01 · See clearly
Metrics That Matter
Know the few numbers that tell you what's really happening, starting with where your cash is headed.
New book · For small business owners
You built the business. Now take back control.
Cash, decisions, and your time. The Scale Map is a practical operating system for small business owners, written from 30+ years at the CFO's desk.
Endorsed by owners and CEOs at Brown Law, Conner Insurance, Form-A-Feed, Echo Lake Foods, and more.
The Scale Trap
The business grew. So did its dependence on you.
You started with an opportunity. You knew every customer, made every call, and found a way forward.
Then the business grew. More people. More decisions. More cash moving through the bank. And the important answers still land on your desk.
The habits that built your business quietly become the limits on how far it can grow. That's The Scale Trap. It happens to good owners, because what works at 5 people starts to break at 25.
Sound familiar?
- The customer issue waits for you.
- The hiring decision waits for you.
- Sales are up, and cash still feels tight.
- Payroll is Friday, and you check the bank balance again.
- A week away feels like a risk to the business.
Growth should buy you freedom. The Scale Map shows you how to get it back.
Inside the book
Three circles. One clear way to run your business.
The cover tells the story: three circles sketched on a napkin. Together they form a simple operating system that turns daily firefighting into a weekly rhythm.
02 · Own the outcome
Alignment & Accountability
Give people clear ownership and the authority to act, so decisions get made closer to the work.
03 · Move forward
Priorities That Move the Business Forward
Build a weekly rhythm that turns the most important decisions into action and follow-through.
Where all three overlap, the business keeps moving without needing you in every decision.
See cash coming
Spot a squeeze weeks ahead, while you still have options.
Decide faster
Trade guesswork for the few numbers that matter.
A team that owns it
Clear owners. Clear authority. Fewer problems on your desk.
Your time back
A business that runs without you in every answer.
What early readers say
Owners are putting it to work.
In less than an afternoon, I worked through it chapter by chapter, applying information I already had about my business. The result was a 12-page plan I could actually use.
“Every decision that lands on the owner’s desk is one that didn’t get resolved below it. Mike Achman calls that decision debt, and it’s the clearest explanation I’ve read of why growth so often feels like more work instead of more freedom.”
“Such a commonsense approach. This will help or remind all business owners no matter if they are 6 months into starting their business or have been in business for 30+ years and want to GROW!”
“The Scale Map taught me to ask a better one: what in our system let it drop? Mike Achman shows owners how to give capable people clear information, clear authority and a clear priority, and then get out of the way.”
“The MAP framework will leave business leaders with the tools they need to have confidence in the path forward toward a successful and profitable business.”
“This is a practical, grounded guide for leaders who want to build stronger teams, anticipate challenges, and grow with greater confidence.”
“The methods and approach Michael walks you through will transform how you think about proactive financial health, and ultimately the growth of your organization.”
About the author
From the CFO's desk to yours.
Michael Achman has spent 30+ years in finance and C-suite roles inside growing companies.
- Manufacturing
- Consumer products
- Agriculture
- Life sciences
- Real estate
- Mergers & acquisitions
Across every industry, he kept seeing the same pattern. The owner who built the business becomes the person it can't move without. Cash surprises show up late. Good people wait for answers.
He wrote The Scale Map to put a CFO's way of seeing the business into the hands of owners, in plain language they can use this week.
Today Mike leads LaunchPoints, a strategic CFO and advisory firm for small and mid-sized businesses.
Questions
Before you dive in.
Who is The Scale Map for?
Small business owners and founders who built something real and now feel the weight of it. If decisions, cash worries, and problems still land on your desk, this book was written for you, whether you have 5 employees or 150.
Do I need a finance background to use it?
No. The book is written in plain language for owners. It shows which few numbers matter, why they matter, and what to do with them each week.
What is the free 13-Week Cash MAP?
A free cash flow forecasting resource for business owners. It shows cash coming in, payments going out, and the weeks that need attention, so you can act before cash gets tight. See how a 13-week cash flow forecast works.
Where can I buy The Scale Map?
The Scale Map is available on Amazon. Get the book ↗
Can I order copies for my team, clients, or peer group?
Yes. For bulk orders, workshops, or speaking, contact Mike through LaunchPoints.
How is the book connected to LaunchPoints?
LaunchPoints is Mike's strategic CFO and advisory firm. The book gives you the map. LaunchPoints helps owners who want hands-on support putting it to work.
Your next step
Start navigating this week.
Most owners start with the book and the free Cash MAP together.
01 · The book
The Scale Map
Take back control of your cash, business, and time as you grow.
- Know the numbers that matter, starting with cash
- Give your team clear ownership and authority
- Build a weekly rhythm that keeps the business moving
02 · Free resource
Get the 13-Week Cash MAP
See the next 13 weeks of cash in one view. Know which weeks get tight before Friday becomes a crisis.
- Name and email
- Opens right away
- Link sent to your inbox