In this episode, I want to talk about the work most founders don’t see—until something breaks. The kind of work that doesn’t feel urgent when revenue is growing, but becomes unavoidable when banks, the IRS, or cash flow start asking harder questions. If your numbers look “fine” but don’t actually make sense, you’ve got some work to do.

Today I sit down with my team member Aries to unpack what really happens when businesses outgrow standard bookkeeping. Aries is a member of our internal team at Balannx, working closely with me to translate complex financial concepts into real-world business conversations.

Off camera, Aries asks the questions founders are often afraid to ask themselves.We talk about why founders rely on delegation without verification, how sloppy financial systems quietly distort profit, and why the balance sheet always tells the truth eventually.

You don’t hire a company like Balannx for bookkeeping.

You hire us for certainty.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/.

Learn more about https://balannx.com/.

Timestamps

• 0:00 – Why accounting fails founders as businesses scale
• 1:10 – Architecture, foundations, and why metaphors matter
• 2:30 – What it actually looks like when financial systems break
• 3:15 – When “not knowing your numbers” becomes negligence
• 5:10 – Delegation without verification (and why trust isn’t control)
• 6:30 – What forensic financial restoration really involves
• 8:00 – Paying for bookkeeping vs. paying for certainty
• 9:20 – Who this level of financial work is actually for

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If your company holds an SBA 8(a) AA certification, December 2025 quietly changed the rules—and missing the details could cost you your status. Many firms assume this only applies once you’ve won a contract. It doesn’t. And the deadline is closer than most business owners realize.

On this episode of Become Sensible, we break down the new SBA 8(a) AA financial audit requirements that went into effect in December 2025. We cover exactly what documents the SBA now requires, why general ledger data must be submitted in CSV format, and how the agency is using multi-year financial reviews to assess continued economic disadvantage. We also walk through common bookkeeping mistakes that trigger red flags, even when there’s no fraud involved, and explain why profit & loss statements alone are no longer enough. If you want to protect your 8(a) AA certification and remain eligible for future contracts, this episode is essential listening.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fionahnguyen/

Learn more about Balannx: https://balannx.com/

Timestamps

0:00 – Intro

1:24 – New SBA 8(a) AA audit requirements explained

2:10 – Why audits apply even if you haven’t won a contract

2:48 – CSV general ledger uploads and multi-year lookbacks

3:42 – Real example: how bookkeeping errors trigger SBA issues

5:26 – Owner equity, loans, and personal net worth risks

6:00 – Zero-revenue years and undocumented transfers

7:24 – Why profit & loss and balance sheets must align

7:50 – January 19 deadline and consequences of noncompliance

8:12 – When to bring in professional help before submitting

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the year winds down, there’s a particular kind of tension founders feel—part reflection, part pressure, part quiet awareness that something is shifting. This moment isn’t loud or dramatic, but it matters. What you do here determines how you enter the next year.

On this episode of Become Sensible, I slow things down to talk about how to intentionally close 2025—personally and professionally. We explore why misalignment can hide inside “successful” seasons, how your body and resistance offer useful signals, and why time—not money—is the real asset shaping your future. This conversation is an invitation to notice what no longer fits and to choose what you’re carrying forward with clarity.

Connect

Follow me, Fiona Nguyen, on LinkedIn. Learn more about Balannx.

Timestamps

- 0:00 – Closing the year with intention

- 2:00 – When success no longer feels aligned

- 4:45 – Resistance as useful information

- 7:00 – Time, repetition, and where life actually goes

- 10:00 – Staying connected to the work as a leader

- 12:00 – What to leave behind vs. what to carry forward

- 15:00 – Why change starts before January

- 17:00 – Resilience, progress, and doing the work again

- 19:30 – A grounded close to the year

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.