A No BS Look at Your Q3 Numbers (Before Q4 Hits Like a Freight Train)
Let’s be honest…Q3 is wrapping up, and if you’re staring at your calendar wondering how the year flew by this fast…you’re not alone.
Somehow, we went from summer Fridays and iced coffees to holiday marketing plans and fourth-quarter chaos, and no one gave us a heads-up.
Q3 has a reputation for slipping through the cracks. It’s the quarter where routines shift, energy dips, and businesses quietly coast. But here’s the thing: if you don’t pause to evaluate what actually happened, you’ll roll into Q4 with no plan and even less profit.
Let’s change that.
Start With These 3 Numbers:
Take 20 minutes this week and look at:
- Revenue – What actually hit your account, not just what you invoiced.
- Expenses – What did it cost to keep things running? (Bonus points if you find subscriptions you forgot about.)
- Profit Margin – What’s left? This tells you whether you’re growing or just staying busy.
Then Ask Yourself:
- Did the business grow this quarter, or just tread water?
- Are your prices covering your actual costs?
- Do your numbers tell a story of progress…or pressure?
If that last one made you pause, good. That means it’s time to check in, not check out.
Deep Dive Before Q3 Closes:
Do a full review of your books through September 15th. That gives you clean, reliable data without waiting until the last day of the month.
Here’s your Q3 wrap-up checklist:
- Pull a Profit & Loss by month: look for patterns, not just totals
- Review your top 10 expenses: are they worth it?
- Chase down unpaid invoices: cash flow isn’t a suggestion
- Track mileage, organize receipts, and stop putting it off
- Identify one area to improve before the year ends
Here’s the truth: If your books feel overwhelming, that’s the exact reason to look at them. Clarity isn’t a luxury, it’s a leadership skill.
Q4 is here, whether you’re ready or not.
The question is: will you end the year stronger than you started… or just more tired?
