Burnout doesn’t come from caring too much.
It comes from carrying too much—alone, and without a system you can trust.
You started your ABA practice to make a difference.
To give clients the support you wish you’d had.
To create a workplace where people are seen, valued, and paid fairly for their work.
But as your practice grows, so do the numbers. Payroll. Overhead. Insurance delays. The gnawing uncertainty of “Will it all work next month?”
This is where ethics and finance intersect—not as distant silos, but as the engine and steering wheel of your mission.
You are your practice’s...
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Chief Financial Steward. Whether you use that title or not.
Ethics Isn’t Just a Policy—It’s a Financial Commitment
Integrity is not a line in your handbook. It’s a line in your budget.
If you want to pay staff on time—every time—you need more than good intentions. If you want to fund real supervision and robust training, you need visibility into your margins and reserves. If you want to serve clients consistently, you need a cash flow system that won’t collapse when insurance payments are delayed.
Ethical lapses often start as financial compromises. Not enough clarity. Not enough foresight. Not enough support.
This is the reality: Every financial decision is an ethical decision.
You’re not just protecting your bottom line. You’re protecting people’s livelihoods—and, ultimately, their trust.
Delegating Isn’t Abdicating
Here’s a hard truth, learned by too many leaders the hard way: You can delegate your books, but you can’t abdicate your responsibility.
Delegation is partnership. It’s asking questions. It’s reviewing your numbers. It’s noticing when something feels off and digging deeper.
Abdication is silence. It’s “I don’t have time for that.” It’s letting someone else steer while you close your eyes and hope for the best.
One builds resilience. The other breeds risk—quietly, until it’s loud.
Which one serves your mission? Which one honors your people?
The Mindset Shift: Becoming Your Practice’s Ethical CFO
You don’t need a finance degree to step into this role. What you need is courage. Clarity. A willingness to see the story behind the numbers—and act on what you see.
Start here:
- Own your financial literacy. You don’t have to do it alone. But you do have to know enough to ask the right questions.
- What’s our cash flow forecast?
- How old are our receivables?
- Are we operating at a sustainable profit margin?
- Can we fund raises and bonuses without skipping a beat on payroll?
- Build the right systems. A generic chart of accounts won’t get you where you need to go. ABA is unique—so are your numbers. MarginKeepers understands this. They offer a free, ABA-specific Chart of Accounts—not as a sales gimmick, but because clarity is an ethical imperative. Listen to Sam Eddy on the 3 Pie Squared Podcast Sam lays it out: Why every dollar tracked is a promise kept. Why the transition from cash to accrual accounting can transform not just your balance sheet, but your sense of security. Request your free Chart of Accounts by emailing MarginKeepers and build a foundation for trust.
- Ask for the right tools—then use them. MarginKeepers has built resources for practices like yours:
- 10 Essential Accounting Tips for Established ABA Owners: Request them (email with this subject line). Practical. Actionable. No jargon.
- Tax Compliance Flyer: Available for free. Because you deserve peace of mind—and your staff deserves consistency.
Data Is Leadership. Leadership Is Ethics.
Your numbers are more than numbers. They’re stories of families supported, staff invested in, crises averted.
- Should you expand? The answer is in your cash reserves and your profitability—not in your waitlist.
- Can you add another BCBA? Let your projections, not just your hope, drive that decision.
- Are you paying people fairly—and consistently? Data tells you where you’re strong, and where you’re stretched.
This is the heart of leadership: Facing reality, together. Using your systems as a mirror—not a shield.
The System and the Self—Aligned
You matter as much as your numbers.
This is about your peace of mind, your ability to rest, your sense of integrity at the end of the day.
Yes, it’s about compliance. Yes, it’s about growth. But above all, it’s about your commitment to do right by the people who rely on you.
The world doesn’t need more ABA owners running on adrenaline and hope. It needs grounded leaders. Ethical CFOs. People willing to build the systems that support their vision, even on the hard days.
It got you here. It’s what will get you through.
Where to Start: Tools and Support
If you’re ready to lead with confidence, you don’t have to start from scratch.
- Listen to “Unlock Financial Success for Your ABA Practice”
- Explore “How to Scale Your ABA Business”
- Get your free Chart of Accounts
- Request the 10 Accounting Tips
- Download the Tax Compliance Flyer
MarginKeepers is more than a vendor—they’re a partner. Their tools are built for real ABA practices, run by people who care.
So—take the step. Become your practice’s Ethical CFO. Lead with numbers, heart, and courage.
Because your clients, your staff, and your mission deserve nothing less.
