How to Find (and Fix) the Leaks in Your Business (Before It Costs You More Growth)

Katie Sheach
2 days ago
3 min read

Every business has leaks.

The smart ones find them before they cause real damage.

If your business feels heavier than it should, more draining, less profitable, or frustratingly slow to grow, chances are, you’re dealing with a leak.

And it’s probably not because you’re working too little or caring too little.

It’s because somewhere, time, money, energy, or focus is dripping away — silently.

These leaks start small. But left unchecked, they quietly drain your momentum, profitability, and sanity. The good news? Spotting (and fixing) them is simpler than you think.

Let’s walk through how to find your biggest leak and what to do next.

What counts as a business leak?

In my work with both service providers and product-based business owners, leaks usually show up in one of four areas:

Time leaks: Tasks taking twice as long as they should, low-value admin stealing your prime energy hours.
Money leaks: Low profit margins, inconsistent pricing, and hidden operational costs.
Energy leaks: Misaligned clients, draining product fulfilment, and delivery methods that exhaust you.
Efficiency leaks: Systems that aren’t supporting you, manual processes that should be automated, decision bottlenecks slowing everything down.

At first, they’re manageable. But over time? They turn running your business into a constant uphill climb.

Common Leaks for Service-Based Businesses

Overdelivering without additional compensation (scope creep).
Undercharging compared to the depth of service provided.
Lack of structured onboarding, leading to inefficiencies.
Constant context-switching between projects without protected CEO time.

Common Leaks for Product-Based Businesses

Poor profit margins after costs and fees are factored in.
Overstocking inventory that ties up cash and space.
Slow fulfilment, causing customer service bottlenecks.
Low repeat purchase rates because the product strategy isn’t mapped.

Quick Self-Assessment: Spot Your Biggest Leak

Take five minutes and answer these three questions honestly:

Where does my business feel the heaviest right now? (Time? Money? Emotional energy? Delivery?)
What tasks, products, or clients drain me the most, and bring the least return?
If I could fix ONE thing today that would make everything easier, what would it be?

Your answers will usually point directly to your biggest leak.

(And if you’re struggling to pick one, that’s a leak too: lack of prioritisation!)

Mini Action Plan: How to Start Fixing It

1. Name It

Leaks get worse when you avoid them. Call it out. Write it down. Get specific.

Example: "My onboarding process is leaking time and causing new client stress."

2. Quantify It

How much is this leak costing you?

Hours lost per week?
Revenue slipping away?
Energy being drained?

Estimate it roughly — awareness is power.

3. Contain It

You don't have to fix everything overnight. Choose ONE small step to slow the leak.

Examples:

Block one CEO morning a week for big-picture work.
Raise prices on one offer that’s underpriced.
Simplify fulfilment with a templated system.
Create a clearer onboarding checklist for clients.

Small moves, made consistently, plug big leaks over time.

Final Thoughts

Business leaks don’t fix themselves. They grow.

The sooner you spot them, the easier they are to contain and the faster your business can scale sustainably, without exhaustion. If you’re ready to spot your leaks, patch them properly, and finally build with ease? That’s exactly what we do inside The RESET Suite.

Whether it’s a RESET Day to audit and refocus, ongoing support inside The RESET Circle, or a full strategic rebuild through The RESET Experience, I’m here to help.

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