If you’re putting in the work—posting, emailing, serving clients—but not seeing the income you expected, you might not have a revenue problem… you might have a leak problem.

In The Richest Man in Babylon, George S. Clason teaches that wealth isn’t just about how much you earn—it’s about how much you keep. And for modern business owners, especially those just starting out, that lesson is more relevant than ever.

Money Slips Through the Cracks More Than You Think

Revenue leaks often show up in small, quiet ways:

• Subscriptions you forgot you’re paying for
• Invoices that go uncollected
• Missed follow-ups with warm leads
• Undervalued pricing that barely covers your time

Like the characters in Babylon who spent all their gold without a plan, many business owners earn income—but don’t keep enough of it.

Track What Comes In (and What Flows Out)

Clason’s first rule of wealth is to “start thy purse to fattening.” Translated: pay attention to your money. Even a simple spreadsheet can reveal where you’re losing profits. How many hours are going unpaid? How many customers never hear from you again after a sale?

It’s not about cutting every expense—it’s about making sure your income has a purpose.

Build Systems That Keep Money In

You don’t need fancy tools to stop leaks. You just need habits:

• Set reminders to follow up with leads
• Automate thank-you emails or upsells
• Review your expenses monthly
• Raise prices when your value increases

These small fixes help plug holes—and protect your profits.

Final Thoughts

You work too hard to watch your earnings disappear. Take a cue from Babylon’s wealthiest characters: grow your income, yes—but guard it, too. Small intentional steps now can lead to lasting stability and freedom.

Dataczar Tip of the Post:
Add a follow-up email sequence for new subscribers using Dataczar’s email tools. It helps keep potential customers engaged—and stops interest from leaking away.

 

This article is part of our Business Coaching blog series. At Dataczar we talk to a lot of small businesses. We’ve found a few books that we keep recommending time and again. To better help our customers, we’ve added a Reading List for Small Businesses to our website. We encourage every small business owner to read and keep these timeless business books on their office shelf.

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