Read time: 2 mins
With Halloween just around the corner, let’s make sure there isn’t a horror story hiding in your business.
Over the past 2 weeks, we’ve been sharing some of the biggest mistakes business owners make when trying to grow (read them here and here).
This week’s mistake?
Ignoring the scary signs right in front of you.
I still remember going to Blockbuster with my family on Fridays for movie night (hey, Lynne here ).
It was great.
I loved browsing the aisles and trying to convince everyone to go with my pick.
It was the 90s; Blockbuster's golden age.
But not long after, the scary signs started creeping in for Blockbuster:
Streaming technology started taking off, and customer habits started shifting.
But Blockbuster kept looking at their store sales and late fees and thought they were safe.
How crazy is it that they were renting out movies… but they didn’t see they were becoming a horror story of their own!?
So don't be like them.
Don't ignore the creaking floorboards, the shadow in the hallway.
The signs are there, but if you don’t pay attention, the monster jumps out when it’s too late.
Here are some of the scary signs we see hiding in business data, and what we want you to watch out for:
MISTAKE #3: IGNORING SCARY SIGNS
1- Declining repeat customers
It might look like a small dip in sales, but the real danger is underneath: your loyal base is shrinking.
Repeat customers usually spend more, cost less to serve, and drive referrals.
When they start disappearing, it’s a warning that your product, service, or customer experience isn’t meeting expectations anymore.
If you don’t act, you’ll be forced to constantly chase new customers just to stand still, and that treadmill is exhausting.
2- Rising costs with flat revenue
Revenue stability can feel reassuring, but if your costs are climbing in the background, your profit margin is quietly bleeding out.
This can come from supplier price hikes, inefficient processes, or team productivity slipping.
3- Outstanding receivables
On paper, it looks like you’ve had a strong sales month.
But if the money hasn’t hit the bank, your cashflow is at risk.
Businesses often ignore overdue invoices because “the money is coming”… until suddenly, it’s not.
The more your receivables build up, the more exposed you are to bad debt and sleepless nights trying to pay your own bills.
Cash is the lifeblood of your business, and so don't leave it tied up in invoices.
4- Over-reliance on one client
It’s tempting to relax when a big client brings in steady revenue.
But when 50–60% of your income is concentrated in one account, your business hangs on their next decision.
One budget cut, leadership change, or new supplier, and your “best customer” can quickly become your scariest nightmare.
The big fix
Don’t wait for scary signs to leap out and surprise you.
Set up a simple monthly check-in to:
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Track your repeat customer rate (are they coming back, or drifting away?)
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Compare expenses vs. revenue (are margins holding steady?)
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Review outstanding invoices (is cash actually coming in?)
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Check revenue concentration (is any client too big a share of the pie?)
By making scary-sign reviews part of your routine, you shine a light on what’s lurking in the shadows, before it turns into a full-blown horror story.
Bottom line
Spooky numbers don’t have to end in a Blockbuster-style horror film.
The earlier you catch the signs, the easier (and less scary) they are to fix.
Reach out if you need support with this, and hope your Halloween is the right kind of scary!
Speak soon,
Lynne and Steve
P.S. Next week: Don't be fooled by your numbers.
TLDR:
Growth Mistake #3 is ignoring scary signs in your numbers:
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Declining repeat customers = shrinking loyalty
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Rising costs with flat revenue = margins disappearing
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Outstanding receivables = cashflow at risk
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Over-reliance on one client = one phone call away from disaster
The fix: shine a flashlight on your numbers every month so you catch the signs early… before they turn into a business horror story.
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