3 Lessons Learned from 6 Years in Business - Northwest Money Coaching
Six years.
If you would have told me seven years ago, back when I was staying home with my 2 babies, that I’d be sitting here today as a full-time personal & small business financial coach, I might have laughed. Or cried. Or maybe a bit of both.
Northwest Money Coaching LLC officially hit its 6-year anniversary April 30, and honestly? It feels like a lifetime and a blink of an eye all at once. This isn't just a business anniversary for me; it’s a celebration of a dream job that actually became a reality. It’s fulfilling, it’s flexible, and most importantly, it’s a helping profession that lets me walk alongside self-employed families as they navigate the often-messy world of cash flow and stewardship.
It's been a journey! It took a lot of messy action, some hard prayers, and a few "what on earth am I doing?" moments.
If you’re sitting there right now with a dream of your own, maybe you want to go full-time with your coaching business, or maybe you just want to get your current business to a place where it doesn’t feel like it’s drowning you, I want to share three big lessons I’ve learned over these six years.
It’s not always pretty, but it is so worth it.
Lesson 1: Start Small and Do It Scared
One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that we need everything "ready" before we launch. We think we need the $5,000 website, the perfect logo, and a tech stack just like the gal who's been in business 10years.
Here’s the truth: You don’t.
I started Northwest Money Coaching with the simplest version possible. I was still in training when I scheduled my first consultation and stayed up until 2am to create a website, just in case they checked (they didn't).
I didn't have all the answers. I just knew I had a passion for helping people get their money under control. I was a Ramsey financial coach in training with a laptop and a desire to help people stop stressing about their bank accounts.
I see so many aspiring entrepreneurs paralyzed by perfectionism. They wait and wait, hoping for the "right time." But here’s a secret: The right time doesn’t exist. You have to start making money with your simplest version and build from there.
You have to do it scared.
I remember my first few inquiries. My heart would race every time I got an email. I wondered if I was "expert" enough. But you know what? Those early clients didn't care if I had a fancy office. They cared that I could help them solve their six-figure income stress. They cared that I could help them understand their cash flow and profit and loss.
Don’t wait for the fear to go away. It won’t. Just take the first step. If you're looking for a roadmap, check out this case study on starting a financial coaching business.
Lesson 2: Debt-Free Business Building is the Only Way to Fly
There’s this cultural narrative that "you have to spend money to make money," and usually, that’s code for "go get a business loan or put it on a credit card."
I’m going to be very direct here: Being a slave to your lenders is not the beautiful image anyone has when they dream of working for themselves.
I built Northwest Money Coaching without debt. And let me tell you, that decision is exactly how you build a sustainable business. When you don’t have monthly payments hanging over your head, you have the freedom to make choices based on your values and your family, not based on what the bank requires.
Think long and hard before taking on debt to grow your business. People will tell you "everyone else is doing it."
Psst... 👋🏻 they’re not.
Or if they are, they’re probably losing sleep over it. I’ve seen too many people fall into the buy now pay later trap or rack up high-interest debt trying to scale a business that hasn't even proven its concept yet.
Building slowly and paying as you go might take a little longer, but the peace of mind is worth every extra month. You don't want to build a "dream job" that feels like a prison. Instead, focus on how to create a business budget that allows you to live within the means of your business, not borrowed "potential" profits.
Lesson 3: Kill the "Desperation Stink" with a Steady Income Bridge
This is probably the most practical advice I can give to anyone newer in business: Have a steady income from another source while you get your business up and going.
I know, I know. It’s not as "romantic" as the person who quits their job with $0 in the bank and "burns the ships." But you know what happens when you have $0 in the bank and bills to pay? You get desperate.
And your desperation for money will turn off the people you are trying to help.
Clients can smell desperation from a mile away. It changes the way you sell. Instead of coming from a place of service and stewardship, you start coming from a place of "I need this sale to pay my mortgage." That pressure makes you pushy, and it makes you less effective.
In the beginning, I was working my other job (stay at home mom!) while trying to grow my coaching practice. It was hard. I was tired. I only had a handful of hours to actually work in and on the business. Naturally, you’ll reach a breaking point where you’re working too much at both. But that’s actually a good problem to have! It means you have proof of concept AND cash.
The goal is to build up a savings runway so you can leave the "day job" and have enough time to increase your business income until it replaces your old salary. This avoids the cash flow mistakes self-employed families make when they jump too soon without a safety net.
As I look back on these six years, my heart is just... full.
I am so incredibly thankful to God for enabling me to do this work. As a Christian financial coach, I truly believe that our money is a tool we’ve been entrusted with, and getting to help families steward that tool well is an honor I don’t take lightly. Every time someone trusts me to look at their numbers, I’m reminded of how blessed I am.
To every person who has sent a referral my way, every person who has filled out an inquiry form on my website, and every client who has let me into their "money world": thank you. You are the reason I get to do what I love.
And I have to give a huge, massive shoutout to my husband. He worked so hard for us to bring home that steady paycheck in those early years. He gave me the space, the support, and the "runway" to work up to a steady paycheck of my own from my business. We were a team in this, and we still are. If you’re navigating business and life with a partner, I highly recommend checking out my thoughts on budgeting for two: it’s been the foundation of our financial success.
What’s Next?
Whether you’ve been following me since year one or you just found your way here, I’m glad you’re here.
This year in 2026 I brought on another coach as my capacity was reaching my limits, and I'm so thankful for the excellence she brings to her work. I also continue to help YNAB users troubleshoot their budgets as a YNAB Certified Coach. I live in Oregon about an hour outside of Portland but I travel to my homeland Orange County, California a few times per year to see family and clients.
Here’s to the next six years of intentional spending, debt-free growth, and doing it scared.
If you need help getting started or just want to make sure you're prepared for the new month, reach out. I'd love to be your personal finance coach or small business financial coach and help you find the same flexibility and fulfillment I’ve found.
Onward and upward!
-Cortney Kaveh
