THE ASHTON METHOD™

From “Can We Afford This?”

to a Plan You Trust, in 90 Days

A five-step process that connects your cash, profit, inventory and debt, so your next inventory order, hire or ad push is a decision you've already run the numbers on, not a gamble you hope works out.

A focused conversation. Real answers. No sales pitch.

The first 90 days

What Changes for You

Before

After

Before

Checking the bank balance before every decision

After

A forward cash view you plan from

Before

Cash surprises the month after a big order

After

Knowing when cash will tighten, weeks ahead

Before

Inventory buys that drain the account or the credit line

After

Inventory planned and funded from peak season

Before

Not sure which products actually make money

After

Profit by product and channel, after ads, fees and fulfillment

Before

Ad spend decided by gut

After

Clear limits for what you can spend on ads, hires and inventory

Before

No idea what next quarter looks like

After

A monthly rhythm to review, forecast and decide

You stop reacting to the bank balance and start deciding ahead of it.

HOW IT WORKS

The Five Steps

Each step answers one question, and each one builds on the last.

By Day 14, you’ll already know more than you do today: where your cash really stands, what’s putting pressure on it right now, the gaps that need fixing, and what to tackle first.

  1. 1

    Days 1–14

    Establish Financial Truth

    We examine

    Bookkeeping structure, chart of accounts, sales channels, inventory reporting, existing financial reports, monthly close process.

    We’re trying to answer

    Can we trust the numbers enough to make decisions from them?

    You walk away with

    A reliable financial baseline.

  2. 2

    Days 15–30

    Build the Forward Cash Plan

    We examine

    Expected cash inflows, inventory commitments, payroll, debt, taxes, owner distributions, growth investments.

    We’re trying to answer

    Where does cash tighten before it becomes a problem?

    You walk away with

    A forward-looking cash forecast.

  3. 3

    Days 31–60

    Identify Profit + Cash Leaks

    We examine

    Margins by product after fees and fulfillment, ad spend by channel, slow-moving inventory, overhead, credit line use.

    We’re trying to answer

    Where is money being lost, trapped in inventory, or used up before it becomes profit?

    You walk away with

    A ranked list of leaks and what each one is costing you.

  4. 4

    Days 61–90

    Create the Growth Roadmap

    We examine

    Upcoming inventory buys, ad budget, hiring, debt paydown, owner pay, reserves.

    We’re trying to answer

    Which moves can the business afford, in what order, and what happens if we’re wrong?

    You walk away with

    A prioritized roadmap with base, growth and downside scenarios.

  5. 5

    Month 4+

    Run the Decision Rhythm

    We examine

    Actual results against the forecast, cash position, new pressure points.

    We’re trying to answer

    What changed, and what should we do now?

    You walk away with

    A monthly decision meeting, so you’re never carrying it alone.

    ReviewWhat happened?
    ForecastWhat’s coming?
    DecideWhat needs action?
    AdjustWhat changes now?

Is this right for you?

Who the Method Is Built For

This Method works best when:

  • You’re doing roughly $1M–$5M and carrying real inventory.
  • Your financial decisions are getting more complex.
  • Growth decisions carry real financial consequences.
  • You’re willing to act on what the numbers show.

It’s probably not the right fit if:

  • You’d rather hear reassurance than the truth about your numbers.
  • You’re not willing to look closely at cash, margins, inventory or ad spend.
  • You’re not ready to clean up the numbers or commit to a monthly review rhythm.
  • You’re too early for meaningful forecasting.

Not sure your numbers are ready?

That’s what Step 1 is for. If your books need a full cleanup first, our bookkeeping team can get you there.

And if clean, current books are all you need right now, we do that too.

Talk to us about bookkeeping →

If you’re ready to understand what your business can safely afford to do next, let’s start with a Profit & Cash Review.

PROFIT & CASH REVIEW

Your Next Big Decision Deserves More Than a Guess

Start with a Profit & Cash Review. We'll look at your real numbers and show you where cash is getting trapped, what's putting pressure on the business, and what deserves your attention first.

A focused conversation. Real answers. No sales pitch.