From $200 to $41,000: What we learned the hard way

Back in September, we hit one year in our new house. (yay!)

And this week? We’ve had contractors coming by every day.

That’s because most new builds come with a one-year warranty. And right now, we’re finally getting around to all the little things we knew we needed to get fixed, but that weren’t urgent enough to handle earlier.

Think: nail pops, drywall cracks, and mysterious circular slices in the bathroom floor (how did those even get there?).

And it’s all fine… because we planned for it.

But we’ve also learned the hard way what happens when you don’t plan for it.

At our old house, we let a small leak from our AC unit go unnoticed. No big deal at first, but over the years, mold took hold. And by the time we realized what was going on:

👉 We were on the hook for a $41,000 mold remediation project
👉 And worse, our family’s health was being affected

And now that’s what we think about every single time we see a wet spot or find a weird smell. Because most big problems don’t start big. They start small and then they grow in the dark.

The same thing happens in your business finances.

There are the current problems you can’t ignore:

• Cash flow dries up
• A tax deadline sneaks up
• You can’t pay yourself again this month

But more often, the damage is done by the small issues:

• Miscategorized expenses
• Invoices going unpaid
• Tools you’re not even using but still paying for
• Or just not understanding what your numbers are telling you

You think, “I’ll deal with that later.” But later comes with a price tag.

This is where financial maintenance comes in.

Financial maintenance is the regular habit of reviewing your business finances before something breaks. Just like checking for cracks in the walls or leaks under the sink.

Not perfection. Not a 5-year plan. Just a simple rhythm of looking under the hood on a regular basis.

It matters because financial problems don’t show up overnight. They build slowly and quietly until one day you’re dealing with a cash flow crunch, tax surprise, or a $41,000 mold-level mess in your books.

Financial maintenance gives you visibility, control, and peace of mind. It helps you stay ahead so your business can grow on solid ground.

Here’s how to start:

1. Keep a running “fix-it” list. Anytime something feels off in your finances, jot it down. Even if you’re not sure what it means yet.
2. Schedule monthly money maintenance. A 30-60 minute check in where you look at the list, update your books, and fix what you can.
3. Ask for help before it becomes a crisis. Just like calling a contractor before the mold sets in, it’s always cheaper (and less stressful) to deal with money issues early