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Buy the Numbers

Mike Payne
Manufacturing
CLA
Grants For Manufacturing
Automation
Manufacturing Industry
Equipment Financing
Kpis
Lakeview Consulting
Economic Development
Mick Vandeloo
Family-Owned Business
Succession Planning
Section 179
Cash Flow Management
Cash Flow
Family Business
Mergers and Acquisitions
Illinois
Covid-19
Data-Driven Decision Making

A deep dive into the financials of running a Manufacturing business.

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes55Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ManagementBusiness

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Artwork for Buy the Numbers

Latest Episodes

IMTS is about a week and a half out. Most people heading to Chicago are showing up with a shopping list, and the ones who aren't will still find something on the floor that makes them start one. Either way, there's a question worth answering before y... more

There's $35.8 million sitting in a federal fund built to pay manufacturers for hiring and training apprentices, and most shop owners have never heard of it. It pays $3,500 per apprentice. It's first come, first served. And when the money runs out, it... more

Almost every shop owner I talk to has told themselves the same story at some point: we are too small for a real ERP, so we will keep running the business on the old system and a pile of Excel spreadsheets. On this episode, I wanted to kill that myth,... more

You spend money on a website, LinkedIn posts, maybe some email and a trade show booth, and then you ask the question every owner asks: is any of this actually working? For most of us the honest answer is a gut feel. The machines are cutting chips, so... more

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Recent Guests

Abby Mataya
Leader, state and local business incentives team
CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)
Episode: The $3,500 Apprentice Incentive: How to Claim Your Share of a $35.8 Million Fund | Ep. 53
Brian Schoonover
Corporate Controller / Acting CFO
Turfco
Episode: Why You're Never too Small for an ERP, Ep. 52
Brendon Forrest
Director of Accounts at Gorilla 76, Industrial Marketing Agency
Gorilla 76
Episode: The 9 Numbers That Tell You If Your Marketing Is Working | Ep. 51
Heather Parbst
Leader of the Owner Transition Advisory team at CLA
CLA
Episode: The Owner Bottleneck: How Getting Out of the Way Can Double Your Shop's Value, Ep #50
Nush Ahmed
Sisterhood of Trades
Episode: Women, Purpose, and Pay: The Honest Conversation Manufacturing Needs to Have, Ep #48
Brooke Laing
Sisterhood of Trades
Episode: Women, Purpose, and Pay: The Honest Conversation Manufacturing Needs to Have, Ep #48
Mike (Professor of Payne)
Guest from Making Chips involved in the capacity planning and ROI discussion
Making Chips
Episode: The Real ROI of Automation: CapEx, Capacity & the Cost of Doing Nothing, Ep #46
Jason Woodard
Chief Operating Officer of Geislinger Corporation, author
Geislinger Corporation
Episode: Trust First, Numbers Second: The Leadership Playbook Manufacturing Shops Are Missing, Ep #43
Lori Demeyer
CLA consultant with telecom background, utility assessments expert
CLA
Episode: The Overlooked Expense: How Utility Assessments Can Unlock Hidden Savings, Ep #41

Host

Mike
Host of Buy the Numbers

Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars from 52 ratings
  • Great idea for a podcast!

    I’m surprised that in 2024 this is the first time that we’ve seen a podcast dedicated to talking about manufacturing and the numbers. I’m really excited that Mike decided to start this show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ToolingGuy
    United States2 years ago
  • Mike is so approachable!

    Lots of guys who do what Mike does can be self-absorbed, trying to pontificate with every story they tell.

    Mike is different. He is all about his guests and his audience and that’s why I love to learn from him!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Nikodinho
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful and Entertaining

    This content is a must-listen for anyone in the industry or looking to learn more about entrepreneurship in manufacturing. Keep up the amazing work!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    TonyG101
    United States2 years ago
  • Must-Listen for Manufacturing Leaders

    We are one episode in and Mike and Greg dropped some amazing and immediately usable insight in this episode—practical ways you can take your machine data and immediately use it to impact your bottom line. Subscribed and ready for episode 2!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jen Dubose
    United States2 years ago
  • Insightful show into the numbers of a manufacturing company

    Companies can’t grow without good numbers. Numbers drive performance in every aspect of a business. Mike has deep experience in this domain and his show brings great insights that manufacturers can use to drive their business forward!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    paulvm
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Audience appreciates approachable host style and practical frameworks over abstract concepts.
Guests bring real-world experience, not just theory, making topics feel applicable to mid-market manufacturers.
Clear, practitioner-focused guidance that translates complex financials into actionable shop-floor steps.
Strong emphasis on ROI, incentives, and ERP/tech adoption resonates with leadership teams seeking measurable results.

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Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Legacy, Liquidity, and the Long Game: What Really Happens After the LOI (Part II), Ep #25
Q: What in the world is a sales price allocation?
It's the tax-based breakdown of the purchase price between assets, goodwill, and other components; the allocation should be agreed in the purchase agreement before closing to avoid unfavorable tax consequences for the seller.
The One Big Beautiful Bill: What Manufacturers Need to Know Now, #23
Q: What is the immediate impact of bonus depreciation and how should manufacturers think about timing purchases?
Bonus depreciation is currently 100% for qualifying property from 1-1-25, with retroactive application, so manufacturers should consider accelerating equipment purchases if they have immediate need, but not buy just for the deduction—must be business-justified.
The Marketing Metrics That Actually Matter, Ep #21
Q: What is the most important foundation before diving into metrics?
Understand your customers deeply through empathy, talk to trusted clients, and align messaging across teams so the marketing and sales efforts are purpose-driven and revenue-focused.
How Foreign Trade Zones Can Unlock Millions in Working Capital, Ep #31
Q: What exactly is an FTZ and how does it work in practice?
An FTZ is a designated US area where imported goods can be stored or processed without paying duties until they leave the zone, or in some cases not at all if they are re-exported; activation requires CBP audits and robust controls, but the financial payoff can be substantial in cash flow and cost avoidance.
Beyond the Highest Bid: Selling Your Business with Legacy in Mind, Ep #26
Q: How important was the advisory team in the process?
Extremely important; having a long-term accounting firm, a trusted broker or investment banker, and transactional tax experts helped manage LOIs, due diligence, and negotiations while maintaining day-to-day operations.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
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Frequently Asked Questions About Buy the Numbers

What is Buy the Numbers about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show concentrates on the financial and operational realities of running a manufacturing business, with a strong emphasis on measuring performance, improving profitability, and scaling through systematized processes. Episodes regularly cover topics like ERP adoption, ROI of automation, tax incentives, and leadership develop­ment, often featuring practitioners from accounting, manufacturing, and technology providers who share practical, numbers-driven guidance. A notable strength is the blend of hands-on shop-floor anecdotes with concrete frameworks (KPIs, ROI models, cost of quality, and incentive programs), making complex topics approachable for owners, operators, and managers. The show frequently highlights real-world case studies, pa... more

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How many episodes of Buy the Numbers are there?

Buy the Numbers launched 2 years ago and published 55 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Buy the Numbers?

Recent guests on Buy the Numbers include:

1. Abby Mataya
2. Brian Schoonover
3. Brendon Forrest
4. Heather Parbst
5. Nush Ahmed
6. Brooke Laing
7. Mike (Professor of Payne)
8. Jason Woodard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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