives you freedom now and lets you exit on your own terms later.