Building a Business That Works for You
Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the podcast episode here.
In this episode of the Inside Riva Podcast, Sophie sits down with Katie Bryan, Founder and CEO of Propeller Advisory, to talk about what it really takes to build a successful business, from understanding the numbers and managing growth to building the right team and creating more freedom as a business owner.
For Katie, success is not simply about more clients, more revenue or a bigger team. It is about building a business that supports the life you actually want to live.
Katie Bryan | Founder and CEO of Propeller Advisory
Rethinking traditional accounting
Before starting Propeller Advisory, Katie worked across insolvency, business services, mergers and acquisitions and CFO services.
It was during her time in mergers and acquisitions that the idea behind Propeller really started to take shape. After visiting around 100 accounting firms in 12 months, Katie saw an industry that was often still very traditional, with plenty of paperwork and a strong focus on what had already happened.
At the same time, she was meeting a new generation of business owners who wanted more from their accountant.
“There has to be a better way.”
That idea became the foundation for Propeller Advisory: a more proactive approach to accounting that helps business owners understand their numbers, plan ahead and make better decisions.
Start with the vision
One of Katie’s key ideas is simple: start with the vision, not the numbers.
Before looking at financial targets or growth plans, business owners need to understand what they are actually trying to build.
What income do you want? How much do you want to work? What do you want your life to look like? And what kind of business will support that?
Katie has followed the same approach with Propeller. After years of building the right team, systems and processes, the business can now operate without her being involved in every decision. Today, she works three days a week while a team of 17 supports the business.
That journey also inspired her Runs Without You program, helping other business owners build more time and flexibility into their lives.
Getting out of the weeds
Being busy is often seen as a sign that business is going well. But Katie believes it can also be a sign that something needs attention.
When a founder finds themselves back in the day-to-day, working longer hours or taking tasks back from their team, there may be a missing role, a process that is not working or simply too much sitting with the founder.
One of Katie’s practical tips is to look closely at where your time is going.
“If they shouldn’t be doing it, delegate it or just get rid of it.”
The goal is to create more space for the work that actually moves the business forward, including strategy, sales, relationships and leadership.
At Propeller, Katie also involves her team in setting goals and understanding where the business is heading, helping create a stronger sense of ownership across the team.
Growth without profit isn’t really growth
More revenue can look like success from the outside, but Katie is quick to point out that growth does not always mean a business is becoming stronger.
Sales can increase while margins fall. A business can grow faster than its team or systems can handle. And when things are moving quickly, it is easy to stop paying attention to what the numbers are telling you.
If Katie could ask business owners to track one financial metric, her answer is clear: gross profit.
It gives business owners a better view of whether what they are selling is actually generating enough margin to cover costs and support the rest of the business.
Her advice is simple: take 15 minutes every Monday to check the key numbers in your business.
Those numbers can help answer some of the biggest questions, from whether you can afford to hire to whether your pricing needs to change.
“All the answers to all of these things are in your numbers.”
You do not need to become an accountant. But understanding the key numbers, and having the right adviser beside you, can help you make better decisions with more confidence.
Building a business that creates freedom
At the heart of Katie’s approach is the idea that a successful business should create more choice for its owner.
“You’ve got time freedom, money freedom, and operational freedom.”
That could mean working fewer days, having the confidence to step away or simply knowing the business can continue without you being involved in every detail.
Katie’s message to other business owners is clear:
“You need to get out of the weeds.”
Get clear on the bigger vision, build the right people and systems around you, and focus your time on the areas where you can make the greatest impact.
Because a successful business should not only work.
It should work for you.
Inside Riva with Katie Bryan
Katie Bryan is the Founder and CEO of Propeller Advisory, a Gold Coast accounting and business advisory firm and part of the Riva community.
To learn more about Katie and Propeller Advisory, visit propelleradvisory.com.au or follow @iamkatiebryan on Instagram.
Listen to the full episode of the Inside Riva Podcast for more on business growth, financial clarity and building a business that can run without you.
